Shri Devi (Palden Lhamo) – The “Glorious Goddess”
  See it in the Museum
Chapel
Orientation 3
Display 5

ABS 235

 Code: ABS 235

  Country: Tibet

  Style:

  Date: 1400 - 1500

  Dimensions in cm WxHxD: 9.7 x 12 x 4.4

  Materials: Stone with remains of pigments

Shri Devi (Palden Lhamo) – The “Glorious Goddess”

Palden Lhamo is one of the major protective deities of Tibetan Buddhism. Known as Shri Devi in Sanskrit, the “Glorious Goddess,” she can appear under different manifestations. This stone image represents her as a dark skinned fearsome woman, riding a mule on a sea of blood. Of her four arms, the first pair brandishes a sword and a trident, and the second hold a skull cup and a ritual dagger. Of ferocious appearance, she is adorned with the ornaments of the charnel grounds.

Worshipped in all Buddhist schools of Tibet, her cult grew considerably with the Gelukpas and she even became the personal protector of the Dalaï Lamas and of the Tibetan government.