Himalayan Art Resources

Item: Worldly Protector (Buddhist) - Dorje Setrab

འཇིག་རྟེན་པའི་ལྷ། ནང་ལྷ། 世俗的神(佛教)
(item no. 845)
Origin Location Tibet
Date Range 1800 - 1899
Lineages Gelug
Size 67.95x42.55cm (26.75x16.75in)
Material Ground Mineral Pigment on Cotton
Collection Rubin Museum of Art
Catalogue # acc.# P1999.13.4
Notes about the Central Figure

Classification: Deity

Appearance: Warrior

Gender: Male

Interpretation / Description

Dorje Setrap: is either an indigenous daemon of Tibet, subjugated by Padmasambhava and appointed as a guardian of the Buddhist religion, or brought to Tibet from India by Ngog Legpai Sherab.

Fearsome in appearance, red in colour, he holds upraised in the right hand a red stick topped with a skull. The left hand holds a lasso at the waist above a quiver of arrows and a bow in a leopard skin pouch. Seated atop a brown horse, he is completely surrounded by the brightly burning orange and red flames of wisdom fire. An attendant figure stands below.

At the top center is Lama Tsongkapa with the two main disciples Khedrup and Gyaltsap seated at the sides. At the right corner is the meditational deity Vajrabhairava. At the left corner is the enlightened protector Yama Dharmaraja.

Jeff Watt 10-2000

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