Peaceful and Wrathful Deities of the Bardo

Buddhists believe that at the moment of death one’s consciousness transitions to an intermediate state called the bardo. For a period of 49 days, consciousness wanders, propelled by the person’s karma, or accumulated positive and negative actions.

This painting is a visual representation from the Liberation through Hearing in the Intermediate State (Bardo Thodrol), known in the West as the Tibetan Book of the Dead. This 14th-century text gives a precise, carefully structured, and vivid description of the experience of the mind during the intermediate state.

At the moment of death, one experiences visions that offer an opportunity to achieve an enlightened state. But if the terrifying visions brought on by one’s own negative karma are not recognized as mere projections of one’s own mind, it prevents a good rebirth. The teachings of this text allow practitioners to prepare and train their minds for this moment. Often ritual specialists read instructions to the deceased as a means of guiding them through the difficult process of transitioning to their future existence.

In this painting, Buddha Vairochana is above, holding a wheel and bell in his hands and embracing his consort. Below is the wrathful three-headed and six-armed Buddhaheruka flanked by wealth deities. On the back of the painting are mantras written in the shape of a stupa.