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The central Padmasambhava has a piercing gaze and holds his common attributes: a vajra in his right hand, a skull cup with a long-life vase in his left hand, and a mendicant’s staff against his shoulder. He is flanked by the four-armed Avalokiteshvara and Dechen Gyalmo, a form of Vajrayogini. At the top of the painting the primordial Buddha Samantabhadra is flanked by Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo (1820–1892), King Tri Songdetsen (742–796), and, slightly lower, Longchen Rabjampa (1308–1364) and Jikme Lingpa (1730?–1798). At the bottom the wrathful female protector Ekajati, with one face, one eye, and one breast, is flanked by Dorje Lekpa and Rahula with nine heads and four hands. The top figures identify Jikme Lingpa’s revealed treasure teaching (terma) Longchen Nyingtik as the doctrinal basis for this painting.
Padmasambhava
OriginTibet
Datelate 19th century
Dimensions32 1/4 x 27 1/4 x 2 3/8 in. (81.9 x 69.2 x 6 cm)
MediumPigments on cloth
Classification(s)
Credit LineRubin Museum of Art, Gift of Shelley and Donald Rubin
Object numberC2006.66.229
Himalayan Art Resources Number285
DescriptionRed background paintings such as this are commonly associated with Buddha Amitabha and his lotus family of deities, which includes the legendary, lotus-born teacher Padmasambhava. Here most of the drawing is done in gold, with only the eyes outlined in black and painted, subtly emphasizing the faces of the figures. Padmasambhava and his entourage are placed in a paradisiacal landscape with plenty of water and mountains in the background and five figures in the upper area seated on clouds. The painting’s lotus petals and clouds are shaded in different ways, stressing the more ephemeral nature of the latter.The central Padmasambhava has a piercing gaze and holds his common attributes: a vajra in his right hand, a skull cup with a long-life vase in his left hand, and a mendicant’s staff against his shoulder. He is flanked by the four-armed Avalokiteshvara and Dechen Gyalmo, a form of Vajrayogini. At the top of the painting the primordial Buddha Samantabhadra is flanked by Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo (1820–1892), King Tri Songdetsen (742–796), and, slightly lower, Longchen Rabjampa (1308–1364) and Jikme Lingpa (1730?–1798). At the bottom the wrathful female protector Ekajati, with one face, one eye, and one breast, is flanked by Dorje Lekpa and Rahula with nine heads and four hands. The top figures identify Jikme Lingpa’s revealed treasure teaching (terma) Longchen Nyingtik as the doctrinal basis for this painting.
Not on view
20th century
ca. second quarter of 15th century
15th century
18th century
14th century
late 18th - 19th century
ca.1500
15th century
19th century
1736–1795