Himalayan Art Resources

Painting Set: Taranata Incarnations (Guimet)

Taranata Main Page | Abhayadatta System

This painting set depicts Vajradhara Buddha, Taranatha and three of his previous incarnations surrounded by the 84 Mahasiddhas according to the Abhayadatta system. The Vajradhara painting would be in the center with an equal number of teachers to his left and right. After counting the mahasiddhas in the paintings, we can see that two paintings are missing, which will have 12 mahasiddhas each. Taranatha would be the last painting, originally third to the right of Vajradhara.

Nick Dharmadi, 6-2026