Aku Trotung: the uncle of King Gesar of Ling. This painting belongs to a set depicting Ling Gesar and the Thirty Warrior Heroes. There are likely to be seven paintings in the complete composition.

At the top center is the wrathful deity Hayagriva, red, with one face and two hands. Aku Trotung is considered to be an emanation of the deity Hayagriva. Each of the thirty warriors that accompany King Gesar are believed to be emanations of bodhisattvas, deities, Indian scholars and mahasiddhas. At the four corners are four retinue attendants riding horses.

It is likely that this painting belongs either to a set of paintings depicting Gesar accompanied by the thirty warriors, or it is a painting from a set depicting the major characters in the life story of Gesar.

Jeff Watt 8-2003