TIBET, XVIIIEME SIECLE

The defender of the faith Begtse is a deity indigenous to Mongolia. His name is derived from the Mongol word begder, meaning coat of mail. He holds a heart in his left hand that was ripped from the breast of the enemy of Buddhism. This is the fate of any who break their Buddhist vows. Both lower corners show most likely his assistant Las mkhan dmar po riding his mount the wolf and on the opposite side his red-faced sister Dong dmar ma riding her mount. Around Begtse are painted in subdued colours various assistants known as ‘butchers’ who rob the enemies of Buddhism of their ‘life breath’.