Dharmapala Thangka CentreSchool of Thangka Painting


5.28 Hevajra [2]

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This painting shows the blue Hevajra holding a white skull in each of his sixteen hands. Each skullcup in Hevajras hands contains one of the following objects: [on the right] elephant, horse, ass, ox, camel, man, lion, and cat: [on the left] earth, water, air, fire, moon, sun, Yama and Vaisravana.

His central face is blue, right white, left and upper face red and the four remaining side faces black. The first pair of hands crossed at the heart hold skullcups and embrace his blue "wisdom" consort Vajra Nairatmya, with one face and two hands. She is also a deity of subtle wisdom in her own right, a Tantric form of "Prajnaparamita", Mother of all Buddhas. She holds a chopper in her outstreched right hand.

Each face has three eyes and yellow hair flowing upward like flames. Adorned with crowns of five skulls, bone ornaments and a garland of fifty fresh heads they both stand atop four stacked figures, a sun disc, multi-coloured lotus blossom and a throne seat surrounded by the orange and red flames of pristine awareness fire.

Encircling the throne are the eight goddesses of various colours making up the Hevajra Nine-deity Mandala. They each have one face and two hands holding in the right a curved knife aloft and a skullcup to the heart with the left, standing in a dancing posture with the right leg raised up.

At the top center is the primordial buddha Vajradhara, at the left is a seated Nairatmya and at the right the Indian mahasiddha Virupa. The remaining figures gathered at the top and sides are mahasiddhas, monks and laypersons of the Hevajra lineage of India and Tibet.

At the lower right is the wrathful protector Panjarnatha Mahakala, blue-black in colour, with one face and two hands holding a curved knife and skullcup to the heart, in a standing posture encircled by flames surrounded by the seven attendants.

Slightly to the left is Brahmarupa Mahakala in the appearance of an Indian mahasiddha, brown of colour, holding a shinbone horn. At the right is Shri Devi, blue, with one face and four hands, riding a mule.

At the bottom left, surrounded by attendants, is a lama wearing the robes of a monk. In front a long table supports a line of torma offerings [stylized food], white and cone shaped.

Hevajra is the most important archetype deity od the Sakya Order. The Hevajra Tantra is considered the basic Mother tantra, and its contemplation is particulary excellant in creating the conditions for the blazing of the inner fury-fire [Tib.:tummo] so important to Himalayan yogis, such as Milarepa.

Encountering Hevajra Buddha, one recalls the Shiva Nataraja in Hindu iconography, but in Buddhism there is no question od destroying the living universe - only the world of egoistic suffering should be consumed in the supernova flames.

Original antique painting:
Central Tibet, 1500 - 1599 - Sakya and Ngor [Sakya] Lineages - Ground Mineral Pigment on Cotton - Collection of Navin Kumar


PropertyValue
Measurements: 24.8 x 31.5" | 63 x 80 cm
Price: on request
Shipment: Parcel Service from Germany or Nepal
Color: Color Version
Material: Natural Stone Colors