Shri Chakrasamvara


Edition
Length

Image Sizes

Paper/Canvas Sizes
100
40"x54.5"
44"x59"
500
18"x24"24"x30"
Open
7"x9.5"8.5"x12"
Artist: Unknown
Release of Edition: 17 June 2006
Medium: Limited Edition Giclee Prints
Material: Matte UV-protected Canvas or 225gsm Ultrasmooth Fine Art Rag Paper, Ultrachrome Ink
Markings: Embossed with the MiMa Publishers stamp and numbered
Certificate of Authenticity: Available on request




detail of max. size at 1:1

18"x24" Enlargement:

(At 72dpi this enlargement is only one tenth of the resolution of the print on paper. Added to that, it's a compressed jpeg, so the resulting image on the screen only hints at the clarity and detail of the print.)


Shri Chakrasamvara
(Tibetan: khor lo dem chog, English: Wheel of Supreme Bliss): the foremost tutelary deity of the Wisdom-mother classification of Anuttarayoga (Highest Yoga) Tantra.
 
With a body blue/black in color he has four faces and twelve arms. The main face is blue/black, left green/blue, back face red and the right face white/natural. Each face has three eyes and a gaping mouth. The hair is tied in a topknot on the crown of the head. Each head has a crown of five dry human skulls and he wears a necklace of fifty freshly severed heads and six bone ornaments. Wearing a lower garment of tiger skin the right leg is straight and presses on the breast of the red female Kalaratri. The left is bent and presses on the head of the black male Yama. In the lap is the Mother Vajravarahi, with a body red in colour, one face, two hands and three eyes. The left embraces the Father and the right holds a curved knife extended upwards. The hair is worn piled on the head with a crown of five dry human skulls and fifty dry as a necklace. Atop a sun disc and multi-coloured lotus blossom they stand in the middle of a blazing orange ring of pristine awareness fire. His arms stand for the 12 links, or nidana, in the chain of causality. The three eyes stand for the three times and the four faces, the directions. The first pair of hands holds a vajra and bell symbolizing the union of skillful means and wisdom and embrace the consort. The second pair rends the elephant hide of appearances, stretching the skin of illusion like a cloak.

A damaru (two-headed) drum in the third right hand shows that Samvara's "voice resounds joyously." The third left hand holds the khatvanga, a spear with three heads that represents "the blissful Thought of Enlightenment." His fourth right hand brandishes the axe that "cuts off birth and death at the roots."
 
The skull bowl of blood in his fourth left hand shows that he "has cut away discrimination between existence and nonexistence." His fifth right hand wields the vajra cleaver that "cuts off the six defects, pride and the rest." The vajra lasso in his fifth left hand binds beings to wisdom from life to life. The trident in his sixth right hand signals that he has "overcome the evil of the threefold world." The severed head of the god Brahma dangles from his sixth left hand, showing that Samvara "avoids all illusion." Shamvara is beyond both samsara and nirvana. To signify this, his right foot treads on Kalaratri (Darkest Night) representing nirvana and his left foot is on Bhairava, The Terrifier, sustainer of samsara.

Notes by Bhikshu Karma Tinley, who gratefully acknowledges the Himalayan Art Library.


THANGKAS FOR CHARITABLE DONATIONS

These Thankas are not for sale, but will be given to individuals and organisations who support by donation The Dharma Fellowship Hermitage Meditation Retreat on Denman Island, Canada, or the sponsorship programs for Tibetan refugee children and monks administered by the Dharma Fellowship.

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The donor may choose a Thangka from the catalogue presented here. They are being given in three sizes:
1) For a donation of $2500 or more: At an image size of 40" wide x up to 59" high, on canvas, coated with a UV and abrasion resistant liquid laminate, editions of 100. These can be hung like scrolls or stretched over wooden frames (known as "stretchers").
2) For a donation of $500 or more: On 24" x 30" watercolor/rag paper, editions of 500.
3) For a donation of $150 or more: On 8.5" x 12" heavyweight watercolor/rag paper, open editions.

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