Marici

CHINA, Tibet; Qing dynasty

This Tibetan thangka was presented by the Sixth Panchen Lama to Emperor Qianlong (reigned 1736–1795) in 1780 on the emperor’s 70th birthday. Three-Headed, Six-Armed Marici stands on a lotus pedestal and wears colorful leggings, a green stole, and jewelry. The three heads are topped with a golden crown and surrounded by a green nimbus. The central head has a high topknot and a focused expression; the head on the left is white, and the black head on the right is that of a sow. All of the heads have a third eye in the middle of the forehead. The three right hands hold a vajra, a dart, and an arrow. A bow, a rope, and a saraca flower are held in the left hands. Two seated Buddhas holding alms bowls occupy the upper corners. At the bottom of the image, a wrathful Dharma protector riding on a horse is shown surrounded by blue flames. Two sows, a symbol commonly associated with Marici, are depicted on the base of the lotus throne. A lush landscape, mountains, and blue clouds are painted in the background.