Himalayan Art Resources

Kings: Shambhala Kings Iconography

Shambhala Kings Main Page

Subjects, Topics & Types:
- Description (below)
- Numbers
--- Seven Kings
--- Twenty-five Vidyadhara
- Appearance/Iconography
--- King Appearance
--- Deity Appearance
- Names List
- Shambhala Kings Outline
- Confusions
- Others...

Videos:
- Shambhala Kings & Vidyadharas
- Shambhala Kings of the Jonang
- Shambhala Pureland
- Shambhala Kings (MFA Boston)

In general there are two different systems for depicting the Seven Kings and Twenty-five Vidyadharas: King Appearance and Deity Appearance. The King Appearance system is older and found throughout Tibet and the Himalayan regions. The Deity Appearance was popularized in the Kham region of East Tibet by Katog Tsewang Norbu in the 18th century. It is possible that the Deity Appearance system originates from an earlier Jonang textual tradition. Further research is required.

(For more information about the Shambhala Kings and the names of the kings in Sanskrit and Tibetan see the excellent Kalachakra website of Edward Henning).

Database Search: All Images

Jeff Watt 4-2007 [updated 3-2020]

(The images below are only a selection of examples from the links above).