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038
Mandala with the Buddha Sarvavid Vairochana from the Sarva-durgati-parshodana-tantra

Thangka, painting
Cotton support with opaque mineral pigments in waterbased (collagen) binder
14.0 x 15.0 inches
Tsang District
Ca. 18th century
Sakya pa style

This later example of the Sarva-durgati-parshodana-tantra mandala demonstrates the extreme conservatism of the Buddhist iconographic tradition. To maintain the effectiveness of the teachings, the details of iconographic systems once established, tend to remain unchanged. Thus, despite changes in the peripheral elements based on sectarian teachings, the central core and the basic symbolism of a particular mandala remain consistent.

Kim Masteller

Sarvadurgatiparisodhana Tantra Mandalas Essay

Museum#: 92.063

Huntington Archive Image Scan #: T1048