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Wrathful Deities of the Bar-do
Tibetan
18th century
Object Place: Tibet
Medium/Technique
Distemper and gold on cotton, mounted with silk brocades, a silk dust cover, wood dowels, brass knobs, and leather corner tabs
Dimensions
122 x 70 cm (48 1/16 x 27 9/16 in.)
Credit Line
Gift of George and Verena Rybicki, in memory of William Stanley and Janet Morgan
Accession Number1992.233
NOT ON VIEW
CollectionsAsia
ClassificationsPaintings
DescriptionPainting in hanging scroll (thangka) format, with streamers, veil and decorative borders.
A round mandala consisting of three concentric circles. In the center are six winged, wrathful Herukas in yab-yum. The inner circle contains twenty human and animal-headed deities and the outer circle contains twenty-eight animal-headed deities. Beyond the mandala, above, are five Dakinis relating to the five Buddha families, each holding a hooked knife and skull cup. Below are five Dakas and Dakinis in yab-yum, the Dakas holding hooked knives and skull cups. Around the border of the mandala are offerings of mirror, cymbals, flaming jewels, red scarf, and fruit as well as a conch with water. All set against a landscape of hills, lakes, and clouds. For further information about this subject, see "Wisdom and compassion" catalogue, p. 198 and A. Gordon, "Iconography of Tibetan Lamaism," p. 97-101.
A round mandala consisting of three concentric circles. In the center are six winged, wrathful Herukas in yab-yum. The inner circle contains twenty human and animal-headed deities and the outer circle contains twenty-eight animal-headed deities. Beyond the mandala, above, are five Dakinis relating to the five Buddha families, each holding a hooked knife and skull cup. Below are five Dakas and Dakinis in yab-yum, the Dakas holding hooked knives and skull cups. Around the border of the mandala are offerings of mirror, cymbals, flaming jewels, red scarf, and fruit as well as a conch with water. All set against a landscape of hills, lakes, and clouds. For further information about this subject, see "Wisdom and compassion" catalogue, p. 198 and A. Gordon, "Iconography of Tibetan Lamaism," p. 97-101.
InscriptionsOn reverse, in Tibetan, "Om, Ah, Hum"
Provenance1992, George and Verena Rybicki, Lexington, MA; gift of Rybicki to the MFA in memory of William Stanley and Janet Morgan. (Accession Date: May 26, 1992)