A Black Ground Thanka of a Semi-Wrathful Emanation of Padmasambhava

TIBET, CIRCA 1724

Details

A Black Ground Thanka of a Semi-Wrathful Emanation of Padmasambhava
Tibet, circa 1724
Depicting Padmasabhava at center in the form of a wealth deity seated in lalitasana, elegantly attired with jewelry and brocades, with large round eyes bulging, holding a sprig of red coral and a blue wishing jewel, flanked by two female attendants and with a semi-wrathful dakini figure emanating above rainbow lights from the central figure of Guru Rinpoche below flanked by two wrathful female retinue figures, the lower center with a wrathful protector and six semi-naked attendant figures in various postures, with Tibetan inscription on reverse
32 x 18¼ in. (81.3 x 46.4 cm.)

Lot Essay

The two female attendants likely are the two consorts of Padmasambhava, Yeshe Tsögyal and Mandarava. This form of Padmasambhava was developed from the Revealed Treasure (Terma) Tradition of the Nyingmapa School of Tibetan Buddhism. The inscription on the reverse of the thanka is written in a type of secret code similar to Dakini script with revelatory verses that only a very high initiate would have been given the means to decipher.

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