A THANGKA OF YAMA DHAMARAJA


TIBET, 17TH CENTURYDistemper on cloth.Himalayan Art Resources item no.61811 Image: 84 x 57 cm (33 x 22.5 in.);With silks: 160 x 79 cm (63 x 31 in.)
|Yama Dhamaraja is a crucial wisdom deity from the Vajrabhairava Tantra, which is practiced by Sakya, Kagyu, and Gelug orders. Yama Dhamaraja is understood to be a form of Manjushri, the Bodhisattva of Perfected Wisdom, taken to help quash a practitioner's fear of death, particularly as the illusion of death and rebirth might seem like a setback from the progress they have made in their current lifetime towards the spiritual enlightenment of others. Yama Dhamaraja holds special significance for the Gelugpa, who regard him, alongside Shadbhuja Mahakala and Vaishravana, as one of the order's three principal protectors.   Looking at this powerful painting, Yama Dhamaraja's unrelenting dominance over Death seems undeniable. The prone human pulverized by a buffalo, represents one that ignorantly buys into the illusion of death. While, astride the buffalo, imposing Yama Dhamaraja and his consort Chamundi revel in mortality, sharing a skullcup of scented blood.   Appearing in the top center of the painting, the founder of the Gelug order, Tsongkhapa, is also considered a manifestation of Manjushri. He is joined by a Gelug follower, a mahasiddha, and dancing lay figures. The painting's lower section shows dancing tutelary deities. Stylistically, the wide disc of flames, detailed rockwork, and palette are indicative of the 17th century and shared by a thangka of Chakrasamvara in the Shelley and Donald Rubin Collection (HAR no.131). Compare with another example published in, Neven, Etudes D'Art Lamaique et de L'Himalaya, Brussels, 1978, p.22, no.8. ProvenancePrivate Asian Collection閻魔護法唐卡 西藏，十七世紀 布本設色。喜馬拉雅藝術資源網61811號 畫心:84 x 57釐米（33 x 22.5英吋）; 裝裱:160 x 79釐米（63 x 31英吋）   300,000-500,000港元 閻魔護法是薩迦、噶舉及格魯派修練的「怖畏金剛密儀」中關鍵性的智慧神。其被尊為智慧菩薩文殊室利的化現之一。死亡和重生的的假象是修行成佛之路的阻礙，而閻魔護法可摧破修行者對於死亡的恐懼。其在格魯派具有格外重要的地位，與六臂大黑天及毘沙門天並列作為教派的三護法。　 這幅氣勢磅礴的畫作將閻摩護法對死亡絕無妥協的主宰表達得淋漓盡致。俯臥之人被水牛碾碎於足下，代表相信死亡假象的無知信眾。氣勢逼人的閻摩護髮和他的明妃伽蒙迪母橫跨著水牛陶醉於死亡之定數，並共享嘎巴拉碗中香味四溢的血水。 畫面中心上方描繪了格魯派的創始人宗喀巴，同樣被尊為文殊室利的化身。伴隨他的有一位格魯派信徒，一位大成就者及未受戒的舞者。畫面下方則呈現了舞動著的護法神。畫中寬闊的火焰輪，細緻刻劃的山岩，及整體色調都符合十七世紀風格，與魯賓夫婦收藏中的一幅勝樂金剛唐卡相似（參見喜馬拉雅藝術資源網131號）。另外參照Neven，《Etudes D'Art Lamaique et de L'Himalaya》，布魯塞爾，1978年，頁22，8號。來源亞洲私人收藏