Tantric Staff | Rubin Museum of Himalayan Art

Rubin Museum of Art

Art 30

Thangka painting of a black wrathful multi-armed deity dancing within an orange flame aureole, standing on a prone figure, against a dark blue night sky with a crescent moon and sun.

Vajrayogini, Krodha Kali

Tibet or Mongolia, 18th century

Thangka mandala painting centered on a red female deity within a temple structure, surrounded by concentric protective rings, with seated teachers above and small deity figures in the corners.

Vajrayogini in the Pure Realm of Khechara

Kham region, eastern Tibet, 19th century

Thangka painting of a red goddess Vajrayogini wearing a bone garland, within a scrolling flame-patterned arch, flanked by lamas seated on clouds above and pink flowering plants below.

Kham region, eastern Tibet, late 19th century

Embroidered white and black animals, two black ravens, and human figures populate a light blue background. Skulls and beaded strings decorate the upper edge, with black animals in the lower portion. A dark, blue-skinned figure sits at center, one of three human figures. There are seven animals, including a white Bactrian camel and a black snow lion devouring a corpse. All represent symbolic offerings.

Symbolic Offerings

Mongolia, 19th century

Four-Armed Mahakala

Tibet, 18th century

Tibet, 17th century

Tibet, 19th century

Tibet, 20th century

Bhutan, possibly Punakha Dzong, Mid-19th century

Nepal, Dated by inscription, 1822

Vajrakilaya of the Eight Pronouncements

Tibet, 18th century

Tiger Riding Mahakala

Central Tibet, Early 19th century

Tara, as a Great Yogini, After a Set of Paintings “Twenty-seven Tantric Deities” designed by Situ Panchen (1700-1774)

Kham region, eastern Tibet, 19th century

Nepal, dated by inscription, 1694

Scenes from the Life of Jamyang Tutob Wangchuk (1588-1637)

Tibet, 17th century

Red Ganapati, One of the Three Great Red Deities

Tsang region, central Tibet, 16th century