Item: Worldly Protector (Bon)

Tsengo Dragpa Gyaltsen: a Tibetan god belonging to the Tsen classification of deities according to the new tradition of Bon called the Bon Sarma.

Tsen deities are typically depicted as red in colour, wearing military attire, and riding atop a red horse. He holds upraised in the right hand a long trident lance and in the left a human heart held up to the mouth. Behind is a red fortress with four stories. Within the fortress compound encircled by a wall are the consort on the right and other retinue attendants along with various animals and a monk figure.

At the top center is Tagla Membar, red, with one face and two hands holding golden weapon wheels. At the right is Sipai Gyalmo with three faces and six hands riding atop a black mule. At the left is a human teacher with his hands folded at the heart in a teaching gesture.

At the bottom of the composition are two retinue figures with one riding a tiger and the other a black horse.

Jeff Watt 10-2007