NOTES
The figure of Amitāyus (Measureless Life) holds a vase of amṛta, an elixir of immortality that symbolizes the transcendence of birth and death through enlightenment. In this sculpture, Amitāyus is depicted with crown and jewels as a saṃbhogakāya Buddha, revealing the full splendor of enlightenment.
This finely crafted example shows the wide-ranging influence of the Pāla dynasty of eastern India (8th–12th centuries). Although this bronze was not produced by the Pālas, its creators imitated their style of ornamentation and the use of inlaid metals to decorate the form. Ever since the height of the Pāla dynasty, Pāla-influenced images have been produced in regions ranging from India, Bangladesh, and Nepal to Tibet, China, and Indonesia.
