The central figure in this painting is literally a “sky walker” (dakini). She is a powerful female spiritual guide who travels at will through the emptiness of space (shunyata)—the ultimate reality in Himalayan Buddhism. To overcome the terrifying and seductive aspects of worldly life, dakini teach visualization techniques that employ both fierce and sexual imagery. Since the conventional world typically censors
such imagery, Naro Dakini instead dwells and teaches in cemeteries.
Above Naro Dakini appear the two cosmic Buddhas Vajradhara and Vajradharma. In Buddhist thought, these two Buddhas authored the teachings that Naro Dakini transmits. Below Naro Dakini appear a series of guardians that protect practitioners of her teachings from harm. From left to right, they are the Dancing Skeletons (Chitipati), Great Time (Mahakala), and a long-life goddess (Tseringma).
Details
- Title : The Buddhist deity Naro Dakini
- Year : 1700-1800
- Classification : Thangka
- Medium : Colors on cotton
- Dimension : H. 24 in x W. 17 1/2 in, H. 61.0 cm x W. 44.4 cm (image); H. 49 1/2 in x W. 32 in, H. 125.7 cm x W. 81.3 cm (overall)
- Accession No : B68D15
- Country/ Geo-location : Nepal
- Collection : Asian Art Museum
- Credit Line : The Avery Brundage Collection
- Status : Not on display
- Exhibition History: : "Yoga: The Art of Transformation", Asian Art Museum, 2/21/2014-5/25/2014