Item: Worldly Protector (Buddhist) - Dorje Legpa

Dorje Legpa (Sanskrit: Vajra Sadhu). Oath bound worldly protector of the Nyingma School, guardian of the Revealed Treasure Tradition.

Tibetan: Dor je leg pa Sanskrit: Vajra Sadhu

"...above a lotus and sun and a gelded goat, or a white radiant lion, ... is the excellent Dorje Legpa, maroon, one face, two hands, three eyes. The face is radiant with bared fangs, exhaling a poisonous breath, with red hair and moustache flowing upward. The right hand holds a vajra striking the heads of enemies and the left a human heart. Wearing a cloak of red silk, dwelling in a fierce and wrathful manner." (Terdag Lingpa Gyurme Dorje 1646-1714 and Minling Lochen Dharmashri 1654-1718. Tibetan source text 'dod 'jo bum bzang, Part II, page 242).

Tibetan Source Text Scanned pages

"At the blazing iron fortress of Uyug Shang, powerful son from the union with a Mu daemon, great in magical emanations, performing attentively the commands of bhagavan Vajrapani; homage to the herald of liberation, Dorje Legpa." (Nyingma liturgical verse).

Indigenous to Tibet, the daemon Dorje Legpa was subjugated in the 8th century by Guru Padmasambhava and oath bound as a Dharma protector. His primary function is to safeguard the Revealed Treasure texts (Terma) of the Nyingma Tradition of Tibetan Buddhism.

The style of painting is called 'nag tang' - black scroll. Executed on a black background the figures are outlined with fine gold line and coloured pigments are added according to particular custom or the wishes of the patron and artist.

Jeff Watt 10-98