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Lot 93
The heavily armed protector Dpal ldan dmag zor rgyal mo
Estimated Value:
1.500 € - 2.500 €
Schätzpreis:
3.000 €
Description:
Bhutan, 19th c.27,5 x 23,8 (70 x 47) cm
Dpa ldan dmag zor rgyal mo, this epithet is given to the wrathful patron goddess of Tibet dPal ldan Lha mo (Skr. Srimati Devi) in one of her most important manifestations. According to the early bKa' gdams pa tradition, dMag zor ma is said to be the first of the twelve manifestations of Tara. Accordingly, she is also considered the mother of all. She is the fighting force that defeats and suppresses all opposing forces. These, according to the Buddhist view, are all those psychic activities which, through ignorance of the absolute nature of the mind, which is completely enlightened and thus perfect from the beginning, bind us as living beings with suffering and subject us to death without exception. As an extremely wrathful appearance, fully armed in battle armor, she protects as a sublime (tib. dpal ldan) guardian goddess "beyond the suffering existence in samsara" from falling prey to the illusion of an "I ", and its objective reality to which the "I" clings. It prevents us from grasping volitions of any kind, love, sorrow, pain, devotion, faith, etc., as well as the passions of hatred, lust, ignorance, jealousy and pride as absolute realities. Seeing the seizing of the givens as real, this psychic tendency is seen as a poisonous snake that is figuratively defeated by the Terrible dPal ldan Lha mo. The warrior is depicted in her traditional outfit, but as a special feature she holds in her right hand a sword with a scorpion hilt. The scorpion, poisonous in itself, becomes the bearer of wrathful Buddha activity through the blessing of all the Buddhas, which does not lead to suffering but to salvation. The means in itself remains, only the effect is reversed, due to the changed cause: instead of hatred, compassion now reigns. In this respect also raging deities do not have a destructive but a liberating effect. Despite their wrathful appearance, for the taming of especially difficult to teach living beings, they are essentially only activated compassion. Above the powerful deity appears, between the two stars sun and moon, the representation of the tantric deity Cakrasamvara in "loving union" with the wisdom partner Vajravarahi. This union symbolically includes "skillful means" as the male principle, and "perfect insight" as the female principle. Skillful means are signified as compassion, and perfect wisdom and insight as the emptiness of all phenomena. The spiritual program of this small precious meditation picture, is given by the meaningful meaning of the central deity. Monks and scholars, who appear visionary in the clouds, give the meditator, so to speak, spiritual guidance. Concrete assistance, however, is provided by protective deities in the earthly realm of painting. There the wealth god Vaishravana appears, who provides for matereille foundations. On the right, the "Mountain Goddess of Long Life" - Tseringma, is depicted on her white snow lion. In her right hand she holds up to the sky the golden, five-pointed vajra, which is able to ward off the obstacles of life. In her left hand she carries the precious vessel with the water of life in front of her heart, which identifies her as the "long life goddess". In the lower area appear mounted demon vanquishers who use their powers against spiritual obstacles. Black ground painting in tempera, with gold outline drawing (tib. nag tang), on cotton fabric. Original silk satin mounting, with polychrome striped protective cloth.
Important German private collection, collected in the 1970s and 80s, mostly acquired at Schoettle Ostasiatica, Stuttgart
Very minor traces of age
