Himalayan Art Resources

Item: Simhamukha (Buddhist Deity) - (5 deity)

སེང་གདོང་མ། ནང་ལྷ། 狮面空行佛母(佛教本尊)
(item no. 91040)
Origin Location Tibet
Date Range 1700 - 1799
Lineages Nyingma and Buddhist
Size 48.26x33.02cm (19x13in)
Material Ground Mineral Pigment, Black Background on Cotton
Collection Erie Art Museum
Notes about the Central Figure

Classification: Deity

Appearance: Animal-Feature

Gender: Female

Interpretation / Description

Simhamukha (Tibetan: seng dong ma chen. English: the Lion-faced One). Fearsome with gaping jaws and a lion face she glares to the side holding outstretched in the right hand a curved knife. The left holds a skullcup raised to the mouth. A katvanga staff is supported in the bend of the elbow. In a dancing posture with the left leg down and the right drawn up she stands surrounded by flames of pristine awareness. At the four corners are four retinue figures similar in appearance. At the top center is the buddha Shakyamuni. At the bottom center is a wealth deity embracing a consort, riding a snow lion.

Jeff Watt 9-2000

Related Items
Thematic Sets
Collection of Erie Art Museum
Tradition: Nyingma Deity Paintings
Buddhist Deity: Simhamukha Main Page
Buddhist Deity: Deities (Female)
Buddhist Deity: Simhamukha (5 Deity)