Rubin Museum of Art

Ritual

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.

Art 168 Spiral 12

The Red Yogini, Vajrayogini

Tibet, 19th century

Nepal, 15th century

Horizontal painting with five seated figures in a circle with three horizontal rows of figures on either side

Bon Protector Deities of Funerary Rituals

Gyelrong, Amdo Region, Eastern Tibet, 18th century

Wrathful Offerings

Tibet, 19th century

Wrathful Offerings

Mongolia, 19th century

Yama Dharmaraja

Mongolia, 19th century

Yama Dharmaraja with Consort Yami

Tibet, 18th century

Yellow Jambhala

Tibet, 17th century

Tibet, 18th century

Five-prong Bell & Dorje Set

Probably Urga or Dolonor, Mongolia, ca. late 19th century

Central Tibet, 13th century

Himalayan, 17th - 18th century

Bhutan, possibly Punakha Dzong, Mid-19th century

Tibet, 17th century

Nepal, 13th century

Vasudhara, Goddess of Abundance

Nepal, 17th century

Tibet, 18th - 20th century

Wealth Deity Shingkyong Raggyel

Chamdo Champaling Monastery, Kham Province, Eastern Tibet, ca. 1860

White Tara with Long Life Deities

Tibet, 19th century

Wish-fulfilling Tree

Nepal, 2016

Tibet, 17th century

Mongolia, 19th century

Two Arhats, Pantaka and Gopaka

Tibet, 17th century

Upper Section of a Torana

Nepal, Dated by inscription 1810

Ushnisavijaya and Celebration of Old Age (Jyatha Janko)

Nepal, 19th century

Ushnisavijaya and the Celebration of Old Age (Bhimaratha Ritual)

Kathmandu, Nepal, Dated by inscription 1775

Tibet, 18th century

Vairochana, from a Set of Initiation Cards (Tsakali)

Tibet, ca. 14th century

Vaishravana, Guardian King of the North

China, 16th century

Vaishravana Retinue Figure

Tibet, 16th century

Tall Offering Table

Tibet, 19th century

Temple Banner with Seven Symbols of Royal Power and Offerings

Tibet, 19th century

Three-Bladed Ritual Peg (kila, purba)

Tibet, ca. 17th century

Tibetan Cabinet with Embossed Gold Dragon motif

Tibet, 20th century

Tibetan cabinet with Embossed Zeebag motif

Tibet, early 20th century

Tibetan Cabinet with Gold Dragon and Phoenix motifs

Tibet, 20th century

Tiger Riding Mahakala

Central Tibet, Early 19th century

Shadakshari Lokeshvara

Western Tibet, 15th century

Shiva Vishavarupa, Universal form with Consort

Nepal, mid-19th century

Shrine Stand (Butter Lamp Stand)

Tibet, 18th century

Nepal, dated by inscription, 1694

Nepal, Dated by inscription 1796

Tibet, dated 1864

Six-Armed Mahakala

Tibet, 15th century

Six-armed Mahakala

Tibet, 14th century

Six-Armed Mahakala

Tibet, 18th century

Six-Armed White Mahakala

Central Tibet, late 18th – early 19th century

Six-Syllable Avalokiteshvara

Ladakh, Northwestern India, 14th century

Sketchbook page, Naga Mandala

Nepal, 18th century

Skull cup with Base

Tibet, 18th - 20th century

Smashana Adipati, Lords of the Charnel Ground

Tibet, 15th century

Snake Goddess Manasa

Northeastern India, 12th century

Snake Spine Prayer Beads with Conch Button and One Metal Counter

Tibet, 19th century

Tibet, 17th century (possibly 16th century)

Tibet, 16th-17th century

Tibet, 17th century

Tibet, 16th/17th century

Red Avalokiteshvara

Tibet or Nepal, 19th century

Red Avalokiteshvara

Tibet, 19th century

Red Avalokiteshvara or Bunga Dya

Nepal, Dated by inscription, 1818

Red Ganapati, One of the Three Great Red Deities

Tsang Provence, Central Tibe, 16th century

Refuge Field with Machik Labdron (1055-1153)

Tibet, early 20th century

Ritual Bone Apron

Tibet/Nepal, 18th - 19th century

Ritual Cabinet (Torgam)

Tibet, 19th century

Ritual dagger (kila, purba)

