Tangka thumbnail 1
Tangka thumbnail 2
Not currently on display at the V&A

Tangka

Tangka
18th century - 19th century (made)
Place of origin

Central seated figure of Padmasambhava, holding vajra and making the indomitable finger pointing mudra with his right hand, his left holding the kapala, the khatraya resting on his left arm. The fgure surrounded by a blue and brown mandorla, the head by a green halo around which climb two white and red lotus flowers. To either side in attendance his two wives right- Mandarava and left- Bhasadara making an offering.
Above these figures a group of 9 seated Buddhas, bareheaded, wearing monastic garments and each with usnisa. The central figure is Amitabha conventionally rendered. The figure top left may be Aksobhya, top right Ratnasambhava and immediately to the right of Amitabha, Vairocana displaying the usual dharmacakra mudra. Below Padmasambhava a group of 5 Bodhisattavas seated displaying various mudras.


Object details

Object type
TitleTangka (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Temera painting on parched cloth with surround of deep green Chinese silk
Brief description
Padmasambhava with his wives; Religion, cloth tempera, Tibet, C18-19
Physical description
Central seated figure of Padmasambhava, holding vajra and making the indomitable finger pointing mudra with his right hand, his left holding the kapala, the khatraya resting on his left arm. The fgure surrounded by a blue and brown mandorla, the head by a green halo around which climb two white and red lotus flowers. To either side in attendance his two wives right- Mandarava and left- Bhasadara making an offering.
Above these figures a group of 9 seated Buddhas, bareheaded, wearing monastic garments and each with usnisa. The central figure is Amitabha conventionally rendered. The figure top left may be Aksobhya, top right Ratnasambhava and immediately to the right of Amitabha, Vairocana displaying the usual dharmacakra mudra. Below Padmasambhava a group of 5 Bodhisattavas seated displaying various mudras.
Dimensions
  • Height: 56cm
  • Width: 38cm
Collection
Accession number
IS.48-1985

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Record createdJune 25, 2009
Record URL
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