Item: Mandala of Avalokiteshvara (Bodhisattva & Buddhist Deity) - Sodashabindu (Tigle Chudrug)

Avalokiteshvara (Tigle Chu Drug) Mandala. Tibetan Name: bka' gdams thig le bcu drug gi dkyil 'khor. Root text - unknown.

At the top center is Shakyamuni Buddha with Atisha on the viewer's left and Dromton on the right. At the top left is Avalokiteshvara. Below that is Prajnaparamita and a Gelugpa Teacher. On the right side is Green Tara, wrathful Krodha Tara and Arya Nagarjuna.

At the bottom center is a wrathful deity, maroon in colour. On the left is yellow Yama Dharmaraja and blue Achala below. On the right side is Multi-coloured Garuda with Shri Devi Magzor Gyalmo, seated on a mule below.

The mandala of the Tigle Chu Drug contains sixteen levels of deities and teachers progressing from the inside out.
1. Jinasagara Avalokiteshvara.
2. Namnang Gangchen Tso.
3. Jinasagara Avalokiteshvara.
4. Avalokiteshvara, one face, two hands.
5. Prajnaparamita.
6. Tubpa Dudul (Buddha?).
7. Chaturbhuja Avalokiteshvara.
8. Green Tara.
9. Krodha Tara.
10. Achala.
11. Atisha.
12. Dromton.
13. Maitreya.
14. Manjushri.
15. Vajradhara.
16. Dharmakaya.

Reverse Inscriptions: On the reverse the backs of each of the figures outside of the circular mandala have the three letters om, ah, hum written vertically in red ink. The lines of inscriptions are all Buddhist mantras and dharanis of various types. The five smaller inscriptions relate to the five deities at the bottom of the composition and outside of the mandala. The deities are two forms of Vajrabhairava, Achala, Shri Devi Magzor Gyalmo, and Shabhala Garuda.

The largest group of inscriptions is at the back center at the middle of the mandala.

Middle Center: 'om ah hum tram hrih. om nam bhagavati shakya munaye tatagataya arhate samyyaksambuddhaya, tadyata, om mune mune maha munaye svaha. om vagishvari mum. om mani padme hum. om vajrapani hum. om vagishvari mum. om mani padme hum. om vajrapani hum. om vagishvari mum. om mani padme hum. om vajrapani hum. Om tare tuttare ture mama ayur pushtim kuru svaha. Om tare tuttare ture mama ayur pushtim kuru svaha. Om tare tuttare ture mama ayur pushtim kuru svaha.'

'Om ye dharma hetu prabhava hetum tesham tathagato hyavadat tesham cha yo nirodha evam vadi maha shramana. om supra tishta vajre svaha.'

Bottom Center: 'Om vajra ayushe svaha. Om hri shthi vikrita nana hum phat. om supra tishta vajre svaha.'

Viewer's Left Side: 'On vajra ayushe svaha. Om pakshim svaha. Om pakshim svaha. Om pakshim svaha. Om supta tishta vajre svaha.'

'Om vajra ayushe svaha. Om vajra chanda maha roshana hum phat. Bhyoh rakmo bhyoh rakmo bhyoh bhyoh rakmo tun bhyoh kala rakchenmo, rakmo abya tabya tun bhyoh, rulu rulu hum bhyoh hum. om supra tishta vajre svaha.'

Viewer's Right Side: 'On vajra ayushe svaha. Om yamantaka hum phat. Om amarana jivante svaha. Om supra tishta vajre svaha.'

'Om vajra ayushe svaha. Om vajra chanda maha roshana hum phat. Bhyoh rakmo bhyoh rakmo bhyoh bhyoh rakmo tun bhyoh kala rakchenmo, rakmo abya tabya tun bhyoh, rulu rulu hum bhyoh hum. om supra tishta vajre svaha.'

Jeff Watt 12-2012 [updated 8-2017]