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A Vajrakila mandala A double portrait thangka of the Eighth and
Tibet, 19th century Ninth Ngor Abbots
Distemper on cloth; Vajrakila within a six-petal lotus at the center Tibet, 16th century
of a palace occupied by associated protectors and animal-headed Distemper on cloth; depicting Sanggye Rinchen and Lhachog
deities; the upper section with various Buddhas, deities, and teachers; Sengge, surrounded by Shakyamuni, White Tara, Vajrasattva, and
the bottom corners with two protector deities above patrons and various teachers in the upper section; in the bottom section appear
officiating monks, and an entourage of offering goddesses. Vasudhara, Black Mahakala, Yellow Jambhala, Red Takkiraja, Red
Image: 43 1/4 x 33 3/4 in. (109.8 x 85.7 cm) Ganapati, Red Kurukulla, and a scene with donor figures and monks.
$4,000 - 6,000 26 5/8 x 19 1/2 in. (67.8 x 49.5 cm)
$6,000 - 8,000
Vajrakila Heruka (also known as Vajra Kumara) represents the activity
aspect within the set of Eight Herukas of the Mahayoga tantras of This dual portrait depicts important historical figures associated with
the Nyingma tradition. He is a principal meditational deity for both the Margapala, the ‘Path Together with the Result’ (lam dre bu tang che
Nyingmapa and Sakyapa, later taken up by the Jonang and a number pa) initially transmitted by the mahasiddha Virupa.
of Kagyu traditions. For further discussion see Boord, ‘The Cult of
the Deity Vajrakīla according to the Texts of the Northern Treasures Compare with closely related compositions in the Shelley & Donald
Tradition of Tibet (Byang-gter phur-ba)’, in the Journal of the Royal Rubin Collection and the Rubin Museum of Art: www.himalayanart.
Asiatic Society, Third Series, Vol. 5, No. 2 (Jul., 1995), pp. 320-3. org/image.cfm/162.html, www.himalayanart.org/image.cfm/65048.
html. Also compare: www.himalayanart.org/image.cfm/59885.html
Referenced
HAR – himalayanart.org/image.cfm/41213.html Referenced
HAR – himalayanart.org/image.cfm/41212.html
Provenance
Private English Collection, 1970s/80s-present Provenance
Acquired from Peaceful Wind Gallery, Santa Fe, 2000
Private Collection, Colorado
60 | BONHAMS
