Shridevi dharmapala, the Victorious Goddess

Mongolian Collection

Accession Nr.: 81.36.1
Type: painting; textile; thangka
Date of production:
19th century
Place of production:
Materials: canvas
Techniques: painted
Dimensions: image:
height: 61 cm
width: 42.5 cm
On this bordeless thangka Shridevi Dharmapala is shown as riding a mule in the middle of the Blood Ocean surounded by mountains. Both the goddes and her mule are adorned with various weapons and ornaments donated by different deities. A crown of five skulls decoretas her forehead, a snake and a half vajra ornament her upstanding hair and a peacock-feather umbrella is depicted on top. A tiger skin covers the lower body of the semi-nude deity. She wears a special necklace in her neck and holds a skullcup filled with blood in her her left hand. Her retinue includes the Makara-head dakini and the Lion-faced dakini. The Queens of the Four Seasons are depicted in the corner of the image.