The god Vajrâmrita with six arms is presented seated in the centre of the composition, in the noble attitude, hugging the goddess Svâbhaprajnâ. His skin “colour of the Priyangu flower” is translated here by light green. This couple is surrounded by eight other goddesses occupying the petals of a central lotus on the form of which is built the general organization of this composition. Two guards and two guardians protect access to the divine domain: Blue Bhrikutithraanga to the East, Bhayabhisana, White to the South, Red Hayarypa to the West and Green Gananayaka to the North. Like the main god, all secondary deities have three heads and six arms. In the spandrels on the outside of the diagram, twenty medallions of various sizes contain fierce three-headed deities as well as religious who perhaps belong to the spiritual parentage of Sa-Skya-Pa. This work is an expression of the “Nepalisant” style at its peak in Tibet. Thus most of the decorative themes are borrowed from the Newar art: the dominant red and blue, patterns lined with foliage and lotus sticks, jagged flames, plant pilasters with flourishing capital, trilobate arches. The figures with slender proportions and faces are related to this same tradition. Due to the multiplicity of details rendered with the thoroughness of the illumination, this set has a particularly precious and sophisticated aspect.
Vajrâmrita is a tutelary deity who was particularly honoured in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries. His name could be translated as “Ambrosia adamantine”. These sacred compositions must conform to a model pre-established by iconometric treaties in order to guarantee their cultic effectiveness. The presentation of the principal gods of the pantheon gives these mandalas a didactic function.
Details
- Title : Mandala of Vajrâmrita
- Year : 16th Century
- Classification : Thangka
- Medium : Gouache on canvas
- Dimension : 83 x 72 cm
- Accession No : MA 5186
- Country/ Geo-location : Nepal
- Collection : The Guimet Museum of Asian Art
- Credit Line : Donation subject to usufruct, L. Fournier