037
Mandala with the Buddha Sarvavid Vairochana from the Sarva-durgati-parshodana-tantra
Thangka, painting
Cotton support with opaque mineral pigments in waterbased (collagen) binder
22.75 x 26.5 inches
Tsang District
Ca. 15th century
Sakya pa style
This complex painting depicts a mandala, a visualized mapping of the enlightenment
process, as
described by the deities from the Sarva-durgati-parshodana-tantra ("The
Elimination of All Evil Rebirths"). Practitioners who meditate on the
mandala with the right intent will be protected from all evils. The structure
of every mandala is visualized as a vast palace at the pinnacle of Mount
Meru, with four gate towers leading into the sacred space. At the center,
the Buddha Sarvavid ("Universal Knowledge") Vairochana emanates
all the other deities in the mandala. Outside of this mandala, the six re
alms of existence are interspersed among five smaller mandalas. At the top
is a row of lineage teachers, while at the bottom, is a row of dakinis ("sky-goers").
Chad Sawyer
Sarvadurgatiparisodhana
Tantra Mandala Essay
Museum #: 95.007
Huntington Archive Image Scan #: T1046