Tibetan manuscript illuminated with the Bon po deity Khyung gi ru mtshon can.

Bon is a religious tradition of Indian origin introduced in Tibet prior to the Buddhist religion. A later and different form of Bon developed in Tibet that has a monastic form with many similarities to Buddhism.

This painting depicts the Bon deity named Khyung gi ru mtshon can (kyung gi ru tsön chen) identified by the pole in his right uplifted hand with the effigy of a horned khyung affixed. The khyung represents a mythical bird which is identical with the Indian garuda.

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