A SILK THANGKA OF MAHACHAKRA VAJRAPANI


TIBET, CIRCA 16TH CENTURYDistemper on silk; verso lengthily inscribed in Tibetan with gold paint, consisting of dharanis and the last line translated, "The Buddha can bear the unbearable".Himalayan Art Resources item no.61947 Image: 25 1/4 x 25 1/4 in. (64 x 64 cm)
|西藏 約十六世紀 大輪金剛手菩薩絲質唐卡Painted on blue silk patterned with clouds, this rare thangka depicts Mahachakra Vajrapani surrounded by further manifestations of Vajrapani, Buddhism's ancient protector. In this Mahachakra form, Vajrapani manifests as a great yidam (meditational deity) - an enlightened being who can be the focus of one's tantric practice, bestowing powers and spiritual attainments. That he is depicted sharing the poison of the snake in his mouth with his female sakti in yab yum makes this an all the more religiously potent image. Various mahasiddhas populate the field above, while the paintings' subject is suggested to be the vision of the lama in the bottom left corner, seated under a canopy with his right hand raised in the gesture of explication (vitarka mudra).