mandala...
The
deity Buddhakapala, "Skullcup of the
Buddha," presides over this mandala
of twenty-five deities.
-
1 The wrathful god embraces his consort Citrasena,
while his four other hands hold the skullcup, chopper,
ceremonial staff and hand drum. He assumes the dancer's
pose (ardhaparyanka) upon a corpse which is itself
supported by a lotus borne by the sun. Attendant
deities in the mandala's first circle appear on the
petals of an open lotus: Sumalini (E), Kapalini (N),
Bhima (W) and Durjaya (S).
-
2 Skullcups
supported by lotuses mark the four intermediate
points of the compass. The second
circle of deities includes: Subhamekhala (E), Rupini
(N), Vijaya (W), Kamini (S), Kapalini (NE), Mahadadhi
(SE), Karini (SW) and Marani (NW). The third circle
includes: Tarini (E), Bhimadarsana (N), Sudarsana
(W), Ajaya (S), Subha (NE), Astaraki (SE), Kalaratri
(SW) and M ahayasa (NW). Sundari (E), Vajrasundari
(N), Subhaga (W) and Priyadarsana (S) guard the
mandala's four gates. This mandala was once part
of a set of mandalas illustrating Annuttarayoga
teachings. These teachings were transmitted by
an historical lineage illustrated in the painting's
top and bottom registers, and including the four
historical figures encircled by scrolling vines
just outside the mandala circle.
-
3 The
lineage begins with the celestial Buddha Vajradhara
and includes Indian masters such as
Nagarjuna (act. second century A.D.) and prominent
Tibetan masters of the eleventh and twelfth centuries,
such as the famed translator Marpa (mar-pa, 1012-96).
