Vajradhara, Shamarpa 01 Drakpa Senggé, and Lama Shang
See it in the Museum
Chapel
Orientation 2
Wall object 21
ABP 077
Code: ABP 077
Country: Tibet
Style:
Date: 1250 - 1350
Dimensions in cm WxHxD: 11 x 24
Materials: Mineral pigment on cloth
Vajradhara, Shamarpa 01 Drakpa Senggé, and Lama Shang
These three delicate paintings represent the primordial buddha Vajradhara and two Tibetan masters. All three sit on multi-coloured lotus seats and precious thrones supported by lions. The upper registers contain representations of buddhas of the five families along with other buddhas and bodhisattvas and the lower registers represent dakini, protectors and donators.
On the central painting Vajradhara sitting legs crossed in meditation. Of deep blue colour, his hands are crossed before his chest holding the vajra and bell. Young and handsome, he appears adorned with the attire of the divine manifestation. To his right is the first “red hat” Shamarpa Drakpa Sengé (1283-1349). Represented as a monk, he performs the teaching gesture and wears his distinctive red hat after which he is named. Disciple of the 3rd Karmapa, he is considered his equal and his line of reincarnation still exists today. To the left of Vajradhara is another monastic master also represented preforming the teaching gesture. Despite his personalised facial features, is identification is secured by the inscription on the back of the painting. Lama Shang Yudrakpa Tsöndrü (1123-1193) of Gungthang was a famous exuberant Kagyü master of the 12th century who played an important political role.
The association of these three religious figures remain somehow unclear as they are no apparent connection between the two masters who lived in separate times and do not belong to the same branch of the Kagyü school.
These three delicate paintings represent the primordial buddha Vajradhara and two Tibetan masters. All three sit on multi-coloured lotus seats and precious thrones supported by lions. The upper registers contain representations of buddhas of the five families along with other buddhas and bodhisattvas and the lower registers represent dakini, protectors and donators.
On the central painting Vajradhara sitting legs crossed in meditation. Of deep blue colour, his hands are crossed before his chest holding the vajra and bell. Young and handsome, he appears adorned with the attire of the divine manifestation. To his right is the first “red hat” Shamarpa Drakpa Sengé (1283-1349). Represented as a monk, he performs the teaching gesture and wears his distinctive red hat after which he is named. Disciple of the 3rd Karmapa, he is considered his equal and his line of reincarnation still exists today. To the left of Vajradhara is another monastic master also represented preforming the teaching gesture. Despite his personalised facial features, is identification is secured by the inscription on the back of the painting. Lama Shang Yudrakpa Tsöndrü (1123-1193) of Gungthang was a famous exuberant Kagyü master of the 12th century who played an important political role.
The association of these three religious figures remain somehow unclear as they are no apparent connection between the two masters who lived in separate times and do not belong to the same branch of the Kagyü school.