The embrace of the esoteric deity Chakrasamvara and his consort Vajravarahi symbolizes the union of wisdom and compassion, one of the most important principles of Vajrayana Buddhism. The powerful four-faced, twelve-armed god holds Vajravarahi in his arms while trampling on the Hindu deities Bharava and Kalaratri who represent ignorance and evil.

The highly detailed, exquisitely finished deities are adorned with crowns and garlands of skulls and severed human heads. Chakrasamvara holds a thunderbolt and a ghanta (bell) in his crossed hands. Some of his other attributes in his remaining hands include the severed head of Brahma; a kapola (lasso), a damaru (axe), trident, sword, and skull cup.

This technically refined image bears an imperial inscription dating it to the reign of the Yung-lo emperor, who ruled China from 1403 to 1424. During this period the Yung-lo (r. 1403-24) and Hsuan-te (r. 1426-35) emperors sought the services of Tibetan lamas, and during both reigns missions to and from China involved the mutual exchange of gifts, Buddhist images, and ritual objects. There was also a need to provide correct images for use by the court, and these too were supplied by the imperial workshops.