Himalayan Art Resources

Item: Chakrasamvara (Buddhist Deity) - White (Umapa Tradition)

འཁོར་ལོ་བདེ་མཆོག། ནང་ལྷ། 勝樂金剛 (全图)
(item no. 77572)
Origin Location Mongolia
Date Range 1800 - 1899
Lineages Gelug and Buddhist
Size 39x31cm (15.35x12.20in)
Material Ground Mineral Pigment on Cotton
Collection Royal Ontario Museum
Notes about the Central Figure

Classification: Deity

Appearance: Peaceful

Gender: Male

Interpretation / Description

White Chakrasamvara: according to the tradition of Lama Umapa.

The White Chakrasamvara tradition of Lama Umapa describes the deity as having a single face and two arms, embracing a red consort. Both are in a seated posture. The male figure holds two long-life vases in the right and left hands folded around the back of the consort. The consort holds two skullcups in the right and left hands. She is seated with her legs wrapped around the waist of Chakrasamvara.

"...Chakrasamvara, white like the reflection of the sun on a crystal mountain, stainless and radiant, one face, two hands, three eyes, hair in a topknot, adorned with beautiful ornaments, holding two long-life vases in the hands, embracing the consort, seated in vajra posture. In the lap is Vajrayogini, red in color, with one face, two hands and three eyes, seated, holding a skullcup filled with nectar in each hand, embracing the Lord around the neck, the two legs embracing the waist, beautifully dressed."

[Lineage]: "Vajradhara, Manjushri, Pawo Dorje [Umapa], Tsongkapa [1357-1419], Jampel Gyatso, Kedrub Geleg Palzang, Baso Chokyi Gyaltsen, Chokyi Dorje, Lobzang Dondrub, Kedrub Sanggye Yeshe, Lobzang Chokyi Gyaltsen, Konchog Gyaltsen, Panchen Lobzang Yeshe, Lobzang Zopa, Lobzang Palden Yeshe, Lobzang Jampal, etc." (bde mchog dkar po'i tshe sgrub bdag mdun dang bcas pa, by rta tshag 08 bstan pa'i mgon po. Volume 2, folio 13-22. Gyaltsab Yeshe Lobzang Tanpa'i Gonpo, 1760-1810).

The description of White Chakrasamvara written by the 8th Tatsag is based on a sadhana written by the 5th Dalai Lama, Ngagwang Lobzang Gyatso (1617-1682).

At the bottom center is Shri Shmashana Adhipati, the Lords of the Cemetery. They appear as two dancing skeletons but function as the special protectors of the Chakrasamvara cycle of Tantras.

Jeff Watt & Karma Gellek 9-2012

Secondary Images
Related Items
Thematic Sets
Buddhist Deity: Chakrasamvara, White (Lama Umapa)
Buddhist Deity: Chakrasamvara Main Page
Collection of Royal Ontario Museum: Paintings
Buddhist Deity: Chakrasamvara, White