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Extremely rare 19th century silk embroidered thangka of the Great Golden Vaishravana.
Wealth bestowing and Mongolian protector deity.

This is a splendid 19th century silk embroidered thangka with silver and gold wire highlights. As such it is a quite unusual thangka of Vaishravana - an important Mongolain protector. This deity form has two main aspects - that of a warrior protector and that of a deity of wealth. Both forms are combined in this rare thangka of embroidered handspun silk and metal thread. We see Great Golden Vaishravana is dressed in armour and wearing the jeweled crown symbolic of the Five Transcendent Buddhas. He is seated upon a roaring snow lion and holds the cylindrical victory banner and the jewel-spitting mongoose - indicating the desire to distribute all wealth to the poor. The victory banner signifies his defeat of the demon gods (asuras). The snow lion shows that he is a great conqueror and roars "dharma truth". He has several names as a protector including that of Kuberu.

Altogether, this thangka is in splendid condition with no losses to the silk embroidery. The central meditational deity is embroiderd upon a golden field surrounded by a magnificent orange silk brocade. The embroiderer has elected to render Vaishravana in a delicately balanced palette of pastel shades. The powerful silver snow lion crouches upon a moon disc of transcendent wisdom and the deity is flanked by embroidered Moon and Sun. Mongolians believe that performing prosperity rituals to Vaishravana will increase wealth.

15 inches (38 cm) X 23 inches (58 cm) T

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