Mahakala"s offering painting

Mongolian Collection

Accession Nr.: 71.4.1
Type: textile; woodblock print
Date of production:
19th century
Place of production:
Materials: canvas
Techniques: print
Dimensions: height: 41 cm
width: 60 cm
The objects of the offering to delight Mahakal, the powerful Guardian of the Buddhist Doctrine are represented in horizontal rows. In the center of the composition is a complex of pagoda locatede. A row of skulls in on top of the painting. The Eight Auspicious Symbols, the Seven Treasures of Royalty, ritual musical instruments, offering cups with various goods, weapons, sacrificial animals and other sacrificial objects can be seen in the following rows. This offering painting (Khalkha: ganzai, Tibetan bkang rdzas) was made on a lying rectangle shaped canvas with block printing wich was painted and coloured later. Two rows of fringe are attached to the bottom of the painting.