029
The Buddha Matri ("Mother of Buddhas"), Shyama ("Beautiful,
Dark") Tara
Thangka, painting
Cotton support with opaque mineral pigments in waterbased (collagen) binder
exterior 21.0 x 31.5 inches
interior 14.75 x 21.5 inches
Central Tibet
Ca. 19th century
Menri Serma "New School of Men style"
(folk intrepretation)
Every morning, the twenty-one verse "Hymn to Tara" is recited
by most Tibetans. Innumerable paintings such as this, depicting Tara, are
produced for private display. In this example, Sarvavid ("Universal
Knowledge") Vairochana, the Buddha in the top center, generates all
the figures. Palden Lhamo and the Dam Chan, Vajrasadhu, individual protectors,
are portrayed at the bottom left and right respectively. These protectors
are vow-bound benefactors, probably specific to the patron of the painting.
Wendy Kaiser
Museum #: 92.058
Huntington Archive Image Scan #: T1032