A Thangka of Buddha Heruka and Bardo Deities

BHUTAN, 19TH CENTURY

Details

A Thangka of Buddha Heruka and Bardo Deities
Bhutan, 19th Century
Very finely painted with the wrathful deity and his consort surrounded by flames and clouds, with Padma Heruka at the top, Karma Heruka, Vajra Heruka and Ratna Heruka in the cardinal directions with numerous retinue figures highlighted in gold, the top register depicting Sangye Lingpa, Shadakshri Avalokiteshvara, Amitabha, Padmasambhava and Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, with Tibetan inscriptions beneath figures
28¾ x 20 in. (73 x 50.8 cm.)

Lot Essay

This depiction of Heruka likely relates to the Lama Gongdu Cycle of Revealed Treasure teachings of the Nyingma tradition. Included in the lineage figures of this thangka is Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal (1594-1651), founder of the Kingdom of Bhutan.

More from Indian Southeast Asian Art

View All