Item: Teacher (Lama) - Wangdu Nyingpo, Sakya Tridzin 32

Wangdu Nyingpo, Thuchen (c.1763-c.1806): Patriarch of the Khon Family, the 32nd Sakya Trizin, the second Padmasambhava of this Age and a renowned Terton (finder of Revealed Treasure), surrounded by tutelary deities and the figures of previous lives.

Biographical Details

Gazing with wide open eyes and a slight smile Wangdu Nyingpo extends the right arm and holds a gold vajra scepter. In the left hand a vajra handled bell is held up to the heart. In the typical appearance of a Sakya Tridzin he wears his hair long with a copy of the Hevajra Tantra text adorning the crown. White earrings of bone are common for depictions of Wangdu Nyingpo and he wears a lower garment of white cloth. A red sash holds in place a sorcers horn and a three sided peg associated with the deity Vajrakila.

"To the Buddhas of the three times as the second Oddiyana. Protector with all gathered power over the animate and inanimate. Subduer of wrong doers, possessing the essence of the path entwined as the great bliss of the four joys together with wisdom, compassion and power. I pray, pacify obstacles of daemons and bhutas, and bestow the blessing of attainments - making aspirations spontaneous." (Dragshul Trinle Rinchen, 1871-1935).

Depicted at the top of the painting are the principal meditational deities special to Wangdu Nyingpo. At the top left are Chakrasamvara, Vajrayogini and Hevajra. At the top right are Vajrakila, Hayagriva and Vajrapani. At the middle left is Shmashana Adhipati, the two dancing skeletons, and on the right is Dorje Shugden Tanag, riding a black horse. At the bottom center is Panjarnata Mahakala with Brahmarupa Mahakala on the left and Shri Devi Dudsolma on the right. The gold background of the composition is filled with small depictions of the Buddha of long life Amitayus.

Jeff Watt 10-2002

Wisdom Calendar 2002 - September (full catalog list)