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. 359)
Origin Location Central Tibet
Date Range 1600 - 1699
Lineages Sakya, Jonang (Sakya) and Buddhist
Size 62.23x52.71cm (24.50x20.75in)
Material Ground Mineral Pigment, Fine Gold Line on Cotton
Collection Shelley & Donald Rubin
Catalogue # acc.# P1996.20.7
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 and No.44 in the Gyu de Kuntu set of mandalas.

"...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).

At the bottom center is the meditational deity - the goddess of power - Kurukulla. To the right is Brahmarupa Mahakala in his form as an Indian ascetic. To the right again is the female protector deity Ekajati holding a heart to her mouth with the proper right hand and a grey wolf held out to the side in the left hand. At the bottom left are a family of donor figures seated according to hierarchy.

Lineage of Teachers: Manjuvajra, Buddha Jnanapada, Shri Deva, Vimala Gupta, the two Rinchens, Risul Yogini, Nyen Lotsawa Chogyan, to the Five Masters, Dampa Kunga Drag, Tashi Pal, Kunga Sonam Shap, Do Pal Kirti Shri Khanpa, Sazang Kupon, Ngorchen, Muchen, Gyaltsap Kunkhyen Je, Ratnavardha, Konchog Lhundrup, Sangye Senge, Namkha Pal Zangpo, Chog Leg Khupon, Sempa Chenpo Khyenrab Tendzin Zang, Drowa Sempa Chenpo Khyenrab Tendzin Zang, Drowai Lama Khyenrab Champai Pal, etc.

Jeff Watt 6-2005

Related Items
Thematic Sets
Mandala: Mandala Main Page
Painting Tradition: Khyenri Mandalas
Tradition: Jonang Masterworks
Tradition: Sakya Deity Paintings
Buddhist Deity: Guhyasamaja Main Page
Buddhist Deity: Guhyasamaja, Manjuvajra (Mandala Masterworks)
Mandalas: Sakya Tradition
Buddhist Deity: Guhyasamaja, Manjuvajra Main Page
Subject: Jonangpa Tradition
Subject: Lineage (Single Composition)
Tradition: Jonang Main Page
Subject: Lineage Definition Page
Tradition: Jonang Iconography
Mandala: Sakya Masterworks