Himalayan Art Resources

Item: Kshetrapala (Buddhist Protector)

ཀྴེཏྲ་པ་ལ། ཞིང་སྐྱོང་། 护国护法(佛教护法)
(item no. 3314490)
Origin Location Tibet
Date Range 1600 - 1699
Lineages Shangpa Kagyu, Gelug and Buddhist
Material Ground Mineral Pigment on Cotton
Collection Museum der Kulturen, Basel
Notes about the Central Figure

Classification: Deity

Interpretation / Description

Kshetrapala with Consort: a retinue figure belonging to the practices of Shadbhuja Mahakala originating with the Shangpa Kagyu Tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. Kshetrapala can typically be recognized by the brown or black bear that he rides as a mount. For very fearsome rites and rituals when Kshetrapala is practiced independently from the Shadbhuja Mahakala practices he is often paired with a wrathful consort. In this painting the consort can be seen at the bottom right corner of the composition.

Jeff Watt 12-2010

Related Items
Publications
Glossary: Animal Relationships Guide/Glossary

Thematic Sets
Collection of Essen, Museum der Kulturen, Basel (Painting)
Buddhist Protector: Kshetrapala with Consort
Subject: Bear Imagery
Buddhist Protector: Kshetrapala Masterworks
Buddhist Protector: Kshetrapala Main Page