-
Details
- Other Titles
- Lhamo, The Guardian Goddess of Lhasa
Palden Remati and her retinue
The Goddess Palden Remati - Place where the work was made
-
Tibet
- Date
- late 18th century-early 19th century
- Media category
- Painting
- Materials used
- distemper on cotton
- Dimensions
- 66.5 x 48.0 cm image; 139.0 x 82.2 cm overall
- Signature & date
Not signed. Not dated.
- Credit
- Gift of Mrs Phipps 1942
- Location
- Not on display
- Accession number
- 7230
- Copyright
- Share
-
About
Penden Lhamo is a major protector deity and the only goddess in the group of deities known as the Dharmapala, the supporters and protectors of the teaching or dharma. A favourite deity of the Gelukpa sect, Penden Lhamo is regarded as a protector of the Dalai Lama and of the city of Lhasa. Her association with the Himalayas is apparent as she is shown riding through the peaks of this mountainous region. As a protector deity, Penden Lhamo is depicted having as wrathful demeanor, riding an untamed mule through a sea of entrails and blood. Blue-black and haggish with three bulging eyes, upturned nose, ferocious mouth and flaming hair topped by a skull crown, she holds a skull bowl filled with bleeding organs and plucked out eyeballs, and brandishes a vajra-topped club. Below, her retinue include the dakinis Makaravaktra ('crocodile-faced') who leads her mule, and Simhavaktra, the red-bodied, lion-faced deity. Surrounding her are the goddesses of the four seasons: Vasanta Devi the blue goddess of spring, Varsha Devi, the red goddess of summer, Sharad, the yellow goddess of autumn and Hemanta, the black goddess of winter. Above these deities are three Gelukpa lamas, to the proper right of this group is the deity Chakrasamvara embracing his consort Vajravarahi.
Asian Art Department, April 2003
-
Places
Where the work was made
Tibet
-
Exhibition history
Shown in 4 exhibitions
A survey of Indian art (1967), Fisher Library, University of Sydney, Sydney, 06 Sep 1967–23 Sep 1967
Buddhist Art from the Collection of the Art Gallery of New South Wales, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, 06 May 1995–10 Sep 1995
Conversations through the Asian collections, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, 25 Oct 2014–13 Mar 2016
Elemental, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, 30 Jul 2022–2024
-
Bibliography
Referenced in 1 publication
-
Melanie Eastburn, Look, 'Elemental', pp. 34-41, Sydney, Aug 2022-Sep 2022, 36 (colour illus.).
-
-
Provenance
Mrs R.M. Phipps, pre 1942, Sydney/New South Wales/Australia, donated to the Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, April 1942.