Hevajra mandala

Unknown

Buddhist hanging scroll (thangka) mandala of Hevajra, painted in colours on cotton by an unknown artist in Tibet, 16th century or earlier. This painted mandala (cosmic diagram) is conceived as a four-sided palace-temple with portals to the four quarters. The figure in the centre is a yidam: sometimes defined as a meditational deity, but also a Buddha-figure and practice. The yidam shown here is Hevajra. Hevajra appears in an embrace with his partner Nairatmya. He is depicted with blue skin, five heads and sixteen arms. In each of his hands Hevajra holds a skull cup supporting a ritual object, animal or god. A number of Indian teachers and Tibetan lamas are shown seated in the painting’s upper register.