Simhamukha (English: Lion-faced Goddess).

Animal-faced deities were commonplace in India. The deity shares the qualities and strengths of the animal portrayed. To be confronted by a lion means to be stopped dead on a path. The Lion-faced Goddess is a Buddha emanation that is intended to shock, stop, and quickly repel all negative forces and obstacles especially environmental contamination and associated health and emotional problems.

At the four corners, each in a different color, are four attendant figures, representing the various activities of the Lion-faced Goddess. At the top left, red and representing the western direction is the activity of having over-whelming power. The top right, north and green, is the turning back of enemies and obstacles. At the bottom left, south and yellow, is the increase of life, merit and well-being. At the bottom right, east and white, is the pacification of all sickness, spirits and emotional distress.

Although originating in northern India, the Lion-faced Goddess became very popular with the Ancient School of Tibetan Buddhism. She was quickly adopted as a special deity associated with the School?s founder, the Lotus-born One (Padmasambhava). The Goddess represented his inner power that transforms worldly existence and suffering into bliss and happiness.

This textile is unusual for the many swatches of different silk fabrics used in the brocade mount surrounding the central embroidered subject. This style of mounting was adopted from the Chinese and became more popular than the simple cotton mounts at the top and bottom of a painting or textile found in earlier Himalayan use.

Jeff Watt 5-2005