Potala Palace: Embroidery of Guhyasamaja

CHINA, Tibet, Lhasa

Guhyasamaja is depicted in blue with six arms and three faces, each of which has three eyes and wears a five-leaf crown. The main face is blue, while on the right is a solemn white face and on the left, a wrathful red face. The bare upper body is adorned with necklaces, armlets, and bracelets. Wearing a jeweled belt and skirt, the lower body is also covered in a long, loose dhoti. Guhyasamaja sits in full lotus position on a lotus throne. Of the six arms, the wrists of the two main arms are crossed and the hands hold a bell and a vajra. The two hands on the right hold a Dharma wheel and a lotus, while the two on the left hold a peacock plume and a sword.
On either side of Guhyasamaja is an elaborately decorated pillar, on top of which is a makara. At the top center of the embroidery, there is an image of a garuda holding a naga in its mouth. In each corner at the top, there is a siddha and a Dharma protector. There are three Dharma protectors beneath the throne.