Dharmapala Thangka CentreSchool of Thangka Painting


11.19 Dorje Drolö [1]

Manifestation of Padmasambhava

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This Thangka shows Padmasambhava in his manifestation as "Guru Dorje Dolö" [Skt. Damodara, also a name of Vishnu]. Guru Dorje Dolö is one of the eight major forms of Padmasambhava. He took this form at the Tiger´s Lair [Tagtsang] cave in Bhutan in order to subdue demons that were mounted on the back of of his consort, the Mon princess Tashi Kyidren, who transformed herself into a flying tigress. Later the monastery "Tigers Nest" [Tagzang] was build obove this place [cave]. It still remains today. Above the center image of Guru Dorje Dolö Padmasambhava as Guru Rinpoche is depicted.

Above him on top Buddha Amitabha. Right and left of them are two manifestations of Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara.

Furthermore clockwise there are:

- Padmasambhavas manifestion as "Pemasambha", the Lotos born one
- Padmasambhava as a standing Lama
- Yeshe Tsogyal, one of the two femal tantric disciples
- Tseringma
- Yeshe Tsogyal [wife of Padmasamhava], in form of a naked Dakini
- Padmasambhavas manifestion as »Guru Nyima Öser«

The remaining nine figurs are Padmasmabhavas other manfestations forms and his second wife Mandarava

Guru Dorje Drolö [Tib. གུ་རུ་རྡོ་རྗེ་གྲོ་ལོད་, Wyl. gu ru rdo rje gro lod; Engl. »Wild Wrathful Vajra«] is one of the Eight Manifestations of Guru Rinpoche—Guru Rinpoche in wrathful form riding upon a pregnant tigress. He assumed this manifestation in Paro Taktsang in Bhutan in order to bring the local deities and guardians under his control.

He took this form at the Tiger´s Lair [Tagtsang] cave in Bhutan in order to subdue demons that were mounted on the back of of his consort, the Mon princess Tashi Kyidren, who transformed herself into a flying tigress. Later the monastery "Tigers Nest" [Tagzang] was build obove this place [cave]. It still remains today.

Iconography:

There are a number of different ways of presenting the iconography of Dorje Drolo. Typically in painting and sculpture he is wrathful in appearance, marron in colour, with one face and two arms. The right hand holds upraised a vajra scepter. The left hand holds outstretched and down thrusting a kila peg. Attired variously with various garments or no garments at all, he is described differently in the more than fourteen Revealed Treasure Traditions. Standing with the right leg bent and the left straight atop a pregnant tigress, he s surrounded by the flames of pristine awareness fire.

Source: Himalayan Art Resources

Black Background Version


PropertyValue
Measurements: 13 x 19.7" | 33 x 50 cm
Price: on request
Shipment: Parcel Service from Germany or Nepal
Color: Black Background Version
Material: Natural Stone Colors