Himalayan Art Resources

Item: Shri Devi (Buddhist Protector) - Palden Lhamo

དཔལ་ལྡན་ལྷ་མོ། 吉祥天母(佛教护法)
(item no. 440)
Origin Location Bhutan
Date Range 1800 - 1899
Material Ground Mineral Pigment, Black Background on Cotton
Collection Rubin Museum of Art
Catalogue # acc.# F1996.11.4
Notes about the Central Figure

Classification: Deity

Appearance: Wrathful

Gender: Female

Interpretation / Description

Shri Devi (Tibetan: pal den lha mo. English: Glorious Goddess): the principle female wisdom protector of Tantric Buddhism.

Black in colour, disheveled and emaciated, she has one face and four hands. Riding atop a mule through an ocean of blood, tight red curls of flame engulf the body, further surrounded by dark billowing smoke and wrathful retinue attendants at the sides and below.

At the top center is the lama Shabdrung Ngagwang Namgyal (1594-1651). At the left side is the mahasiddha Tilopa and on the right Naropa. Above the central figure is the tutelary deity Sahaja Heruka Chakrasamvara.

Jeff Watt 4-2000

Secondary Images
Related Items
Exhibition Appearances
Exhibition: RMA Masterworks, January 28th, 2021

Publications
Publication: Selection of Works - Painting (RMA)

Thematic Sets
Region: Bhutan, Paintings
Region: Bhutan, Protectors
Buddhist Protector: Shri Devi (Kagyu)
Buddhist Protector: Shri Devi Main Page
Tradition: Kagyu, Enlightened Protectors
Buddhist Protector: Shri Devi, Dudsol Dokam Wangchugma
Collection of Rubin Museum of Art: Bhutan