Himalayan Art Resources

Item: Mandala of Vajrakila (Eight Pronouncements)

རྡོ་རྗེ་ཕུར་པ། 金刚普巴(本尊)
(item no. 59369)
Origin Location Central Tibet
Date Range 1600 - 1699
Lineages Nyingma, Jonang (Sakya) and Buddhist
Size 153.67x94.62cm (60.50x37.25in)
Material Ground Mineral Pigment on Cotton
Collection The Norton Simon Museum
Catalogue # M.1975.14.11.P
Painting School Khyenri
Notes about the Central Figure

Classification: Deity

Interpretation / Description

"...the king of wrath, bhagavan Vajrakumara, with a body blue-black [in colour], three faces and six hands. The right face is white, left red, the center blue. Held with the two pairs of right and left hands are a nine and five pointed vajra, a blazing mass of fire and a trident. The remaining two roll a kila. The body is huge and heavy, with bared fangs, three eyes - round and red, brown hair flowing upward; wearing an elephant hide, human skin, and a tiger skin as a lower garment. Adorned with white, red, green, and black snakes as a crown, necklace and sash, decorating the arms and legs. Five dry skulls adorn the head. Wearing a garland of fifty fresh [heads], marked with clots of rakta, spots of great ash and a smear of grease, adorned with various jewel ornaments. With four legs the right are bent and left extended atop the head of Ishvara - face down, and the breast of Uma, standing in the middle of a massive fire of pristine awareness." (Sakya Ngawang Kunga Lodro, 1729-1783). (See the Nyingma Mandala Masterworks Page).

Khon Vajrakila Lineage: Dharmakaya Samantabhadra, Sambhogakaya Vajrasattva, Nirmanakaya Padmasambhava, Khon Lu'i Wang Srungwa, Khon Dorje Rinchen, Khon Sherab Yontan, Khon Tsultrim Gyalpo, Khon Dorje Tsugtor, Khon Gekyab, Khon Getong, Khon Balpo, Khon Shakya Lodro, Khon Rog Sherab Tsultrim, Khon Konchog Gyalpo, Tsechen Kunga Nyingpo, Lobpon Sonam Tsemo, Jetsun Dragpa Gyaltsen, Sapan Kunga Gyaltsen, Chogyal Pagpa Lodro Gyaltsen, etc. (See the Khon Family Lineage).

Jeff Watt [updated 12-2020]

Secondary Images
Related Items
Thematic Sets
Painting Tradition: Khyenri Mandalas
Painting Tradition: Khyenri Iconography
Painting Tradition: Khyenri Main Page
Nyingma: Mandala Masterworks
Buddhist Deity: Vajrakila Art History
Mandala: Mandala Main Page
Buddhist Deity: Vajrakila (Khon Tradition)
Collection of the Norton Simon (Painting Masterworks)
Buddhist Deity: Vajrakila Main Page
Buddhist Deity: Vajrakila (Masterworks)
Collection of the Norton Simon (Painting & Textiles)
Mandala: Jonang Tradition