Item: Teacher (Lama) - Shabdrung Ngagwang Namgyal

Shabdrung Ngagwang Namgyal (1594-1651): the founder of the Drugpa Kagyu tradition of Bhutan.

As a possible candidate for recognition as the incarnation of the deceased lama Padma Karpo disputes arose among the various parties and at the age of 23 Ngagwang Namgyal fled into voluntary exile to the southern country of Bhutan.

At the top center is Amitabha Buddha with Chaturbhuja Lokeshvara to the left and Padmasambhava on the right side. Directly below is Prajnaparamita as a female deity.

At th upper left is Guru Dragpo, red in colour, with a kila lower body.On the right side is Heruka Chakrasamvara.

At the middle left is Shakyamuni Buddha. At the middle right is Chaturbhuja Lokeshvara.

At the bottom center is Chakrasamvara with Chaturbhuja Mahakala seated below. On the left side is Kakamukha Mahakala. On the right side is Shri Devi Dudsolma according to the special tradition of Naropa.

The back of the painting has the letters om, ah, hum for each of the figures along with auspicious mantras and the Ye Dharma Formula: Om ye dharma hetu prabhava hetum tesham tathagato hyavadat tesham cha yo nirodha evam vadi maha shramana svaha

Translation: "All phenomena arise from causes; Those causes have been taught by the Tathagata, And their cessation too has been proclaimed by the Great Shramana." (Rigpa Shedra translation).

Jeff Watt 1-2017