Chemchok Heruka Mandala

The tantric deity Chemchok Heruka stands at center with one arm around his consort Dhatishvari, following an early convention for showing the pair. Surrounding “sub-mandalas” contain deities such as Yamantaka and Hayagriva, all fearsome, tantric manifestations of the major bodhisattvas. There is also a monk, who could be Atisha, among the group. The imagery is based on two eighth-century tantric texts that a Nyingma monk rediscovered as “revealed treasure.” After its creation, this mandala made its way to Taklung monastery, where a consecratory inscription was added by the abbot Tashipel before his death in 1210. This early date corresponds to the north Indian Pala style, which employed saturated color fields and bold motifs such as the unadorned vajra prongs in the four directions.