THE 'FEARSOME PATRON' YAMANTHAKA

Estimated Value:

2.000 € - 3.000 €

Result:

2.590 € incl. Premium and VAT

Description:

Northern Nepal, Sherpa tradition, 18th c.
88,3 x 62,4 cm (136 x 72,8 cm)
Yamataka is in the centre of this impressive painting on a sun-moon photo, surrounded by a mighty roaring fire aura, as an expression of his immense energy. He has nine faces. His central face is that of a buffalo with two horns. He attained this buffalo head as the overcomer of the death god Yama, who sought to destroy the whole world, because, as a meditating hermit, he was killed by two cattle thieves shortly before completing his fifty-year retreat to cover up their theft of a bull. Still, due to his meditation, having enough life energy, he put the already severed bull's head on his own shoulders and went into a destructive rage towards the whole country. The people, full of fear and terror, turned for help to the Bodhisattva of Wisdom Manjushri, who transformed himself into a powerful multi-faceted bull figure to overcome this raging ascetic. Manjushri banished this demon and engaged him to judge Yama, the judge of the dead, over the living and the dead. Manjushri's head can be seen in the yellow one at the top of the nine heads. Furthermore, Manjushri, as the tantric patron, spreads out thirty-four arms, in whose hands he holds weapons that serve to combat corresponding obstacles. With his sixteen legs he treads on a number of men and animals, emblematic of the enemies he has overcome, as symbols of non-substance. The nature and activity of this deity serves the goal of breaking through ignorance, self-centredness, and grasping for a self. On this challenging path, the practitioner is exposed to many dangers from within. Thus, in this meditation picture, a space is formed around the central deity with whom the meditator has to deal, which offers the adept protection and help through special helpful energies in order to reach the set spiritual goal. In the first place are the five wisdom Buddhas - the Tathagatas. Their wisdoms are: the mirror-like wisdom, in which all opposites prove to be illusion; the wisdom of the Dharma sphere, through which the obstacles of ignorance are overcome; the wisdom of equality, in which all beings are recognised as equal; the wisdom of clear-sightedness, with which the causes of karmic bonds can be recognised; and the wisdom of action accomplishment, with whose help all still existing karmic bonds are released and overcome. Tsong Khapa appears below in the middle with his two disciples as teacher and mediator of the teaching. Then clockwise from right to left follow the protectors from all kinds of mental barriers and blockages. The blue-coloured, two-armed Yidam Cakrasamvara, with his wisdom partner Vajravarahi, of red body colour. The Yidam Hayagriva with a human club in his right hand. Then follows on her dun mule the very powerful Palden Lhamo, who fights against all ego illusions. Next comes the six-armed blue Mahakala. He embodies, with constructive anger, the active compassion of the Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara. Standing on a white bull is the blue-coloured Yama, the Outer, who opposes the outer obstacles, against the Inner and Secret Yama. Following above is Acala of blue colour, with the sword of knowledge in his right hand. He is considered the protector of the teaching. Last on a white snow lion is the world guardian and wealth god Vaishravana: "The man to whom God has given riches and blessed him with understanding to use them rightly is especially favoured and distinguished. His benefits do not diminish his possessions; therefore he enjoys his wealth, and his pleasure in it is not to be blamed." The two heavenly bodies: the sun and the moon form the end of this shelter, which is intended to grant the meditator protection and blessings on his path. Tempera on cotton fabric, modern silk border, added.
Private collection Rhineland, collected before 2000 - Wear, soiled; reverse: inscriptions in black ink

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