Magzor Gyalmo (Primary Title)
thanka (Object Name)
Unknown (Artist)
Magzor Gyalmo (Queen Who Repels Armies) is described as the younger sister or servant to Palden Lhamo, one of Tibetan Buddhism’s Eight Dharmapalas (Protectors of the Dharma, or Buddhist Law). Like her mistress, she appears horrific and haggish riding a wild mule across a gruesome sea of blood and fat in which cavorts a ghoulish retinue. In one hand she brandishes a staff topped with a vajra (lightning bolt); in the other a bowl fashioned from a skull and filled with human organs. Poisonous snakes bridle her mule, and her own son’s flayed skin covers its back. Instruments including dice used to determine the fate of enemies and a black bag full of diseases hang from her steed, and crocodile- and lion-faced attendants flank her. Magzor Gyalmo was personal protector to the Dalai Lamas, leaders of the Geluk Order, and three Gelukpa lamas sit at the top of the thangka. Their positioning indicates the painting’s date, soon before the figure on the right, the Fifth Dalai Lama, assumed supreme rule of Tibet in 1642. This work is one of the oldest known thangkas of its subject and one of the earliest extant examples of nag-thang, or black-ground painting. Its bold, fluid lines cover two pieces of bluish-brown silk damask, seamed down the center and figured with bands of floral patterning
Berthe and John Ford Collection, Arthur and Margaret Glasgow Fund
Visions secrétes du Vème Dalai Lama, rituals tibétains, Musées des Arts asiatiques-Guimet, Paris, France, November 5, 2002 - February 24, 2003
Wisdom and Compassion: The Sacred Art of Tibet, Asian Art Museum, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, April 17 - August 18, 1991; IBM Gallery, New York, NY, October 15 - December 28, 1991; Royal Academy of Art, London, UK, September 16 - December 13, 1992
Wisdom and Compassion: The Sacred Art of Tibet, Asian Art Museum, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, April 17 - August 18, 1991; IBM Gallery, New York, NY, October 15 - December 28, 1991; Royal Academy of Art, London, UK, September 16 - December 13, 1992
Image released via Creative Commons CC-BY-NC
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