DescriptionAntique Tibetan thangka features Yamantaka, Destroyer of Yama, the Lord of Death. Yamantaka is the wrathful from of the Bodhisattva Manjushri. The buffalo-headed Yamantaka is responsible for breaking the cycle of re-birth (samsara) so that enlightenment can be attained. Encircling Yamantaka is an array of enlightened masters, wrathful protectors, and celestial figures, each contributing to the sacred narrative of protection and spiritual ascent. The upper section of the painting showcases seated Buddhist masters, likely great teachers or lineage holders, offering their blessings, while the lower portion contains additional guardian deities and ritual attendants engaged in dynamic postures.The thangka exhibits a rich but aged patina, with natural pigments in deep reds, blacks, and golds, characteristic of sacred Tibetan thangka artistry. Carefully framed with a gold-trimmed black silk matting.Age: late 18th CenturyDimensions: 27″ x 38″
