Himalayan art includes portraits of legendary and historical humans, including accomplished religious teachers (Tibetan lamas), the Buddha’s original disciples (arhats), and accomplished tantric masters (mahasiddhas).
Arhats are said to be the historical Buddha’s original disciples. Traditionally portrayed as a group of sixteen Buddhist monks, they became exemplars of monastic life and upholders of the Buddha’s teaching (dharma).
Portraits of great historical religious teachers (lamas) often present the distinctive physical features of their subjects to convey something of the character of the individual portrayed. Such images also tend to display visual parallels with arhat and mahasiddha depictions.
Mahasiddhas are great accomplished masters who embody and transmit Tantric Buddhist practices, which offer many unconventional paths to awakening. Usually of ordinary occupations, such as wandering monk, weaver, or farmer, they are often depicted in yogic positions and engaged in a wide range of unconventional behaviors.
