Ritual mirror

ABR 031

 Code: ABR 031

  Country: Tibet

  Style:

  Date: 1800 - 1900

  Dimensions in cm WxHxD: 11.5 x 14.8

  Materials: Brass

Melong
(From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)
 
Melong is a Tibetan term that holds the semantic field: "mirror", "looking glass". The melong is a polyvalent symbol, divine attribute, and quality of the enlightened mindstream or bodhicitta.
 
The mirror is an ancient symbol throughout Indian religions. In Indian iconography it may be understood as a symbol for clarity, wholesome or complete perception and “primordial purity” (Tibetan: ka dag) of the mindstream or consciousness. The mirror is often depicted as an accoutrement of the hagiographical signification of fully realised Mahasiddha, Dzogchenpa and Mahamudra sadhaka. The mirror may be understood as a quality of the mindstream that denotes perceiving experience as it is without obscuration forded by klesha, etc.
 
The mirror may be engaged in the advanced Tantric sadhana of the Gyulu.

Beer, Robert , 2003. Les symboles du bouddhisme Tibétain. Albin Michel. Pp. 46, 60-61, 325-326

Beer, Robert , 1999. The Encyclopedia of Tibetan Symbols and Motives. Boston: Shambala. Plate 93 et 121

Essen, Gerd-Wolfgang and Thingo, Tsering Tashi, 1990. Die Götter des Himalaya - Buddhistische Kunst Tibets. München: Prestel-Verlag.