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Lot 15
A RARE THANGKA DEPICTING VAISHRAVANA
Estimated Value:
5.000 € - 8.000 €
Schätzpreis:
50.000 €
Description:
Tibet, 15th c.37 x 35,5 cm R.
Namthöse or Vaishravana is the lord of wealth. His skin colour is like pure gold, he shines like a hundred thousand suns. In his right hand he holds a victory banner, at the tip of which is a wish-fulfilling jewel (chintamani). In his left hand is a the jewel-spitting mongoose. Namthöse is richly dressed in flowing silk robes and wears a tiara. Above his shoulders are the sun and moon discs. He rides a white lion and is surrounded by horsemen, the eight lords of the horses (Tib.: tadag; Sanskrit: ashvapati), who are also richly dressed. They are distinguished from each other by the attribute they hold in their right hand. Vaishravana is the one who distributes wealth, he is the the lord of wealth. As the protector of the north, he is one of the Four Lokapalas. As such he defends his direction against negativity and protects practitioners from all disadvantages. A variant of his name is Vaishramana, ",son of untiring effort", because wealth is attained through constant striving. In rituals of prosperity (yangjuk), sacrifices are offerings are made to his pure land, which is the most magnificent among the realms of the Four Great Kings. He wears Iranian-style armour. His warrior garb indicates Central Asia. He was particularly revered in Khotan. He saved a monastery in Balkh from a Turkish attack. A Tibetan artist from Jang made an image v n him during a war between Tibet and China. Accompanied by the eight lords of the horses, he led the Tibetan forces to victory. Vaishravana is perpetual striving, the striding of transnational caravans of endless time, the passionate search for adventure and prosperity. Vaishramana symbolises the culture of eternal wandering, the call of the beyond. In one scripture it reads: "The wanderer finds honey and sweet fruits. Behold the splendour of the sun, which is not weary from its wanderings. Therefore, wander, wander". The lower section with the donor seated in front of an altar table with offerings and a horse and elephant carrying each a jewel, the reverse inscribed with twice his name. Framed under glass.
Important German private collection, collected in the 1970s and 80s, mainly acquired at Schoettle Ostasiatica, Stuttgart
Published: Thangka Calendar 1997, Windpferd Verlag, printed 1996, the month of March
Minor wear and very minor traces of age
