Himalayan Art Resources

Item: Mandala of Guhyasamaja (Buddhist Deity) - Akshobhyavajra

གསང་བ་འདུས་པ། ནང་ལྷ། 密集金刚(佛教本尊)
(item no. 575)
Origin Location Tibet
Date Range 1300 - 1399
Lineages Sakya
Size 35.56x34.61cm (14x13.63in)
Material Ground Mineral Pigment, Fine Gold Line on Cotton
Collection Rubin Museum of Art
Catalogue # acc.# F1997.43.1
Notes about the Central Figure

Classification: Deity

Appearance: Semi-Peaceful

Gender: Male

TBRC: bdr:W25350

Interpretation / Description

Guhyasamaja (Secret Assembly) Akshobhyavajra Mandala with thirty-two deities; the main subject has three faces and six hands; blue-black in colour; peaceful with a slightly fierce expression; seated in vajra posture.

Guhyasamaja has two main traditions, the Arya (Nagarjuna) Lineage and the Jnana (Jnanapada) Lineage. The subject of this painting is the Arya Lineage. Of the three types of Anuttarayoga Tantra this is the chief of the 'Method' (Father) class.

Jeff Watt 4-98

Reverse of Painting
Special Features: (includes "Om Ah Hum" inscription)

Related Items
Thematic Sets
Mandala: Mandala Main Page
Collection of Rubin Museum of Art: Painting Gallery 3
Tradition: Sakya Deity Paintings
Buddhist Deity: Guhyasamaja Main Page
Painting Style: Tibet (Balri)
Mandala: Early Works (1100-1399)
Mandalas: Sakya Tradition
Buddhist Deity: Guhyasamaja, Akshobhyavajra
Collection of Rubin Museum of Art: Mandala