Central Tibet
late 18th – early 19th century
This painting of the six-armed, white form of Mahakala shows the wealth deity holding in his main hands a wish-granting jewel and a skull cup containing a vase filled with various jewels. Immediately above him is a form of Buddha Vajradhara specific to practices associated with this wealth deity, holding a triple jewel and a mongoose, imagery also associated with wealth in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition.Here the artist has filled the canvas so profusely with jewels, foliage, rich textiles, golden ornamental frames, and offerings that the black ground on which it was painted has almost disappeared. That dark ground is visible only in the bottom corners, which also include depictions of wrathful offerings such as rampant yaks, sheep, horses, and dogs painted in the gold outline that is traditional for this genre.The back of the painting contains a pair of handprints, blessing the object. These are often made by incarnate lamas or other important religious figures as part of a painting’s consecration.
This weapon is an attribute of tantric deities and is usually paired with a skull cup. When held by female deities it symbolizes wisdom’s destruction of all obstacles to enlightenment. When held by male deities it represents the method aspect of enlightenment.
Prescribed practices that carry symbolic meaning and value within a specific tradition and are intended to attain a desired outcome. Rituals are usually done as part of a ceremony or regular routine.
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.
A kind of energy that can be used, individually and collectively, to effect change.
Protectors of Buddhist teachings who destroy obstacles that impede the path to enlightenment. The more frightening and gruesome their appearance, the greater their power.
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.
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