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In this form of the Medicine Buddha mandala, a Perfection of Wisdom (Prajnaparamita) book is surrounded by the eight medicine buddhas. The deities in the squares around them are sixteen bodhisattvas, guardians of the ten directions, and twelve yaksha generals. The Four Great Kings guard the mandala palace doors at cardinal directions. At the top of the painting an unidentified teacher of the Geluk tradition is flanked by the deities Kutagara Vajrapani and Dorje Dudul, or “Vajra Demon Tamer,” who heads an assembly of four deities associated with health and wealth depicted around the mandala. At the bottom of the painting the wealth deity Vasudeva is flanked by the protectors Pelden Lhamo and Pehar.
Medicine Buddha Mandala
OriginInner Mongolia
Date18th century
Dimensions38 × 28 3/8 × 2 1/4 in.
MediumPigments on cloth
Classification(s)
Credit LineRubin Museum of Art
Object numberC2006.31.3
Himalayan Art Resources Number65660
DescriptionThis painting combines Chinese derived elements, such as the square mandala and the rocks to its sides, with Himalayan deities and symbolism in innovative ways. The mandala, actually a palace within a square walled garden enclosure accessible through four Chinese style gates, floats in the composition and is shown from a bird’s eye view. Typical for art from the regions northeast of Tibet are the symbols of luck strung along the upper part of the mandala. The surrounding deities are set into a landscape with a low horizon, fantastical rocks, and high clouds of varying colors. In this form of the Medicine Buddha mandala, a Perfection of Wisdom (Prajnaparamita) book is surrounded by the eight medicine buddhas. The deities in the squares around them are sixteen bodhisattvas, guardians of the ten directions, and twelve yaksha generals. The Four Great Kings guard the mandala palace doors at cardinal directions. At the top of the painting an unidentified teacher of the Geluk tradition is flanked by the deities Kutagara Vajrapani and Dorje Dudul, or “Vajra Demon Tamer,” who heads an assembly of four deities associated with health and wealth depicted around the mandala. At the bottom of the painting the wealth deity Vasudeva is flanked by the protectors Pelden Lhamo and Pehar.
Not on view
17th century
19th century
ca. 1415-1435
16th century (ca. 1500)
16th century
ca.1500
14th century
First half of the 15th century
15th century
12th century