Himalayan Art Resources

Item: Mandala of Guhyasamaja (Buddhist Deity) - Manjuvajra

གསང་བ་འདུས་པ། ནང་ལྷ། 密集金刚(佛教本尊)
(item no. 30833)
Origin Location Tibet
Date Range 1300 - 1399
Lineages Sakya and Buddhist
Material Ground Mineral Pigment on Cotton
Collection Private
Notes about the Central Figure

Classification: Deity

Appearance: Peaceful

Gender: Male

TBRC: bdr:W25359

Interpretation / Description

Guhyasamaja, Manjuvajra (Tibetan: sang wa du pa, jam pai dor je. English: Melodious Vajra, Secret Assembly). Bibliographic reference: Shri Vajra Hridaya Lamkara Tantra-nama, Toh 451. There are three principal lineages for this form of the meditational deity Guhyasamaja. The first is the lineage of Abhayakaragupta contained in the Vajravali text. The second lineage is that of the Yogini Risul and Nyen Lotsawa, no.44 in the Gyu de Kuntu set of mandalas. The third lineage belongs to Marpa Lotsawa and the text is found in the Kagyu Ngag Dzo.

"...Manjuvajra, with a body the colour of purified gold, three faces and six hands. The main face is yellow, the right blue and the left white. The first two hands embrace the Mother. The lower right hands hold a sword and arrow, and the lower left an utpala [flower] and bow; wearing jewel ornaments and having the thirty-two major and eighty minor marks; seated with the legs in the vajra posture. In the lap is the Mother Manjuvajra with three faces and six hands, with the colour, hand objects and embrace, the same as that of the Father. Both are resting in a state of union and emanating forth rays of light." (Written by Jamyang Khyentse Wangchug, 1524-1568 reference).

The Guhyasamaja Lineage of Jnanapada: Vajradhara, Arya Manjushri, Acharya Buddha Jnana, Marmedze Zangpo, Shri Deva, Vimalagupta, Ratnavajra, Ratnakirti, Lama Pendapa, Lama Nyen Lotsawa, Lama Nang Kaupa, The Lord of Dharma Sakyapa (Sachen Kunga Nyingpo 1092-1158).

Jeff Watt 9-2000 [updated 6-2017]

Secondary Images
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