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Superb Mongolian Thangka

 

depicting

THE THREE LONG-LIFE DEITIES

 

(dating from Late 18th Century)  

 

SOLD

 

 

This thangka depicts the three most important long-life deities – Amitayas, White Tara and Ushnishavijaya. Such icons are believed to increase merit for the person who commissioned it so that the patron can live a long life in contemplation of the dharma. This thangka is a superior example of Mongolian ritual art. It has all of the hallmarks of a masterpiece: showing a unique and vibrant interpretation of this theme; vibrant and balanced colour palette; an abundance of pure gold highlights; and a sublime and magical presence. Of particular note is the rainbow mandorla and the profuse white lotuses - which affirm a sense of refined wisdom and compassion to the work. This thangka was likely the personal icon of an important person in Mongolian society (either a tribal chief or a senior cleric) and would have been mounted within a consecrated frame which is now lost.

 

Design Symbolism

 

The central figure depicts the Buddha Amitayus (Ayush in Mongolian) as the Buddha of Long Life, good fortune and wisdom. He is depicted as red in colour and sits in the lotus position on a white lotus throne. He wears ornaments and a crown and is holding the long life vase brimming with the nectar of immortality and with an ashoka tree emerging from the top. Amitayas is the "enjoyment body" of Buddha Amitahba (who is the "emanation body") and as is the case here, he is invoked in practices relating to longevity and preventing an untimely death. The goddess Ushnishavijaya is in the lower left corner and White Tara is in the lower right. Above the three long life deities is a Gelugpa (yellow-hat sect) hierarch who is flanked by two buddhas who respectively manifest the mudras of gift giving and teaching – this underscores the intent of the design symbolism in this thangka – long life in contemplation of the dharma and the attainment of enlightened being.

 

Ushnishavijaya - the "Victorious Queen of Crowning Light" - is a peaceful white deity and an emanation of Vairochana Buddha. She has three faces, ten eyes and eight hands. Her right hands hold a lasso, bow, and vase with the nectar of immortality; her fourth right hand bears an eye in the palm and is in the mudra (posture) of generosity. Her left hands hold a miniature Buddha image, a double (crossed) vajra, and an arrow; the fourth left hand is held in meditation posture in her lap. Ushnishavijaya is frequently invoked in Mongolia and Tibet - especially in practices to avert death from natural causes such as disease and old age as well as untimely accident. As such, her primary role is to bestow long life and grant an auspicious afterlife destiny in one of the favorable realms of rebirth or in a Buddha-paradise.

 

White Tara is the special goddess of long life and is here to help practitioners overcome obstacles. She is considered to be the goddess of universal compassion and the manifestation of all the actions of all the Buddhas. Her name derives from the Sanskrit root tar, to cross over – meaning one who assists all beings to traverse this ocean of samsara and into the realm of enlightenment. Of all Buddhist deities Tara is the most accessible – she will answer when called and Buddhist literature is full of stories where her iconography "comes to life" and "speak directly to practitioners". Zanabazar , Mongolia 's first bogd gegen was devoted to Tara as have been many other famous Buddhist teachers and saints. White Tara meditations and rituals are widely practised and very powerful in promoting well-being. These are linked to her particular qualities and build upon her special iconography. For example, her seven eyes can be taken to symbolise the seven Paramitas of perfection which are: Charity; Harmony; Patience; Equanimity; Courage; Meditative Contemplation; and Prajna - that mystical quality of perception "which makes of man a god, creating him a Bodhisattva".

 

 

If you would like to see more pictures, please don't hesitate to ask and I will send you a zip file full of them.

 

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