Physical description
The principal figure is Samvara (Yi-dam) standing with his sakti in yab-yum against a background of flames. Seated at the top is an unidentified figure of perhaps an Adi Buddha in blue complexion wearing Boddhisattva ornaments and seated in dhyana with hands holding a pink lotus? before his breast. On either side are twelve goddesses in various forms. In each case there is asingle head, having a third eye when in human form. The symbols held by the four arms are (right) damaru and kartrika appropriate to a special form of the Dakini Na-ro kha-cho-ma (Sarvabuddha dakini). In the lower left hand corner is Mahakala as protector of science, blue with one head and third eye dancing on a corpse, his four hands holding sword, trident skull-cup and fruit. The figure on the lower right hand corner is that of Ganesh, also four armed and holding the axe, rosary, bowl of jewels and radish.
Descriptive line
The Yidam Samvara with his Sakti; Religion, cloth tempera, Nepal, 1621
Details
- Title : Temple banner/ Prabha
- Year : 1621AD (made)
- Artist : Unknown
- Classification : Paintings & Manuscripts
- Medium : Cloth painted in tempera colours and gold with brocade border
- Dimension : Height: 52 in with border, Width: 32.5 in with border, Height: 36 in, Width: 27 in, Height: 138.5 cm, :, Width: 85 cm
- Accession No : IS.11-1958
- Country/ Geo-location : Nepal
- Collection : Victoria & Albert Museum (V&A)
- Status : In Storage