Himalayan Art Resources

Item: Teacher (Lama) - (unidentified, male, monastic)

བླ་མ། 喇嘛
(item no. 1846)
Origin Location Tibet
Date Range 1200 - 1299
Lineages Kadam and Buddhist
Material Ground Mineral Pigment on Cotton
Collection Private
Notes about the Central Figure

Classification: Person

Appearance: Monastic

Gender: Male

Interpretation / Description

An Unidentified Teacher of the Kadam tradition of Tibetan Buddhism.

The painting is identified as belonging to the Kadam tradition based on the four deity figures in the bottom register. Beginning at the left side is blue Krodha Achala, white Chaturbhuja Avalokiteshvara, green Arya Tara and orange Arapachana Manjushri. Typically Medicine Buddha would more commonly take the position of Manjushri and the figures would then be known as the Kadam Lha Shi.

The top and side registers depict Dual Lineages with Vinaya lineage descending on the proper left side and a Tantra lineage descending on the proper right side populated with Vajradhara Buddha, Vajrapani and a series of siddha figures.

Jeff Watt, 3-2024

Secondary Images
Related Items
Thematic Sets
Teachers: Early Teachers (Single Figures)
Subject: Prayer Beads (Iconography)
Subject: Lineage Paintings - Dual
Collection: Richard C. Blum and Senator Dianne Feinstein (Bonhams, New York, March 2024)
Teachers: Early Teachers (Left Facing)
Teachers: Early Paintings of Teachers (Indian Style)
Collection: Richard C. Blum and Senator Dianne Feinstein (Early Paintings)