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Mandala of
Tutelary Deity
    Dorje Phagmo
    
(painting no. 94)

Collection: Shelley & Donald Rubin Foundation
Origin: Tibet
Date: 1400-1499
Size: 50x36cm (19.75x14.5in)
Paint: Ground Mineral Pigment
Ground Material: Cotton
Lineage: Karma (Kagyu)


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Vajravarahi Five Deity Mandala, (Tibetan: dorje phagmo lha nga kyil kor).

In the center of two crossed triangles bordered with a white edge stands Vajravarahi, red in colour, with one face and two hands. The right hand holds aloft a curved knife and the left a skullcup to the heart. In the bend of the left elbow a katvanga staff is held against the left shoulder. Adorned with bone ornaments and a necklace of heads she stands in a dancing posture on a corpse seat. On the four lotus petals stand the four yoginis; above is red Khandaroha, to the right green Lama, below dark blue Dakini, and to the left is yellow Rupini. All have the same hand objects, ornaments and posture as the central figure. Situated on a black background, the central figures are surrounded by three successive rings of skulls, gold vajras and the five coloured flames of the fires of pristine awareness.

Directly above are four seated buddhas beneath rainbow arches. Above those are two rows of various mahasiddhas and lamas of the Karma Kagyu tradition interspersed with black hat Karmapas and red hat Sharmapas. The circle at the upper left is the Chakrasamvara 5 Deity Mandala. To the right another 5 Deity Mandala with two central blue figures. Again to the lower right and left are two more 5 Deity Mandalas.

Along the left side and below the mandala are two sets of six goddesses of various colours and along the right side are a further six goddesses with animal faces. At the bottom, from the right is Mahakala wearing a long tunic, Panjarnatha Mahakala, Mahakali, For-handed Chaturbhuja Mahakala, Black Robed Mahakala (Tib.: ber nag chen), Mahakali Remati, yellow Jambhala, Vaishravana, Black Jambhala and Dam Chen Garwa'i Nagpo riding a goat.

This form of Vajravarahi is one of the most special practices of the Kagyu Tradition and arises from the Chakrasamvara cycle of tantras belonging to the wisdom class of Anuttarayoga Tantra.

Lineage: Vajradhara, Tilopa, Naropa, Marpa (1012-1097), Milarepa (1040-1123), Dwagpo Sonam Rinchen, Lord Dusum Khyenpa (1110-1193), Rechen, Pom Dragpa, Karma Pakshi (1206-1283), etc.

J.Watt 7-98


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Photographed Image Copyright © 1998 Shelley & Donald Rubin Foundation

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Copyright © 1998 Shelley and Donald Rubin Foundation, Shelley and Donald Rubin