Himalayan Art Resources

Item: Shri Devi (Buddhist Protector) - Palden Lhamo

དཔལ་ལྡན་ལྷ་མོ། 吉祥天母(佛教护法)
(item no. 602)
Origin Location Bhutan
Date Range 1800 - 1899
Material Ground Mineral Pigment, Black Background on Silk
Collection Rubin Museum of Art
Catalogue # acc.# F1998.1.2
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 three wrathful retinue attendants mounted on horses below.

At the top left is the lama Shabdrung Ngagwang Namgyal (1594-1651). At the right is another lama figure. Above the central figure is the tutelary deity Sahaja Heruka Chakrasamvara.

Jeff Watt 4-2000

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