Item: Worldly Protector (Buddhist) - Shingkyong Rag-gyal
| Origin Location | Tibet |
|---|---|
| Date Range | 1800 - 1899 |
| Lineages | Nyingma and Gelug |
| Size | 68.58x46.99cm (27x18.50in) |
| Material | Ground Mineral Pigment on Cotton |
| Collection | Rubin Museum of Art |
| Catalogue # | acc.# P1998.13.3 |
Classification: Deity
Appearance: Semi-Peaceful
Gender: Male
Shingkyong Rag Gyal: a wealth deity originating with Padmasambhava and the Nyingma Tradition and later adopted into the Gelugpa Tradition.
Regal in manner Shingkyong Rag Gyal holds upraised a vajra hook in the right hand and with the left clutches to the side of the body a golden wealth vase, spilling over with jewels. Lavishly attired, he rides atop a white snow lion bristling with a green shaggy mane in the center of a palace courtyard.
At the top center is Vajrapani, blue in colour, peaceful in appearance with one face and two hands. At the right sits Padmasambhava and at the left Lama Tsongkapa in the form of a mahasiddha riding atop a tiger while holding a sword and a skullcup.
An elaborate composition of hand prints, inscriptions, mantras and yantras cover the back of the painting. The two principal handprints belong to the most important religious teachers of the Chamdo area of Tibet in the mid 1800s, the 9th Pagpa Lha Ngagwang Lobzang Jigme (1849-1900) and the 5th Shiwa Lha Lobsang Dondrub Gyatso.
Ngagwang Lobsang Jigme Lobsang Dondrub Gyatso
Jeff Watt 7-2004
Front of Painting
Wylie Transliteration of Inscription: gu ru. phag na rdo rje. rje 'jigs rung stag chibs. shing skyongs rag rgyal gnyen po nor gyi bdag.
Reverse of Painting
Wylie Transliteration of Inscription: Names beneath each of the five handprints: 'phags pa lha ngag dbang blo bzang 'jigs med bstan pa'i rgayl mtshan gyi phag rjes. zhi sprul blo bzang don grub rgya mtsho'i phag rje. rje dbon blo bzang 'jam dpal bstan 'dzin rnam rgyal gyi phag rjes. ngag dbang dpal ldan rgya mtsho'i phag rjes. rje dbon.
Special Features: (Cursive script (Umay), Printed script (Uchen), Ranjana script (Ornamental Sanskrit), handprints, includes "Om Ah Hum" inscription)
Publication: Eternal Presence
Thematic Sets
Collection of RMA: Historically Important Works
Buddhist Protectors, Worldly Deities (Lokapala)
Collection of Rubin Museum of Art: Painting Gallery 7
Buddhist Protectors: Worldly (Nyingma)
Subject: Mountain Gods & Local Deities