Yogambara Mandala
  See it in the Museum
India and Nepal
Orientation 1
Wall object 4

ABP 002

 Code: ABP 002

  Country: Tibet (south)

  Style:

  Date: 1300 - 1400

  Dimensions in cm WxHxD: 89.5 x 106

  Materials: Glue distemper on cotton

Yogambara mandala

This imposing and refined mandala represents the heavenly abode of Yogambara, with three faces and six hands, embracing his white consort Jñanadakini. Around them, the 77 deities of their retinue are displayed in the mandala. The upper range gathers the masters from the transmission lineage starting at the centre with primordial Buddha Vajradhara. This specific lineage connects the painting to that of Palden Lhamo (ABP 009).

Through the colour palette, the ornamentation, and the strong geometrical organisation, this Tibetan painting shows strong Nepalese influences.

The mandala, “centre and periphery” in Tibetan, is the divine abode of the meditation deity. It represents the complete universe in its pure form. Mandalas are usually geometric two-dimension representations (like a map), but the practitioners always visualize them in volume.