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5. An early Tibetan consecration painting depicting Vajrapani Circa 12th-13th century Ink and pigment on paper 1 ¾” x 2” (4.5 x 5cm) |
The painting of a type inserted into the base of an image along with other sacred items and texts, to enhance it’s spiritual significance. It depicts an alert, wrathful deity – Vajrapani (Acala), wielding a sword to cleave ignorance in his right hand, which he also crushes beneath his feet. The left hand is in tarjanimudra – the gesture of pointing out an error. Such drawings were rolled up and inserted into an image to consecrate it at the time of its first ‘awakening’. Drawings such as this are exceedingly rare. |