Tibet, 17th century

China, 1403-1424

Ritual Peg (purba)

Tibet, 17th century

Inner Mongolia, 19th century

Pratisara, one of the Five Protector Goddesses

Central Tibet, possibly Densatil Monastery, mid-14th to mid-15th century

Protection From Disease

Dolpo region, western Nepal, ca. 1975

Protective Goddess in Peaceful and Wrathful Form

Central Tibet, 1790-1805

Queen of the World, Sipai Gyelmo

China, 20th century

Ratnasambhava, from a Set of Initiation Cards (Tsakali)

Tibet, ca. 14th century

Raven-headed Mahakala

Bhutan, early to mid-19th century

Namkhai Nyingpo (8th-9th century) Performing a Long-Life Ritual

Kham Province, Eastern Tibet, 19th century

Nine-deity Mandala of Two-armed Hevajra

Tsang Provence, Central Tibet, 15th century

Nine Deity Offering

Mongolia, 19th century

Probably Central Tibet, early 20th century

Probably Central Tibet, early 20th century

Tibet, 13th-15th century

Tibet, 18th century

Tibet, 15th-17th century

Pair of Cymbals

Mongolia, 18th - 19th century

Panjaranatha Mahakala

Tibet, 15th century

Panjaranatha Mahakala

Tibet, 15th century

Panjaranatha Mahakala

Tibet, ca. 16th-17th century

Panjarnatha Mahakala

Tibet, 18th century

A parcel-gilt silver ritual ewer

Tibet or Mongolia, 19th century

Pelden Lhamo Dusolma

Bhutan, 19th century

Pelden Lhamo Dusolma “Smoke-Clad Goddess”

Tibet, 14th century

Medicine Buddha, Bhaisajyaguru

Tibet, 18th - 19th century

Monsoon Ritual around the Stupa (Gumla Dharma Laksha Caitya)

Nepal, 16th century

Mountain God Amnye Cha Kyung

Eastern Tibet, 18th century

Mountain God Kula Kari

Tibet, 19th century

King of Shambhala, (From a Pelpung set of The Kalkin Kings of Shambhala)

Kham Province, Eastern Tibet, 18th century

Kurukulla, Goddess of Power

Tibet, 18th century

Lama Performing a Long-Life Ritual

Kham Province, Eastern Tibet, 19th century

Leg Bone Trumpet (Kang Ling)

Tibet, 18th-19th century

Livestock Charm

Dolpo region, western Nepal, ca. 1975

Long Horn (dung chen)

Tibet (possibly Derge), early 20th century

Long Horn (dung chen)

Tibet (possibly Derge), early 20th century

Long Life Vase (Tsebum)

Tibet, 20th century

Lords of the Charnel Ground, Smashana Adipati

Tibet, 18th century

Lotus Mandala of Hevajra

Northeastern India, 12th century

Tibet, 17th century

Nepal, Dated by inscription, 1639

Mahakala and Protector Deities

Central Tibet, early 19th century

Mahakala, Legden, Excellent One

Tibet, 15th century

Makzor Gyelmo, Queen Who Repels Armies

Tibet or Mongolia, 19th century

Makzor Gyelmo, Queen Who Repels Armies

Mongolia, 18th century

Mandala of Akshobhya

Tibet, 16th century

Mandala of Chakrasamvara

Tibet, 14th-15th century

Mandala of Chandra

Nepal, ca.1500

Mandala of Guhyasamaja-Akshobhyavajra

Tibet, 14th century

Mandala of Manjushri Dharmadhatu Vagishvara

Tibet, 16th century (ca. 1500)

Mandala of Medicine Buddha

Central Tibet, 19th century

Mandala of Vajrayogini

Tibet, 19th century

Kham Province, Eastern Tibet (possibly Derge area), 15th century

Indra, Hurling His Thunderbolt

Nepal, 12th century

Forest Goddess Parnashavari

Central Tibet, 19th century

Four-Faced Linga

Nepal, 18th - 19th century

Four Mandalas of the Vajravali Cycle

Ewam Choden Monastery, Tsang Province, Central Tibet, 1429-1456

Nepal, 17th century

Goddess Shri or Lakshmi

Nepal, 18th century

Goddess Ushnishavijaya in Stupa

Tsang Province, Central Tibet, 15th century

Inner Mongolia, late 18th - 19th century

Guhyasamaja Akshobhyavajra

Central Tibet, early 17th century (ca. 1604)

