Himalayan Art Resources

Item: Medicine Buddha - Retinue Figure

སངས་རྒྱས་སྨན་ལྷ། 药师佛
(item no. 48347)
Origin Location Tibet
Date Range 1400 - 1499
Lineages Sakya and Buddhist
Material Ground Mineral Pigment on Cotton
Collection John & Karina Stewart
Notes about the Central Figure

Classification: Deity

Interpretation / Description

Ishana (Shiva) as one of the Ten Gods in the retinue of the Medicine Buddha Mandala. (See the complete list of fifty-one figures in the mandala).

Ten Gods:
26 (1). Eastern direction, Brahma, yellow, holding a wheel, riding a goose.
27 (2). Indra, white, holding a vajra, riding an elephant.
28 (3). Agni, red, holding a fire pot, riding a goat.
29 (4). Southern direction, Yama, blue, holding a stick, riding a buffalo.
30 (5). South-west, Raksha, black-maroon, holding a sword, riding a zombie.
31 (6). West, Varuna, white, holding a snake lasso, riding a makara.
32 (7). North-west, Vayu Deva, smoky-coloured, holding a banner, riding a deer.
33 (8). North, Yaksha, yellow, holding a mongoose, riding a horse.
34 (9). North-east, Ishana (Shiva), white, holding a trident, riding a buffalo.
35 (10). West, Bhudevi, yellow, holding a vase, riding a sow.

Jeff Watt 4-2015

Secondary Images
Related Items
Thematic Sets
Painting Type: Miniature Paintings in Himalayan Art
Subject: Guardians of the Ten Directions
Subject: Strings of Miniature Paintings (Banners)
Hindu Deity: Shiva Main Page
Buddhist Deity: Medicine Buddha (retinue figures)
Collection: John & Karina Stewart (Painting)
Buddhist Deity: Medicine Buddha (Retinue Figure Masterworks)
Painting Style: Gyantse Scroll Paintings
Buddhist Deity: Shiva-like Figures
Buddhist Deity: Medicine Buddha (Painting Set 14)