Lot 97 N α

A thangka of Begtse Chen (Beg tse). Mongolia, 18th century

The angry Dharmapala and protector of the buddha teachings appears in blazing circle of flames and stands in pratyalidha with the right foot on a horse and with the left on a human lying on a simple lotus throne over a lake of blood. He has the vertical third eye, wears a skull crown, a chain of human skulls, is dressed in full armor with a mail shirt with a breastplate, tiger skins over the legs, and Mongolian boots. The upraised right hand holds the flaming sword, with the left he is holding the bleeding heart of a slain enemy to his growling mouth, in order to tear it open with bared teeth and absorb the power of the defeated opponent, a combat bow and arrow hanging over his arm. He is accompanied by his sister Rigs bu mo with a naked blue body and red head on a lion and by Srog bdag, a red warrior on a wolf. Butcher demons engaged in the work of carving the flesh from corpses gathering in the foreground. Padmasambhava and the incarnation of the transcendent Buddha Amithaba are enthroned in the heavenly spheres. Ground mineral pigments and gold line on cotton. Framed under glass.
53 x 38 cm