Kanha, “The Black One,” one of the most popular of the eighty-four Indian great Tantric adepts (mahasiddha), lived in India around the seventh or eighth century. He was originally a Hindu yogi, but after becoming the primary disciple of the mahasiddha Virupa, Kanha entered a lineage that eventually became foundational to the Sakya tradition, one of the four main schools of Tibetan Buddhism.His brow furrowed in an intense expression of concentration, he bears the characteristics of an accomplished ascetic. He sits in a yogic pose on an antelope hide draped over a patterned cushion, his right leg supported by a strap. His long matted hair is piled on top of his head in a massive coil and bone ornaments cross his chest. This solid, impressive sculpture once belonged to a set of the Path and Result (Lam ‘bras) lineage portraits of the teachers in the Sakya School lineage.

Artwork Details

Title
Kanha
Dimensions
14 1/8 × 9 7/8 × 8 1/4 in.
Medium
Copper alloy
Origin
Central Tibet
Classification(s)
sculpture
Date
16th century
Credit Line
Rubin Museum of Himalayan Art
Object number
C2003.23.4
HAR Number
90822
Published references
* Rhie, Marylin M. and Robert A.F. Thurman. Wisdom and Compassion: The Sacred Art of Tibet, Expanded Edition. New York: Tibet House New York in association with Harry N. Abrams, 1991, 1996. Cat. 178 (38a). pp. 425. * Linrothe, Rob. Holy Madness: Portraits of Tantric Siddhas. New York: Rubin Museum of Art; Chicago: Serindia Publications, 2006. Catalog No.61; Pp. 231, 232, 321, 322, 421.* Van Alphen, J. Collection Highlights: Rubin Museum of Art. New York: Rubin Museum of Art, 2014. Pp. 46-47.

Begin your search...

Lineage

Concepts

The transmission of teachings from one generation to the next, from teacher to student, traced all the way back to the Buddha without interruption. A complete lineage is essential in Tantric Buddhist practices as it makes the blessings of the teaching more powerful.

See more

Tantrism

Concepts

A religious movement that originated in India around the fifth to seventh century with sacred writings and esoteric teachings and practices transmitted from teacher to student through initiation. These remain an important part of Hinduism and Buddhism today. 

See more

Legendary and Historical Humans

Figure Type

Himalayan art includes portraits of legendary and historical humans, including accomplished religious teachers (lamas), the Buddha’s original disciples (arhats), and spiritually accomplished tantric masters (mahasiddhas).

See more

Tibetan Regions

Region

Today, Tibetans primarily inhabit the Tibetan Plateau, situated between the Himalayan mountain range and the Indian subcontinent to the west, Chinese cultural regions to the east, and Mongolian cultural regions to the northeast. During the 7th to 9th century, Tibetan rulers expanded their empire across Central Asia, and established Buddhism as the state religion.

See more
Close

Sign up for our emails

Get the latest news and stories from the Rubin, plus occasional information on how to support our work.

Discover artworks, articles, and more by typing a search term above, selecting a term below, or exploring common concepts in Himalayan art.