Himalayan Art Resources

Item: Teacher (Lama) - Teacher

བླ་མ། 喇嘛
(item no. 73729)
Origin Location Tibet
Date Range 1700 - 1799
Lineages Sakya, Ngor (Sakya) and Buddhist
Material Ground Mineral Pigment on Cotton
Collection John and Berthe Ford
Catalogue # Collection of Pascal Butal
Notes about the Central Figure

Classification: Person

Appearance: Monastic

Gender: Male

Interpretation / Description

Jamyang Sherab Gyatso, Ngor Khenchen 3 (1396? - 1474 [P1569]). A teacher of the Sakya Lamdre Lineage.

At the top left corner is a standing form of Amitabha which is used in longevity rituals and meditations.

"...in the sky is a red thousand petalled lotus, in the middle a full moon disc. Above that is the Bhagavan Lord of Immeasurable Life and Pristine Awareness, with a radiant body, ruby-like in colour, red and radiant. A youth sixteen years of age, smiling and peaceful, with a pleasant face. At the heart, between the two hands clasped together, is held a vaidurya alms bowl filled with immortal nectar. Standing in a manner with the two feet together. The hair of the head is heaped with half of the black locks in the manner of a tuft tied on the crown. The remaining tresses extend [downward] between the heels of the feet; with various silks as a lower garment, red silks as an upper garment and lavishly adorned, surrounded by the root and lineage teachers and a host of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, dwelling as if real." (Tsarchen Losal Gyatso, 1502-1566).

An inscription on the reverse of the paintings says 'left 11, Jamyang Sherab Gyatso.' That would make this composition the 23 painting in the set.

Jeff Watt 1-2018

Secondary Images
Related Items
Publications
Publication: Secret Revelation of Tibetan Thangkas

Thematic Sets
Collection: Christie's, New York (Painting & Sculpture. March, 2018)
Painting Tradition: Khyenri Main Page
Painting Tradition: Khyenri Iconography
Painting Set: Margapala [11]
Painting Style: Khyenri - Teachers & Siddhas