Important Notice

TIBET, 16TH/17TH CENTURY
Distemper on cloth
38.3 x 31.6 in (97.3 x 80.3 cm)

NON-EXPORTABLE REGISTERED ANTIQUITY

PUBLISHED:
Hugo E. Kreijger, Tibetan Painting: The Jucker Collection, Boston, 2001, p.102, no. 36

PROVENANCE:.
Property of a Gentleman
Sotheby's, New York, The Jucker Collection of Himalayan Paintings, March 2006, lot 87


Guardian deity of the North, the stern-faced golden Vaishravana, clad in armour, rides on a white snow lion, holding his attributes of the victory banner in his right hand and a mongoose expelling jewels in his left. He is surrounded by his entourage of ashvapatis or the Eight Horse Lords each holding a weapon, while several mythical animals are depicted on a dark blue mountainous background. To the right of the Dharampala or the guardian deity are two royal figures and a donor before an altar and stupa being showered by jewels.

Vaishravana, leader of the yaksha race, is a worldly guardian worshipped as both a protector and benefactor (wealth deity). He lives on the north side of the lower slopes of mount Meru in the Heaven of the Four Great Kings. As the leader of the Four Direction Guardians, he like the others, swore an oath of protection before the Buddha Shakyamuni.

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