WESTERN TIBET, 17TH CENTURY

This thangka of Vajrapani bears stylistic similarities to Lot 132 of this catalogue, linking it to the regions of Western Tibet or the Northwest Himalayas. Above the central figure of Vajrapani appears Shakyamuni Buddha, while to the left is Tsongkhapa and his two principal disciples. On the right is another Gelugpa lama with two disciples. Descending at the left are Manjushri, Vajravidarana, Bhurkumkuta, and a goddess figure holding a drum in her upraised right hand. Descending at the right side and along the bottom are Avalokiteshvara, Vajravarahi, and five goddess figures holding upraised drums, ending with the wealth deity Yellow Jambhala. These female drum bearers are associated with the practice of Chod, a tradition founded by the famous female Tibetan teacher Machig Labdron (1055-1153). Machig herself is portrayed as a white goddess holding a drum, also noted in an inscription at the bottom.

At the bottom left corner is the donor figure for this painting; a monk seated before a shrine-table arranged with offerings. An inscription is written below the table, stating that the painting was made in honour of the passing of the teacher Sanggye Lodro, with another inscription below claiming the work was also commissioned for the passing of Lobpon Shakya Zangpo.