Himalayan Art Resources

Item: Teacher (Lama) - Shabdrung Ngagwang Namgyal

བླ་མ། 喇嘛
(item no. 360)
Origin Location Bhutan
Date Range 1800 - 1899
Material Ground Mineral Pigment on Cotton
Collection Rubin Museum of Art
Catalogue # acc. # P1996.20.8
Notes about the Central Figure

Classification: Person

Appearance: Monastic

Gender: Male

TBRC: bdr:P4902

Interpretation / Description

Shabdrung Ngagwang Namgyal (1594-1651): the founder of the Drugpa Kagyu tradition of Bhutan. As a possible candidate for recognition as the incarnation of the deceased lama Padma Karpo disputes arose amongst the various parties and at the age of 23 Ngagwang Namgyal fled into voluntary exile to the southern country of Bhutan.

Shab drung ngag wang nam gyal Biographical Details

At the top center is the primordial Buddha Vajradhara. To the left is the mahasiddha Tilopa holding a fish and seated at the right is Naropa. Along the sides are various lamas, monks and a solitary yogi wearing a white cotton robe.

Jeff Watt 4-2000

Related Items
Thematic Sets
Region: Bhutan, Paintings
Region: Bhutan, Teachers
Collection of Rubin Museum of Art: Bhutan
Teacher: Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal