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A THANGKA OF SITATAPATRAPARAJITA
Tibet, 19th century
Distemper on cloth, the reverse with an inscription in Tibetan letters, the left holds an arrow together with the handle of a parasol unfurled
‘om, ah, hum’, framed and glazed. 123 x 83.5 cm (48 1/2 x 32 7/8 in).
西藏十九世紀 白傘蓋佛母像
Referenced 參考: Himalayan Art Resources item no.2192
Provenance 來源: The Jongen-Schleiper Collection of Fine Thangkas
Published and Illustrated: A.Neven, Etudes D’Art Lamaique et de
L’Himalaya, Brussels, 1978, pp.79-80, no.53
出版及著錄： A.Neven著，《Etudes D’Art Lamaique et de
L’Himalaya》，布魯塞爾，1978年，頁79-80，編號53
Sitatapatraparajita is a protector, identified as a form of the goddess
Tara and regarded as a counterpart to Avalokitesvara, the Bodhisattva
of Compassion. The main right hand holds a small dharma wheel and
above, the remaining hands hold additional dharma wheels, jewels,
swords, vajras, lotus, visvavajras, bows, and lassos. The feet tread on
the human, animal, divine and infernal worlds. All the limbs and parts
of her body are covered with eyes and are surrounded by the flames of
pristine awareness. Three forms of Mahakala guard the lower register
of the painting while the rest of the space surrounding the deity is
occupied by seventeen Buddhas of Confession. A.Neven noted that the
faces of the Buddhas have a slightly more gentler demeanor influenced
by Chinese art. Compare with a very similar painting, 18th century,
illustrated by M.M.Rhie and R.Thurman, Wisdom and Compassion: The
Sacred Art of Tibet, New York, 1991, p.319. See also a similar thangka
in the Rubin Museum of Art, New York, acc.no.F1996.18.1, illustrated
on Himalayan Art Resources, item no.468.