Shrine of vajrabhairava

Museum number:
9-22005a-d
Permalink:
ark:/21549/hm210922005a@2dd
Alternate number:
9-22004a,b (previous museum number (recataloged from), partial; 2014 conservation combined), BY.T-290 (? from 9-22004 record), BY.T-34, T-190 (on tag; 9-22004), T-290 (? from 9-22004 record), and T-34 (original number)
Accession number:
Acc.4737
Description:
This is a shrine that contains eleven major Buddhist deities and could be used as the main object of worship for a Lama or devout lay person. Height: 57.2 cm, Width/depth: 33.6 cm, Depth: 10.6 cm
Donor:
Estate of G. Eleanore Murray, Estate of Theos C. Bernard, and Theos C. Bernard
Collection place:
Tibet
Verbatim coll. place:
Tibet
Culture or time period:
Tibetan
Collector:
Theos C. Bernard
Collection date:
1937
Materials:
Cotton (textile) and Wood (plant material)
Object type:
ethnography
Function:
5.0 Use not specified (Ritual, Pageantry, and Recreation)
Production date:
18th-19th century
Accession date:
March 12, 2004
Department:
Asia (except western Russia)
Dimensions:
height 57.2 centimeters, depth 10.6 centimeters, and width 33.6 centimeters
Comment:
The arrangement of these deities is typical of the Gelukpa Order. This is an unusually beautiful example of a Tibetan miniature thangka (a sacred painting on a cotton scroll). The features and details are drawn to exacting iconographic standards and enlivened with dynamic modeling and vibrant colors. Note the looks in the eyes and exressions in each of the faces. The scroll is enclosed in a carved wooden shrine box. The top or crown decorations have been removed (see the three holes on the top of the frame.--This is Vajrabhairava, the Conqueror of Death (see also T-47, S-13) He has nine heads, thirty four arms, and sixteen legs, all as needed to function as a universal savior or Supreme Being (yidam) who delivers all beings from the rounds of birth and death (samsara) and establishes them in the state of highest enlightenment. Vajrabhairava is known in the Buddhist tradition as the yidam form of Manjushri. This may indicate that he is a form or an emanation of Manjushri, or may simply indicate that he is a disciple of Manjushri. The uppermost of the nine heads is that of Manjushri. Some Buddhist authorities (e.g., Geshe Losang Tsepal of Ganden Jangtse University) say that Vajrabhairava honors his Guru by carrying him on top of his head. The nine heads show that Vajrabhairava can see all points of view and understand all realities in all dimensions. The two horns show mastery over the Two Truths (i.e., conventional and ultimate). The thirty four arms, each wielding a different attribute, show Vajrabhairava's abilities to help each living being according to his or her individual needs. The sixteen legs show his standing in the realization of the sixteen types of Emptiness (shunyata). He embraces his consort, Vajravetali, showing his non-dual wisdom (i.e., non-duality of bliss and Emptiness). He stands on top of all the worldly gods and powers (shown by the animal figures) who embody worldly ways and who perpetuate the samsara. Vajrabhairava stands upon a solar cushion representing his illumination of the world and his ability to banish the darkness of ignorance. He is on a lotus throne symbolizing his transcendence of all the defilements of the world.. Around Vajrabhairava, clockwise from the top, are:1-- Lama Tsongkhapa (1357-1419) the founder of the Gelukpa Order and the great teacher and popularizer of the Vajrabhairava Tantric cycles. 2--Buddha Maitreya, the Buddha of the future.3--Ushnishavijaya, goddess who stabilizes the life force and eliminates the conditions associated with untimely death. 4--Sitatapattra, Goddess of the White Umbrella, who protects from every fear, danger, terror, disaster or calamity.5--Begtse (nyams pa'i srog gshan baiktse A.K.A Begtse Mahakala) a ferocious protector deity who consumes the life force of all who would destroy the ultimate happiness of others. As a Bodhisattva, he then leads such miscreants on the path to redemption.6--Kalarupa (Yamaraja as Dharmapala) This is Yama, Lord of Death, who has been subdued and converted into a protector of the Dharma. While retaining his former role, he uses it to advance beings on the path to Enlightenment when they call upon and accept his help.7-- Palden Lhamo (Shri Devi) is the mighty goddess who protects the followers of the Dharma from life to life, eliminating any obstacles on their path to enlightenment.8--Sarasvati, the beautiful goddess of wisdom, learning, poetry and art. She is the consort of Manjushri. In her wrathful form, she is Palden Lhamo. In her form as a yidam consort, she is Vajravetali.9--Manjushri. He holds the sword of wisdom that cuts away all that contributes to ignorance. He holds the book of Dharma teachings that leads all beings to enlightenment. In his wrathful form as a protector, he is Kalarupa. In his human form as a teacher, he is Lama Tsongkhapa. In his form as a yidam (supreme deity) he is Vajrabhairava.10--Buddha Shakyamuni (6th to 7th centuries BCE) is the teacher of the Dharma and the source of the path to Enlightenment.See: Photo T-34, see also T-47 and T-224. The shrine is made up of parts originally cataloged 9-22004a,b and 9-22005a-d. Conservation work in 2014, prior to a move, identified the parts as belonging to one shrine and combined the parts. Post conservation the separable parts represented are: a)the shrine top or frame around the painting/scroll; b)the painting/scroll; c)the shrine base; d)the finial top (could not be attached because a lower finial piece is missing).
Loans:
S2015-2016 #3: Bancroft Library (UC Berkeley) (May 5, 2016–August 2, 2016)
Images:
Hearst Museum object 1 of 7 titled Shrine of vajrabhairava, accession number 9-22005a-d, described as This is a shrine that contains eleven major Buddhist deities and could be used as the main object of worship for a Lama or devout lay person. Height: 57.2 cm, Width/depth: 33.6 cm, Depth: 10.6 cmHearst Museum object 2 of 7 titled Shrine of vajrabhairava, accession number 9-22005a-d, described as This is a shrine that contains eleven major Buddhist deities and could be used as the main object of worship for a Lama or devout lay person. Height: 57.2 cm, Width/depth: 33.6 cm, Depth: 10.6 cmHearst Museum object 3 of 7 titled Shrine of vajrabhairava, accession number 9-22005a-d, described as This is a shrine that contains eleven major Buddhist deities and could be used as the main object of worship for a Lama or devout lay person. Height: 57.2 cm, Width/depth: 33.6 cm, Depth: 10.6 cmHearst Museum object 4 of 7 titled Shrine of vajrabhairava, accession number 9-22005a-d, described as This is a shrine that contains eleven major Buddhist deities and could be used as the main object of worship for a Lama or devout lay person. Height: 57.2 cm, Width/depth: 33.6 cm, Depth: 10.6 cmHearst Museum object 5 of 7 titled Shrine of vajrabhairava, accession number 9-22005a-d, described as This is a shrine that contains eleven major Buddhist deities and could be used as the main object of worship for a Lama or devout lay person. Height: 57.2 cm, Width/depth: 33.6 cm, Depth: 10.6 cmHearst Museum object 6 of 7 titled Shrine of vajrabhairava, accession number 9-22005a-d, described as This is a shrine that contains eleven major Buddhist deities and could be used as the main object of worship for a Lama or devout lay person. Height: 57.2 cm, Width/depth: 33.6 cm, Depth: 10.6 cmHearst Museum object 7 of 7 titled Shrine of vajrabhairava, accession number 9-22005a-d, described as This is a shrine that contains eleven major Buddhist deities and could be used as the main object of worship for a Lama or devout lay person. Height: 57.2 cm, Width/depth: 33.6 cm, Depth: 10.6 cm

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