Item: Teacher (Lama) - Karmapa 12, Changchub Dorje

Changchub Dorje, 12th Karmapa.

In the center of the composition is the 12th Karmapa, Changchub Dorje, in the gesture of teaching. The red deity with three faces in the upper left corner with a long life vase is a personification of the three roots (guru, ishtadevata and dharma protector/dakini) called Tsasum Dildrup རྩ་གསུམ་དྲིལ་སྒྲུབ་, which derives from Tsedrup Tabshé Kajor, a cycle of long-life practices revealed by Yonge Mingyur Dorje (1628/41-1708). Below the deity is Yonge Mingyur Dorje. The figure to the left of Karmapa wearning a lotus hat is Choje Lingpa (1682-1720/1725) and wearing a blue undershirt is the 7th Pawo Rinpoche, Tsuglag Gawai Wangpo (1718/19-1781). Kar Nak, a retinue deity to Mahakala Bernagchen, is placed in the lower right corner of the painting.

Shinzo Shiratori 8-2024