Shamarpa

CHINA, Tibet

This thangka from early 17th century probably originated from eastern Tibet. The holder of the Shamarpa or Red Hat lineage is the spiritual leader of the Karma Kagyu school. This painting depicts one of the incarnations of the Shamarpa sitting on an ornate throne, forming the Dharmacakra (Dharma wheel) mudra. Two lotuses, one topped by a sutra and the other supporting a sword, rise beside the shoulders. The backrest is decorated with the Six Dharma Symbolic Features. A flying garuda is located at the top of the arch above the nimbus. Lamas making offerings stand beside the throne. More offerings are placed on an altar in the lower register. Seated lamas are painted in the lower corners. In the upper left corner, a red manifestation of Avalokitesvara embraces a white consort. The wrathful Simhavaktra Dakini dances atop a lotus pedestal in the upper right corner.