Palden Lhamo (Primary Title)
Heavenly Goddess of Auspiciousness (Primary Title)
tangka (Object Name)
Unknown (Artist)
Chinese embroideries like this thangka flowed steadily into Tibet as religious offerings to important lamas. The exquisitely embroidered central panel shows Palden Lhamo, the fearsome Buddhist protector goddess, seated on a mule led by Mahavaktra, a crocodile-faced attendant. The mule rides across a sea of blood, trampling corpses beneath its hoofs. Above the lotus-based arch surrounding these figures are a dancing yellow divinity and a seated Karmapa abbot, suggesting that the thangka was commissioned for a monastery of that sect. The fabric mount above the central panel is embroidered with an elaborate canopy flanked by the sun and the moon; below are the Guardians of the Four Directions. Scrolling cloud motifs frame both compositions. Some parts of Lhamo’s figure are raised, presumably padded with horse- hair or some other packing. Gold-wrapped threads and gold paper highlight the design.
Ming dynasty (1368 - 1644)
Gift of Berthe and John Ford
Image released via Creative Commons CC-BY-NC
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