Karma Kagyu Lineage Three Painting Set
The three composition painting set depicts the Karma Kagyu Mahamudra Lineage ending with the 14th Gyalwa Karmapa, Tegchog Dorje (1799-1869). The iconographic details in each painting are really fascinating. The lineage begins in the central Marpa painting with the primordial Buddha Vajradhara at the top center. Directly above Milarepa is the Indian siddha Tilopa. Directly above Gampopa is Naropa. The lineage then descends through the Marpa composition and then moving again to the Milarepa painting followed by the Gampopa painting and the completion of the lineage up to the 14th Karmapa.
At the lower center of the Marpa painting is a depiction of the 10th Shamar Mipam Chodrub Gyatso (1742-1792). At the lower center of the Milarepa composition is what appears to be a Tai Situ, possibly Chokyi Jungne. At the lower center of the Gampopa composition is the 5th Karmapa Deshin Shegpa (1384-1415).