| Transcript |
- 12 Mahakala (?)
19th century
gouache on cotton, 58 x 43 cm Gift of Miss Eleanor Kunderman VM 1988.11.145
The central figure in this thanka appears to beaform of Mahakala (Kagyu Mahakala Trag-chun ?). The image is very unusual in that it has a very squat shape and wears a lavish costume. He holds a ritual chopper in his right hand and a skull cup in his left. Directly beneath him are depictions of Manjusri on a lion and Samantabhadra on an elephant, and beneath them is a warrior, Gesar (?), flanked by two warriors on horseback. There are also numerous other depictions in the thanka of protectors, mahasiddhas, gurus and important lamas.
13 Hayagriva
16th/17th century
gouache on cotton, 65.3 x 47.5 cm
Gift of Max Tanenbaum, Toronto, 1980
NGC 26880
The central deity, surrounded by flames, is Hayagriva, one of �The Eight Terrible Ones� or dharmapalas. Ferocious in aspect to inspire sinners with fear, his red body has three heads, six arms and eight legs, and he steps to the right on nagas. In his hands he holds the following attributes: vajra, pasa, trisula, khadga, flag and flames. He was worshipped in Tibet by horse dealers, because it was believed he would frighten away demons by neighing like a horse. His most distinct mark are the three horse heads in his dishevelled hair.
At the top of this thanka is Sakyamuni Buddha and Padmasambhava. At centre bottom is another dharmapala, Beg-tse. He is dressed like a warrior and steps on a horse and a person. In his right hand he holds a sword and in his left hand holds a heartto his mouth. A flag and bow are on his left side. Beg-tse is also called �Protector of Horses.� He is flanked by two other fierce protectors.
14 Vajrabhairava form of Yamantaka
a) 18th century
gouache on cotton, 61.9 x 43.2 cm Gift of Max Tanenbaum, Toronto, 1980 NGC 26849
b) early 18th century
gouache on cotton, 50.7 x 34.2 cm Gift of Max Tanenbaum, Toronto, 1980 NGC 26838
The black deity depicted in the centre of these thankas is Vajrabhairava with a bull�s head, an angry emanation of Manjusri. He is depicted in yab-yum. Vajrabhairava is one of the most powerful yidams (protective deities), specially of the Gelukpa sect. He has nine heads (the top one is that of Manjusri), thirty-four arms which hold a wide variety of attributes and sixteen legs. His feet tread on demons, birds and animals. Although terrifying in
appearance, as a protector of the believer, he really is a symbol of compassion.
(a) In this thanka the central deity is surrounded by a large number of deities. To the left is Mahakala mGon-po. At upper right is a special form of Heruka called Cakra-Samvara in yab-yum. He is four-faced and twelve-armed. Upper left is a yab-yum represen�tation of Guhyasamaja. Yab and yum are both six�armed; in their free hands they hold the same symbols. These two tutelary deities together with Vajrabhairava are the yidams or Tutelary Protectors of the Anuttara-Yoga-Tantras, the tantras of the fourth level or highest concentration. At top centre is Manjusri with two monks and two mahasiddas.
Below the central deity are the Green and White Taras. At the bottom from left to right are Mahakala mGon-dkar (god of Wealth) and Mahasuvarna Vaishravana (guardian King of the North) seated on a lion. His symbols are the round banner and the jewel-spitting mongoose. He represents wealth- bestowing powers.
At centre is the King of Religion, Dharmaraja, a special form of the Conqueror of the Lord of the Death, Yamantaka, and thus also a manifestation of Manjusri. Next is Lhamo, the only female dharmapala. To the right of her is another dharmapala, Beg-tse.
(b) The three figures at the top of this thanka are Tsong Khapa flanked by Aksobhya and Manjusri. At the bottom left is another form of Yamantaka, Dharmaraja, standing on a buffalo. He holds atantric sceptre topped by a skull and the demon noose. His buffalo head is bent towards his Yami, raising a skull cup with her left hand and holding a trident-lance in her right. At the centre is Mahakala. To the right Lhamo, one of the �Eight Terrible Ones� and consort of Yama. She is depicted sideways on a mule and holds a sceptre and a skull cup in her hands.
The thanka illustrated in colour (IV) has too many images to list. Suffice to say, it is similar to thanka (b) in that it has the same three protector deities (Dharmaraja, Mahakala and Lhamo beneath the central figure) and Tsong Khapa in the middle at the top. The other surrounding figures include gurus, bodhisattvas, and protectors.
15 Four Arhats
18th century
gouache on cotton, 62.2 x 41 cm Gift of Max Tanenbaum, Toronto, 1980 NGC 26861
The four arhats seated in this Chinese-style land�scape are accompanied by attendants. Each arhat is identified by an inscription. At top left is Vajriputra holding a fly-whisk in his left hand. Below him is Kanakavasta �holding a string of jewels in his hands, which was presented to him by the nagas, who were very grateful for his preachings. Next to him is the sixth arhat Bhadra. He is depicted in medi�tation pose and his right hand displaystheteaching- gesture. The arhat at lower left seated on a throne is Kanaka Bharadvaja. At the lower right is Parnasavari, a feminine divinity who can be identified by the apron
|
|---|
