Himalayan Art Resources

Item: Teacher (Lama) - Kedrub Geleg Pal Zangpo

བླ་མ། 喇嘛
(item no. 56)
Origin Location Central Tibet
Date Range 1800 - 1899
Lineages Gelug
Size 40.64x68.58cm (16x27in)
Material Ground Mineral Pigment, Fine Gold Line on Cotton
Collection Shelley & Donald Rubin
Catalogue # acc.# P1994.8.4
Notes about the Central Figure

Classification: Person

Appearance: Monastic

Gender: Male

TBRC: bdr:P55

Interpretation / Description

Khedrup Geleg Pal Zangpo (1385-1438): 2nd of the two heart sons of Lama Tsongkapa.

Biographical Details

Saddened by the suffering of sentient beings lost in the ocean of worldly existence, Khedrup, at the middle left, slumps over the corner of a table thinking of the kindness of his teacher who then instantly appears in the sky above.

In a devoted kneeling posture, at the middle right, wearing the patched red robes of a monk, Khedrup is seated on a low cushion with a backrest of colourful fabric. Looking upward at a vision, Khedrup holds upraised a symbolic mandala offering of the universe constructed of precious substances and heaps of grain atop a flat mandala plate of gold and jewels held respectfully with a white scarf. Offered to the Lord Tsongkapa - he is seated on a cloud bank atop an elephant, performing the Dharma Teaching mudra with the hands placed at the heart while holding the stems of two flower blossoms supporting a wisdom sword and book. Attired in the garb of a monk and wearing the yellow pandita hat he is accompanied by three attendants.

At the top right is Sahaja Heruka Vajrabhairava, blue in colour with a buffalo face and the two hands holding a curved knife and skullcup embracing the consort Vajra Vetali; surrounded by flames.

At the bottom left is the wrathful protector Shadbhuja Mahakala, emanation of Avalokiteshvara - the Lord with six hands, blue in colour with one face, fierce attire and surrounded by flames of pristine awareness. At the lower right along side a table of folio books Khedrup sits in the work of editing the collection of 'Shadbhuja' literature.

Khedrup Geleg Pal Zangpo is regarded as a pre-incarnation (Tibetan: tulku) in the line of Panchen Lamas.

Jeff Watt 10-98

Reverse of Painting
English Translation of Inscription: The reverend King of Dharma, Tsongkapa, who bestowed the empowerment and precepts of Vajrabhairava on Khedrup Geleg Pal who clarified the interpolations in the collection of services and practices of the Six Handed Lord.

Wylie Transliteration of Inscription: rje btsun chos kyi rgyal po rtsong kha pas, rdo rje 'jigs byed dbang dang gdams pa gnang, phag drug mgon po bsnyan bsgrubs be bum la, lha zhugs bsal mdzad mkas grub dge legs dpal.

Special Features: (Printed script (Uchen))

Secondary Images
Related Items
Exhibition Appearances
Exhibition: Wutaishan, Pilgrimage to Five Peak Mountain

Thematic Sets
Incarnation Lineage: Panchen Lama (Nartang Style Composition)
Teacher: Kedrub (Nartang Set)
Tradition: Gelug Teachers (Paintings)
Incarnation Lineage: Panchen Lama, Previous Births (Nartang)
Teacher: Kedrub Geleg Pal Zangpo Page
Collection of Shelley & Donald Rubin