Item: Worldly Protector (Bon)

The Four Special Protectors of Menri Monastery: Machen Pomra, Midud Champa Traggo, Tsen Ase and Nyi Pangse.

At the top left is white Machen Pomra, with one face and two hands, holding a riding crop and a jewel. Attired in the colourful garb and helmet of a soldier he rides atop a white snow lion with a green mane wreathed by ribbons of rainbow light.

At the right is blue Midud Champa Traggo, wrathful with orange hair flowing upward. The left hand holds an axe and the right a scepter. Riding atop a grey otter he is surrounded by dark smoke.

At the lower left is red Tsen Ase, a tsen daemon with bulbous eyes and a gaping mouth, yellow hair bristling upward. The right hand holds a riding whip and in the left a fresh heart held upraised to the mouth. Seated astride a red horse he is surrounded by blazing orange and red flames.

At the right is peaceful, Nyi Pangse, white, holding a riding crop in the upraised right hand and a precious jewel in the left. Wearing a white turban and colourful attire he rides on a white horse amidst billowing grey and white clouds.

These four are the special protectors of the Menri Monastery founded by Nyamme Sherab Gyaltsen.

Jeff Watt & Lee Hartline 1-2000