Himalayan Art Resources

Item: Teacher (Lama) - Milarepa

བླ་མ། 喇嘛
(item no. 65121)
Origin Location Tibet
Date Range 1300 - 1399
Lineages Kagyu
Size 55.25x46.99cm (21.75x18.50in)
Material Ground Mineral Pigment on Cotton
Collection Rubin Museum of Art
Catalogue # acc, #C2002.24.5
Notes about the Central Figure

Classification: Person

Appearance: Lay Person

Gender: Male

TBRC: bdr:P1853

Interpretation / Description

Milarepa (1052-1135): the great poet yogi of Tibet, principal student to Marpa the translator, teacher of Rechungpa and Gampopa. The original painting can possibly be dated to the 14th century.

Mi la re pa Biographical Details

Starting at the top right corner and moving to the left are the primordial Buddha Vajradhara, the Indian Adepts Tilopa and Naropa, the Tibetan translator Marpa Chokyi Lodro, the two meditational deities Sahaja Heruka Chakrasamvara and Vajravarahi, and Amitabha Buddha.

Below those and descending on the right are the wisdom deity Manjushri, the Indian adept and king Indrabhuti, Dombi Heruka, Shavaripa, Kukkuripa, the wrathful deity Achala and the female Buddha Green Tara. Descending on the left are Chaturbhuja Avalokiteshvara, Medicine Buddha, Shakyamuni Buddha with the Indian pandita Nagarjuna on the right and the abbot of Vikramashila monastery Atisha on the left, with three Indian Adepts below. Below those is the Goddess of the Dawn, Marichi, yellow, with three faces, the main face yellow, the right white and left that of a slightly angry sow. With six hands the three right hold a vajra, arrow and needle. The left hands hold a branch of the ashoka tree, a bow and thread.

At the bottom right corner and following to the right are dark blue Chaturbhuja Mahakala with four hands, white four-handed Ganapati, red Hayagriva, blue Vajrapani, yellow Ushnisha Chakravartin and the wrathful female protector Shri Devi, dark blue, with two hands, riding on a mule.

Jeff Watt 3-2004

Secondary Images
Related Items
Thematic Sets
Tradition: Kagyu Teachers (Paintings)
Collection of Rubin Museum of Art (RMA): Main Page
Teacher: Milarepa Main Page
Tradition: Kagyu Founding Teachers
Subject: Over-conservation & Restoration Page
Painting Set: Same Artist (Kagyu Set)
Teachers: Early Paintings of Teachers (Indian Style)
Teachers: Early Teachers (Right Facing)
Painting: Confusions, Conflicts & Controversies
Teachers: Early Teachers (Single Figures)