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Offerings to the Goddess Palden Lhamo

late 16th century
Not on view
Palden Lhamo is the principal protectress of Tibet and the only female of the Eight Guardians of the dharma. This black-ground (Tibetan: nag thang) painting was installed in the chapel (gonkhang) dedicated to the wrathful protective deities (dharmapalas), a room reserved for tantric initiation rites within a Tibetan monastery. The exceptional scale and complexity of the composition relate the painting to the offering-scene murals known as “sets of ornaments” (rgyan tshogs) that adorn the interiors of shrines dedicated to the dharmapalas. At center, the wrathful four-armed goddess Palden Lhamo, emaciated and fearful, is shown riding her mule.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Offerings to the Goddess Palden Lhamo
  • Date: late 16th century
  • Culture: Tibet
  • Medium: Distemper and ink on cloth
  • Dimensions: 67 × 44 1/8 in. (170.2 × 112 cm)
    Framed: 77 3/8 × 55 5/8 × 7/8 in. (196.5 × 141.3 × 2.2 cm)
  • Classification: Paintings
  • Credit Line: Gift of Frances Gould-Naftal and Marvin Naftal, 1983
  • Object Number: 1983.510.1
  • Curatorial Department: Asian Art

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Offerings to Wrathful Deities, Distemper and ink on cloth, Tibet
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Sadaksari-Lokeshvara Surrounded by Manifestations and Monks
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Mahakala, Protector of the Tent, Distemper on cloth, Central Tibet
Mahakala, Protector of the Tent
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Chakrasamvara with His Consort Vajravarahi, Distemper on cotton, Central Tibet
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