Himalayan Art Resources

Item: Teacher (Lama) - (multiple figures)

བླ་མ། 喇嘛
(item no. 89141)
Origin Location Tibet
Date Range 1200 - 1299
Lineages Kagyu
Size 22.50x18cm (8.86x7.09in)
Material Ground Mineral Pigment on Cotton
Collection Rubin Museum of Art
Notes about the Central Figure

Classification: Person

Interpretation / Description

The six large figures in the center of the composition are Pagmodrupa at the top left with Ratnabala Shri seated on the right. Between these two is a very small image of Vajra Prabha. In the middle register are Shri Vajra Vairochana dressed as an Indian and wearing a pandita hat and Dampa Gyagar Nagchung, blue in colour, with a naked upper body and a head of black curly hair. In the bottom register are Shri Vajra Kirti Bodhi dressed as a monk and Ratna Dharma Kirti (1110-1193), the 1st Karmapa, wearing a black hat, and inscribed on the reverse with his childhood name.

Descending vertically in the two outer registers are the Eight Great Siddhas. Beginning on the left are King Indrabhuti, yellow in colour, embracing a consort, Dombi Heruka riding atop a tiger, Saraha in a standing posture and holding a bow across the shoulders and Kukkuripa, green, holding a white dog. Descending on the right are Nagarjuna dressed in the robes of a monk, Luipa in the attire of a mahasiddha, Ghantapa, orange, holding a vajra scepter upraised in the right hand and Padmavajra with a small deity seated above the left shoulder.

Along the top register starting at the left are Shakyamuni Buddha, Vajradhara, Ratnamati, Gawai Dorje, Anangavajra, Vajrasana and Abhayakara. Along the bottom register starting at the left are Acharaya Padmakara, Sadhuraja (possibly the donor of the painting), Chaturbhuja Mahakala, Kakamukha Mahakala, Chaturbhuja Mahakala (standing), and Palden Atisha.

The top and bottom registers have name inscriptions on the front of the painting. All of the other figures, also including the top and bottom registers, have name inscriptions on the back of the painting. In some cases both the Tibetan and Sanskrit name is given on the back.

Jeff Watt 9-2006

Numbered:
1. Pagmodrubpa
2. Ratnabala Shri
3. Shri vajra Vairochana
4. Dampa Gyagar Nagchung
5. Shri vajra Kirti Bodhi
6. Ratna Dharma Kirti (1st Karmapa)
7. Vajraprabha
8. Indrabhuti
9. Nagarjuna
10. Dombi Heruka
11. Luipa
12. Saraha
13. Ghantapa
14. Kukkuripa
15. Padmavajra
16. Shakyamuni Buddha
17. Vajradhara
18. Ratnamati
19. Gawa'i Dorje
20. Anangavajra
21. Vajrasana
22. Abhayakara
23. Acharya Padmakara
24. Sadhuraja
25. Chaturbhuja Mahakala
26. Kakamukha Mahakala
27. Chaturbhuja Mahakala (standing)
28. Palden Atisha

Tibetan Painting by Hugo E. Kreijger (list of image plates).

Secondary Images
Related Items
Exhibition Appearances
Exhibition: Mirror of the Buddha

Publications
Publication: Tibetan Painting (Jucker Collection)

Thematic Sets
Collection of RMA: Best of Collection 1
Collection of Jucker (Tibetan Art)
Teachers: Early Paintings of Teachers (Indian Style)
Subject: Composition - Registers
Collection of RMA: Painting Masterworks Page
Collection of RMA: Persons Masterworks
Subject: Karmapa (Painting Chronology)
Teacher: Taglung (Miscellaneous)
Painting Style: Indian Style Painting (In Tibet)
Collection of RMA: Historically Important Works
Teacher Portraits: Multiple Main Figures
Teacher: Pagmodrubpa Dorje Gyalpo
Subject: Eight Siddhas In One Painting
Teacher: Karmapa (Masterworks)
Subject: Karmapa (Early Paintings)
Incarnation Lineage: Gyalwa Karmapa Main Page
Indian Adept: Padampa Sanggye Main Page
Collection of Rubin Museum of Art: Painting Gallery 4