Item: Mandala of Deity - (Unidentified)

Mandala of a Buddhist deity currently unidentified.

At the center of the composition is a square, circle and triangle with a second inverted triangle at the center. Within that is a lotus seat with a trident and heart placed above. This entire structure represents a celestial palace with the two hand attributes of a trident and heart representing the unidentified deity within. The deity is wrathful as evidenced by the blazing outer flames and the sea of blood withing the triangular tetrahedron shape. The flayed male human skin is very unusual and gives the impression that the subject of the painting is more of a Yantra with a Linga Effigy rather than a traditional deity mandala. Perhaps the principal function of the work is a wrathful yantra with an additional mandala structure. The large outer blue triangle is also used as an element mandala representing air. The bow placed at the bottom of the triangle is also symbolizing the moving of the air and the fanning of the flames.

The central figure remains unknown however it has been suggested that it might be the female protector deity Ekajati of the Nyingma 'Revealed Treasure' Tradition. Unless there are inscriptions on the reverse of the painting stating thus, or other examples with inscriptions, this would seem to be just a guess. The hand attributes of a trident and a heart are not the typical iconographic characteristics of Ekajati.

Jeff Watt 11-2024