Himalayan Art Resources

Painting Set: Central Stupa

Central Stupa | Stupa Main Page | Repeated Figures | Painting Sets

This unusual painting set of unknown number has a central large stupa with a deity figure seated at the middle of the vase shape. The deities are not positively identified but are most likely the group of female deities known as the Pancha Raksha. Each has three faces and six hands, dark in colour, possibly blue and green. They are seated in a relaxed or vajra posture. Painting sets such as these were often created for the purpose of generating merit to overcome a specific problem such as sickness, poor crops, drought and other worldly issues.

There are many different iconographic forms for each these five female deities, with multiple heads and arms, and many different traditions of practice. They are most popular in Nepal but can be found throughout the Himalayas and Central Asia as well as in China, Korea and Japan.

Jeff Watt 4-2015