Himalayan Art Resources

Item: Chakrasamvara (Buddhist Deity) - Sahaja Heruka

འཁོར་ལོ་བདེ་མཆོག། ནང་ལྷ། 勝樂金剛 (全图)
(item no. 58301)
Origin Location Tibet
Date Range 1200 - 1299
Lineages Kagyu and Drigung (Kagyu)
Material Ground Mineral Pigment on Silk
Collection Margot and Tom Pritzker
Notes about the Central Figure

Classification: Deity

Appearance: Semi-Peaceful

Gender: Male

Interpretation / Description

Chakrasamvara, Sahaja Heruka, with the footprints of Drigung Tangpa Chenpo at the right and left.

Tibetan: Khor lo dem chog

In the center of the composition is Chakrasamvara Sahaja Heruka, blue in clour, with one face and two hands, embracing the consort Vajravarahi, red in colour.

In the top register, starting at the left corner, are Vajradhara, Tilopa, Naropa, Gampopa, Pagmodrupa, Marpa, Milarepa, and two unidentified figures.

In the second register, starting at the left, are Samaya Vajra, Gauri, Buddha Lochana, Mamaki, Samantabhadri, Mohavajra, Dveshavajra, Matsaryavajra, Ragavajra, and Irshyavajra. Each of the ten female deities have three faces and six hands, and hold various attributes. Below that, in the center above Chakrasamvara, is Rinchen Drigungpa, the founder of the Drigung Kagyu School of Tibetan Buddhism.

Descending vertically in the two outer registers are the Eight Great Siddhas. Beginning on the left are King Indrabhuti, with Virupa on one side and Lakshminkara on the other. Below that is Dombi Heruka riding atop a tiger with his consort. Below that is Saraha in a standing posture and holding a bow across the shoulders, accompanied by two consorts. Below that is Kukkuripa, holding a dog. Descending on the right are Nagarjuna seated on the right side of Shakyamuni Buddha with Atisha seated on the other side of the Buddha. All three are dressed in the robes of a monk. Below Nagarjuna is Luipa with both hands raised up and dressed in the attire of a mahasiddha. Below that is Padmavajra embracing a consort. Below that is Vajra Ghantapa, holding a vajra scepter and a bell.

At the lower left side above the bottom register is Achala, blue in colour, holding sword in the upraised right hand. At the lower right is Vajravarahi, red, holding a curved knife in the upaised right hand and standing in a dancing posture.

In the bottom register starting at the left are Chaturbhuja Mahakala, dark blue in colour, seated, with four hands, Yellow Jambhala, Hayagriva holding a stick, Vajrapani holding a vajra scepter, Ushnisha Chakravartin, an unidentified red figure, and Shri Devi with one face and two hands, riding a donkey.

There are four paintings with the same general composition two of which appear to be one copied from the other. See paintings 58301, 65205, 81410 and 81411.

Jeff Watt 9-2006

Eternal Presence, Handprints and Footprints in Buddhist Art. Kathryn H. Selig Brown. Plate 6, page 39.

Related Items
Exhibition Appearances
Exhibition: Mirror of the Buddha

Publications
Publication: Eternal Presence

Thematic Sets
Tradition: Drigung Kagyu Main Page
Buddhist Deity: Chakrasamvara, Heruka
Subject: Footprints & Handprints (Footprints Only)
Teacher: Jigten Sumgon Footprints
Buddhist Deity: Chakrasamvara, Heruka (Couple, Painting)
Subject: Footprints (Chakrasamvara)
Collection of Margot and Tom Pritzker (Paintings)
Subject: Lineage Paintings - Asymmetrical
Subject: Footprint Paintings (Early Works)
Buddhist Deity: Chakrasamvara (Early Kagyu Painting)
Subject: Footprints & Handprints (Kagyu)
Buddhist Deity: Chakrasamvara Main Page
Subject: Eight Siddhas In One Painting
Painting Style: Indian (Drigung Subjects)
Subject: Wrathful Ornaments (Scarf)
Subject: Footprints & Handprints Main Page
Teacher: Jigten Sumgon Main Page