Item: Miscellaneous - Tsagli (initiation cards)

Tibetan: པར་ཤིང་སྣང་བརྙན། སྣ་ཚོགས། Chinese: 版画 (多种)

(item no. 90726)

Origin Location	Tibet
Date Range	1400 - 1499
Lineages	Uncertain
Material	Ground Mineral Pigment on Paper
Collection	Tibet House, New York

Classification: Object/Concept

Interpretation / Description

Initiation Cards (Tibetan: tsag li); used as representations during the formal bestowing of a tantric meditation practice (initiation).

The first is a raven headed figure, blue in colour with two hands holding a sword and skullcup. Wearing wrathful vestments, atop a corpse and lotus seat, he stands surrounded by orange flames of wisdom.

The second is yellow in colour, also with wrathful vestments, performing mudras (gestures) with the hands, and standing in a similar posture.

Jeff Watt 2-2000