Item: Shenlha Okar (Bon Deity)

Shenlha Okar (English: the White Light God of Shen [Priests]): surrounded by 250 Enlightened Ones (Tibetan: sang gye), emanations of himself. He belongs to the set of Four Transcendent Ones.

Peaceful in appearance, white in colour, he rests with both hands placed in the gesture of meditation in the lap. Adorned with a crown of gold, jewels and ribbons, he wears earrings, necklaces bracelets and anklets about the body. A dark green scarf covers the shoulders. The lower body is wrapped with a red skirt. Atop a green, red and orange lotus and elephant supported throne he is surrounded by a blue nimbus and pink aureola of light. Attendant figures stand at the sides. An elaborate backrest of flowers, white snow lions, dragons, makaras and a garuda completely encircle the central figure.

Two hundred and fifty identical figures are arranged in rows, in various colours. At the bottom center is Tonpa Shenrab in a standing posture. Below that is a wrathful protector deity, blue, with nine heads and eighteen hands, encircled by orange flame.

Jeff Watt 3-2002