Walse Ngampa
(item no. 200006)

Tibet

1800 - 1899

Ground Mineral Pigment on Cotton

Collection of Rubin Museum of Art

(acc.# P1999.9.9)

 


Walse Ngampa (Tibetan: dbal gsas rngam pa): fierce Tutelary Deity of Body, from the Five Supreme Deities of Father Tantra.

Wrathful in appearance, blue-black in colour, with nine faces and 18 hands, the three main faces are blue, white and red. Each face has three eyes. Above, the middle faces are that of a tiger, lion and leopard. Above that are a dragon, garuda (King of Birds) and makara (sea creature). Dark yellow flame-like hair flows upward. The two main hands hold a purba (peg) at the heart and embrace the consort ? with one face, two hands, and green of colour, wearing a leopard skin skirt. The remaining hands extend to the sides holding various weapons, animals and miscellaneous objects. The main faces are adorned with crowns, earrings and the like. Wrathful vestments decorate the body. In a threatening posture with the left leg bent and the right straight, above two naked figures, a sun disc, multi-coloured lotus and a square throne, he is surrounded by brightly burning orange and red flames of wisdom. In front, a table is covered with offerings and ritual objects.

At the top center is Kunzang Gyalwa Dupa (All Good Gathering of Conquerors), white in colour with five faces and ten hands, peaceful in appearance, seated with the legs folded together. At the left is Tritsug Gyalwa, Tonpa Shenrab as an enlightened conqueror. Wearing monastic robes, the right hand is extended forward touching the ground and the left in the lap supports a black begging bowl. At the right side is a lama figure in monastic robes with the right hand held to the heart in a gesture of blessing and the left supporting a book in the lap.

At the lower left and right are two wrathful tutelary deities, blue-black in colour with multiple heads and arms, each embracing a consort. At the bottom right is the wrathful wisdom protector Sipa'i Gyalmo, blue, with three faces and six hands. Extremely fierce in appearance, she rides on a mule surrounded by grey smoke. At the left a red ?tsen? daemon, dressed as a warrior, a worldly protector, with one face and two hands, rides a horse. In the middle is the protector Nege Jampa, blue, wrathful, with one face and two hands riding on a grey-blue otter.

Jeff Watt & Lee Hartline 1-2000


View other items in:
Thematic Set
Bon Artworks (All)
Collection of Rubin Museum of Art: Painting Gallery IX
Bon: Wrathful Deities
Bon: Introduction
Bon Deity: Walse Ngampa
1800 - 1899 (19th Century) Part III
Collection of Rubin Museum of Art: Bon Artworks



Copyright © 2008 Shelley and Donald Rubin Foundation.
Photographed Image Copyright © 2004 Rubin Museum of Art