A thangka of Shri Devi

17th century

17th century
Distemper on cloth, 47cm x 35.3cm (18 1/2in x 13 7/8in).

十七世紀 彩繪吉祥天母唐卡

Shri Devi is the wrathful emanation of a number of different peaceful female gods and deities. She is the focus of the Anuttarayoga Tantras and the Mahakala Tantra. Seated on a mule with the skin of her son as a saddle, holding a skull cup and a vajra staff, the central deity may be identified as Magzor Gyalmo, the Glorious Goddess who Repels Armies, focus of the Dakinyagnijihajvala Tantra of the Nyingma Tantra. Her flaming hair is fronted by a tiara of skulls above the wrathful face, the body encircled by a garland of human heads, the mount galloping across a sea of red blood with floating human remains, surrounded by the goddesses of the Himalayas including Tseringma and retinue attendant figures.