303. Shing Kyong and his Retinue Lion faced Maranatha (Kshetrapala) Thanka (Thangka). Free Brocade / Free Shipping.

Shing Kyong and his Retinue : This exquisite gold-on-black composition shows the black lion-headed form of Mahakala with his red consort and retinue of eight protector deities, as a 'field or realm protector' (Skt. kshetrapala; Tib. zhing-skyong). This ferocious aspect of 'Lion-faced Mahakala' (Skt. Mahakala-simhamukha) belongs to the retinue of Four-armed Mahakala, who in turn is the main protector of the Chakrasamvara Tantra Cycle, and he is equally venerated in both the Nyingma and Kagyu traditions. Within the Karma Kagyu tradition he serves as the main protector for Benchen Monastery and the lineage of the Sangye Nyenpa Rinpoche (1457-1525), who was the root guru of the 8th Karmapa Mikyo Dorje (1507-1554). Here he is also recognized as the special 'field or realm protector' for the western Pure Land of Amitabha Buddha, which is known as Sukhāvatī or Dewachen (Tib. bde ba can), meaning the 'Realm of Bliss'. He is most commonly known as Lion-headed Maranatha (Tib. bDud mgon seng gdong), the 'Lord of the maras or obstructive demons', and as Zhing skyong sha za nag po, meaning the 'Black pisacha or demonic flesh-eating realm protector'. And his red yum or consort is known as Sha za dmar mo, meaning the 'Red flesh-eating pisachi or cannibal demoness'. Their 'seat' or sacred abode is at Mt. Tsari, which is one of Tibet's three most sacred mountains and situated near the border of Arunachal Pradesh in eastern Tibet. Kshetrapala is described as being 'black like the monsoon rain-clouds', with the face of a ferocious lion, three round and angry red eyes, and two arms. The roar of thunder resounds from his throat and gaping jaws, as he bares his sharp teeth and long red tongue that twists like lightning. His eyebrows and tawny mane blaze upwards like fire, and his head is crowned with a single jewel-topped dry white skull. He wears bone and jewel ornaments, with embroidered black boots made of felt and leather, and undergarments of black silk. His flowing outer cloak is made of embroidered black silk and is bound at the waist with a jeweled belt, from which are suspended a bow-case (left) and a quiver of arrows (right). With his right hand he brandishes aloft a spear-flag with a flowing black silk pennon, while with his left hand he holds aloft a vast white skull-cup containing the wrathful offering of a triangular 'ritual cake' or torma. His mount is a blue horse with white fetlocks, which bears an embroidered black silk saddle-blanket, iron stirrups, golden harnesses, and a jeweled yak-tail pendant. He rides swiftly amidst a maelstrom of blazing fire and storm clouds, with his horse galloping upon the billowing clouds or 'wings of the wind'. To his left rides his consort, the 'Lion-headed Demoness' (bdud mo seng ge dong ma), who rides bareback upon a red horse with white fetlocks. She is fiery red in color and naked, except for her tiger-skin loincloth, bone ornaments, and necklace of fifty freshly severed and blood-dripping heads. With her three round red eyes she gazes lustily at her lord, with her fiery eyebrows and tawny mane blazing upward like fire. Her gaping mouth reveals her four sharp fangs and her twisting red tongue. With her extended left hand she offers the warm heart of a human enemy to the mouth of her lord, while with her raised right hand she wields a skull-topped trident with a flowing ribbon of black silk. She likewise rides upon the billowing clouds amidst a blazing mass of wind and fire. Directly below their two mounts and the billowing clouds are Kshetrapala's two special monkey attendants, who run swiftly upon their hands in inverted postures with their feet holding skull-cups that contain wrathful red and black tormas or 'sacrificial cakes' that are decorated with white spots. The male monkey directly below Kshetrapala is known as Dūta, the 'messenger' (Tib. pho nya), and the female monkey below his consort is known as Dūti, the 'female messenger' or 'daughter' (bu mo). Kshetrapala's spirit retinue is described as consisting of a hundred thousand 'black ones', ten million piśāca spirits, an army of a hundred thousand heroes to his right and a hundred thousand heroines to his left, a retinue of obedient black goddesses, a host of male yaksha and female yakshini servants, and a female multitude of ten million dakinis, mamo and piśāci spirits. However, his specific retinue, as represented here, consists of four groups of five hundred spirit beings that accompany Kshetrapala on each side. To his front are five hundred ordained monks or gelongs (dge slong), who are described as 'holding alms-bowls and rattling their monastic staffs or khakkaras as they recite solemn prayers'. These gelongs are represented by a row of five monks wearing the embroidered silk monastic robes and the domed, lacquered and golden riding hats of high lamas. From left to right they hold the attributes of: a water pot and a burning sheath of incense; an alms-bowl; a yak-tail staff and alms-bowl; a pestle and a long scriptural text; a mendicant's staff and an alms-bowl. To Kshetrapala's right appear five hundred 'black hat magicians, who recite wrathful mantras as they dance to the rhythm of shamanic drums'. They are represented here by a group of four black hat magicians who wear voluminous and wide-sleeved robes of embroidered black silk, felt boots, and wide-brimmed hats with triangular torma-like tops that are crowned by a skull and a blazing gem. From the top downwards they bear the attributes of: a fiery triangular blade of meteorite iron; a blazing hearth of red hot iron; a fierce makara or crocodile that vomits a maelstrom of flaming meteorites; a sheath of poison-tipped spikes. To his rear appear five hundred heroic warriors 'that bear shields and weapons, and speak courageous words'. They are represented here by a group of three armour-clad soldiers with pennon-topped helmets that emerge from the thunderclouds behind Kshetrapala. And to his left are five hundred black demoness-like women from the Mon country that borders Tibet, 'who utter terrible curses as they shake out their clothes'. They are represented here by a group of four fierce naked women, who spin wildly in a lewd 'ring dance' amidst the clouds, with their disheveled hair and pendulous breasts swinging freely to the rhythm of demonic drums. Surrounding Kshetrapala in the cardinal and inter-cardinal directions are the eight great attendant deities that accompany him as his main retinue. Collectively these eight fierce deities are known as the 'Powerful Messengers of the Eight Classes of Spirits' (Tib. stobs ldan pho nya sde brgyad). Size: Size without Brocade: 21 inches by 33 inches Shipping: We ship within 2 business day. DHL Shipping: 5 to 8 business days with tracking number. Insurance against loss. We do wholesale too. Our one and only priority in this business is to provide "Hassle free Customer Satisfaction". We have "Quality Products" with "Cheapest Price" in the market. Please contact us to resolve any issues. Contact us via email before leaving any negative or neutral comments. We promise you that we will resolve any issues. Please confirm the return address with us before returning the product.