A Kalachakra Mandala

TIBET, CIRCA 14TH CENTURY

Details

A Kalachakra Mandala
Tibet, circa 14th Century
The mandala painted against a blue ground depicting the 22-armed Kalachakra at center embracing his consort Visvamata; surrounded by numerous deities within circular and square concentric chambers and at the corners by three royal figures and a monk; inscribed on reverse, The empowerment of the mentally visualized (or mind) mandala of Kalachakra
13 x 12½ in. (34.4 x 31.5 cm.)

Provenance

Dr. Wesley Halpert and Mrs. Carolyn Halpert

Literature

D. Weldon and J. Casey, Faces of Tibet: The Wesley and Carolyn Halpert Collection, 2003, cat. no. 3.
D. Leidy and R. Thurman, Mandala: The Architecture of Enlightenment, 1997, cat. no. 27, pp. 96-97.

Exhibited

New York, Carlton Rochell Ltd., Faces of Tibet: The Wesley and Carolyn Halpert Collection, March/April 2003.
New York, The Asia Society, Mandala: The Architecture of Enlightenment, 1997/98.

Lot Essay

D. Leidy and R. Thurman, in Mandala: The Architecture of Enlightenment, 1997, p. 96, suggest that the three corner figures depicted in royal robes are the three Shambala kings: Suchandra, an emanation of Vajrapani, at top left; Yashas, an emanation of Manjushri at top right; and Pundarika, an emanation of Lokesha, at lower left.

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