The enlightened female Tara (known in Tibetan as Drolma or “she who liberates”) has many forms, represented by different colors. The most popular forms are White Tara and Green Tara, depicted here. It is common for 21 forms of Tara to be represented together. Green Tara is understood in some contexts to be a bodhisattva, on her way to enlightenment, and in other contexts she is seen as a fully enlightened Buddha. She is associated with overcoming all kinds of obstacles. This 13th century sculpture was made in Tibet and shows how important the influence of Indian artistic style was in Tibetan art. Notice the relatively large head, firmly grounded posture, and gentle sense of motion. These traits suggest the qualities of kindness, maternal care, and powerful beauty associated with Tara.
This painting depicts one of the primary protective deities (dharmapala) of the Gelug tradition. Yama is considered the defender [...]
Shri Devi as “the Queen who Repels Armies,” or Magzor Gyalmo in Tibetan is a wrathful protector deity popular in Tibetan Buddhist traditions. She rides a mule [...]
Cymbals are used in monastic ensembles during ceremonies and ritual dances. A pair of cymbals is played with clashing, rolling, rotating, and muting techniques. Cymbals and drums [...]
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Avalokiteshvara, the bodhisattva who personifies the compassion of all the buddhas, is known as Chenrezig in Tibetan. Seated in the posture of royal ease [...]
Chakrasamvara is a tantric deity very prominent in Gelug and other Tibetan Buddhist traditions. Depicted here in union [...]
Vajrabhairava is the most prominent deity in Gelug tradition and this specific form is based on a vision of Tsongkapa (1357–1419), the tradition’s founding teacher. Vajrabhairava is the wrathful [...]
Vajrayogini is of the central meditational deities (yidam) in Gelug tradition. She represents the state [...]
Offering tables (Tibetan: chog tri) are typically longer than tables made for other uses and can be quite low. Usually they have solid [...]
Guhyasamaja is one of the main tantric deities (yidam) of the esoteric practice in Gelug tradition. The seated couple is shown in sexual embrace [...]
White Tara is one of the three deities, along with Amitayus and Ushnishavijaya, associated with promoting long life. Considered the most popular of the female deities [...]
These elegant bowls on raised stands are used for ceremonial purposes, carved with symbols of good fortune. They are arranged to form the “seven offerings.” The first bowl [...]