The Treasury of Lives

Browse:Thangkas

Tsongkapa

Lama Tsongkapa (1357-1419): founder of the Gelug School of Tibetan Buddhism, with the two principal students, Gyaltsab on the left and Khedrub on the right.
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Mahakala - Panjarnata

Panjarnata Vajra Mahakala (Tibetan: dor je nag po chen po, gur gyi gon po, English: The Great Vajra Black One - Lord of the Pavilion).

Above a multi-coloured lotus, Mahakala is surrounded by the stylized flames of pristine awareness and emanating forth from the licks of flame are messengers in the shapes of various animals, black crows, black dogs, wolves, black men and women.
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Ngorchen Kunga Zangpo

Ngorchen Kunga Zangpo (1382-1456): the founder of the Ngor Branch of the Sakya School.

Richly clad with orange and red robes decorated with the eight auspicious emblems and mystic syllables Ngorchen also wears the red pandita hat of Sakya while performing the Dharma Teaching mudra (gesture) with the two hands holding the stems of two utpala flowers blossoming above the shoulders supporting an upright vajra on the right and a bell on the left. With the exposed feet, marked with Dharma wheels, placed in vajra posture seated above a multi-coloured lotus and lion supported jewelled throne with an elaborate backrest, he is surrounded by a blue nimbus and green aureola decorated with wishing jewels.
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Buddhashri

Buddhashri (1339-1419. Tibetan: sang gye pal): surrounded by the lineage teachers of the Yogachara tradition of Buddhist philosophy, made famous in India by the two brothers Asanga and Vasubhandu. He was also the principal teacher of Ngorchen Kunga Zangpo, the founder of the Ngor sub-school of Sakya.
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Damarupa

Damarupa and Avadhutipa, Siddhas. On the left is the siddha Damarupa holding upraised in his right hand a damaru drum and a skullcup in the left. On the viewer's right is Avadhutipa holding a skullcup to the heart with the left hand and pointing downwards with the right hand.
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Two Lineal Lamas

Kunkhyen and Jamyang Chokyi Gyalpo [?]. This painting is from a set of compositions that appears based on similar paintings identified as a Sakya Lamdre Lineage set. The secondary lineage that starts at the top left and proceeds down the right and left registers is possibly the Prajnaparamita Lineage beginning with Shakyamuni Buddha.
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Sachen Kunga Nyingpo

Sachen Kunga Nyingpo (1092-1158): the foremost Lama of the Sakya School, 3rd throne holder of Sakya.
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Shangton Chobar

Shangton Chobar (1053-1135): wearing monastic robes and holding upraised a garland of prayer beads. There has been historic confusion over the iconographic depiction of this Tibetan teacher. Sometimes he is described as being a monk and at other times a layman.

At the middle left is Sachen Kunga Nyingpo. On the right is his eldest son, Sonam Tsemo.
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Tsongkapa

Lama Tsongkapa (1357-1419): founder of the Gelugpa School, with the two principal students, Gyaltsab on the left and Khedrup on the right.

At the top center is the buddha Shakyamuni accompanied by two bodhisattvas and three rows of lineage gurus. In the foreground a lama wearing monastic robes, seated on a throne, is encircled by four lamas. At the bottom left is the Dharma protector Shadbhuja Mahakala. At the right is Yama Dharmaraja.
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Mahakala - Panjarnata

Mahakala, Vajra Panjarnata (Tibetan: dor je gur gyi gon po. English: the Great Black One, Lord of the Vajra Pavilion [or Canopy]): from the Vajra Panjara Tantra.

Panjaranata Mahakala is the protector of the Hevajra cycle of Tantras. The iconography and rituals are found in the 18th chapter of the Vajra Panjara (canopy, or pavilion) Tantra, an exclusive 'explanatory tantra' to Hevajra itself.
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Sachen Kunga Nyingpo

Sachen Kunga Nyingpo (1092-1158): the foremost teacher of the Sakya School, 3rd throne holder of Sakya.

Compassionately smiling with the composure of an elder the right hand is extended forward in the gesture of generosity while the left holds to the heart the stem of a lotus flower blossoming at the left ear. Wearing flowing garments of various colours in the manner of a layman he sits, emanating a blue nimbus and red aureola, atop a moon disc and multi-coloured lotus seat rising on a thick stem above a blue lotus pond.
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Ngorchen Kunga Zangpo

Ngorchen Kunga Zangpo (1382-1456) at the left and his successor Muchen Sempa Chenpo Konchog Gyaltsen (1388-1469) sitting on the right; surrounded by lineage teachers.
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Lhachok Sengge

This ivory statue is a portrait of Lhachok Sengge, who lived from 1468 to 1535. Lhachok Sengge was the 9th abbot of the Sakya monastery Ngor Ewam Choden. A noted patron of the arts, he belonged to the nephew lineage of Ngorchen Kunga Zangpo, the founder of the monastery. The inscription on the base of the statue reads "rgyal ba lha mchog seng ge."
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Sanggye Sengge

Sanggye Sengge (b.1504, d.1569) the 11th throne holder of Ngor Ewam Monastery.
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Sangye Sengge

Sanggye Sengge ((b.1504, d.1569) the 11th throne holder of Ngor Ewam Monastery.

Wearing the red pandita hat typical of Sakya and attired in the patched red robes of a fully ordained monk, he holds the right hand at the heart in the mudra (gesture) of blessing while holding the stem of a lotus blossom supporting a gold vajra. With the left hand in the lap cradling a gold Wheel of Dharma and a lotus stem blossoming above and supporting a bell he sits in vajra posture on a moon disc and multi-coloured lotus seat above an ornate lion throne with an elaborate and intricate backrest; radiating a blue nimbus and green areola.
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Dragpa Gyaltsen (Jetsun)

Dragpa Gyaltsen and Sakya Pandita, uncle and nephew, teacher and student surrounded by the lineage Kings of Shambhala. This composition belongs to a larger set of paintings depicting the Lamdre Lineage of the Sakya Tradition of Tibetan Buddhism in a two figure per composition configuration.
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Sakya Pandita Kunga Gyaltsen

Top left: Sakya Pandita Kunga Gyaltsen.
Top right: Chogyal Pagpa.
Bottom left: Shang Konchog Pal.
Bottom right: Nasa Tragpugpa.
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