Guhyasamaja Akshobhyavajra with Consort Sparshavajra

Tibet, 19th century

Hand-held Drum (Damaru)

Tibet, early 20th century

Hand-held Drum (Damaru)

Tibet or Mongolia, early 20th century

Mongolia, 19th century

Tibet or Mongolia, 18th century

Heruka (Lama Gongdu cycle)

Eastern Tibet, 19th century

Tibet, 19th-20th century

File from a Ritual File Set

Tibet, 16th century

File from a Ritual File Set

Tibet, 16th century

Five Personal Gods

Tibet, 18th Century

Tibet, 18th - 20th century

Nepal, mid 20th century

Tibet, 18th - 20th century

Nepal, mid 20th century

Canopy of a Mahakala Yantra

Tibet, 18th–19th century

Ceremonial Conch Trumpet (Dung Kar)

Tibet, 19th century (?)

Chakrasamvara with Consort Vajravarahi

Kham Province, Eastern Tibet, 19th century

Chariot Ritual (Bhirmaratha Pata)

Nepal, Dated by inscription, 1902

Coral Mask of Begtse

Mongolia, early 20th century

Demon - Binding Charm Against Sickness

Dolpo region, western Nepal, ca. 1975

The Demoness of Tibet

Tibet, Early 20th century

Dhartarastra, Guardian King of the East

China, 18th century

Dorje Drolo, One of Eight Manifestations of Padmasambhava

Kham Province, Eastern Tibet, 19th century

Kham Region, Eastern Tibet, 19th century

Dralha Yesi Gyelpo

Tibet, 19th century

Tibet, Mid-19th century

Durga Killing the Buffalo Demon (Durga Mahisasuramardini)

Nepal, 12th-13th century

The Field of Accumulation of Merit

Tibet, early 20th century

Tibet, 18th century

Black Cloak Mahakala

Kham Province, Eastern Tibet, 18th century

Black Cloak Mahakala

Tibet, 18th century

Black Cloak Mahakala

Tibet, 19th century

Black Hayagriva

Central Tibet, 15th century

Buddha Akshobhya

Tibet, 16th century

Buddha Akshobhya and the Eastern Assembly of the Sarvadurgatiparishodhana Mandala

Tibet, 14th century

Buddha Amitabha in His Pure Realm

Central Tibet, late 18th century

Buddha Amitayus

Himalayan, 17th century

Nepal, Dated by inscription, 1871

Amulet Box (Gau)

Tibet, 19th century

Arapachana Manjushri

Kham Province, Eastern Tibet, 19th century

Architectural Detail Depicting the Goddess Guhyakali

Nepal, 17th century

It Matters How You Are Born; It Matters How You Die

A birth doula and a death doula share how support helps people through major life transitions

Interviews Personal Perspectives Magazine

A daughter documents her mother's decline and the Hindu rites around death and mourning

Personal Perspectives Photography Magazine

Place, Loss, Adaptation

A Nepalese immigrant finds solace in faraway Vermont

Healing Personal Perspectives Contemporary Himalayan Life Magazine

Morning Rituals from Near and Far

From the Himalayan mountains to the New York City streets, people share how they wake up every day

Personal Perspectives Contemporary Himalayan Life Magazine

Step by Step: Create a Morning Ritual

A series on different forms of waking up

How-tos Magazine

A Manual for the Momentary: DIY Rituals from Reimagine End of Life

Step-by-step instructions toward healing, resilience, and action

Environment Activism Healing How-tos Magazine

My Spiritual Practice and the Climate Crisis: Karenna Gore

A series on grappling with environmental change

Personal Perspectives Environment Magazine

Empowerments: Awakening the Buddha Within

Ritual ceremonies guide us on the path to enlightenment

Buddhist Perspectives Buddhism Magazine

Mona Polacca + Marina Abramović

Ritual, repetition, and durational experiences remind of us of our relationships to all things.

World Art Day: What’s the Purpose of Art?

Art plays an important role in the Himalayan region

Traditional Himalayan Art

Six Inspirational Objects You’ll Find in a Tibetan Buddhist Shrine Room

Devotional and ritual items displayed in these sacred spaces

Traditional Himalayan Art

Cham Dances: Ritual, Spectacle, and Beauty

The clash of deities and demons