A Thangka of Trowo Tsochog Khagying, Tibet, 19th... Lot n° 16

Bön tradition, pigment and water-soluble binding agent on fabric, gold paint, 73.5 x 44.5 cm, torn edge, (Hr) We are grateful to Dipl. Ing. Uwe Niebuhr, BA MA for his assistance in cataloguing this work. The present thangka depicts the wrathful tutelary god Trowo Tsochog Khagying (Tibetan khro bo gtso mchog mkha' 'gying) and his retinue. He appears at the centre of the picture embracing his red consort Khala Dugma (Tibetan mkha' la gdug mo). The “Wrathful Supreme Lord Towering in the Sky” is one of the most important meditation deities (Sanskrit yidam) in the Tantrist tradition of the Tibetan Bön religion. Trowo Tsochog Khagying is characterised by a complex retinue, which is depicted almost entirely in this thangka. The tutelary god has a dark blue body and faces of different colours: blue, white and red. His wrathful eyes protrude hypnotically from the eye sockets, his open mouths reveal their sharp fangs. Trowo Tsochog Khagying and his consort wear gold jewellery on their bodies, whilst tiaras made of skulls decorate their flowing hair. A tiger pelt is wrapped around Trowo Tsochog Khagying’s hip, and the white skin of a demon is visible on his back. A green and white stole hangs from his shoulders reaching the ground, a long garland of severed heads goes down to his knees. He brandishes the following godly attributes in his six hands: on the right, the Sword of Wisdom, an axe made of meteoric iron and the banner of victory; on the left, the magic lasso, the magic hook, bow and arrow. All six hands spread their thumbs and index fingers in the ‘gesture of banishing’. His naked red consort Khala Dugma has her left arm and right leg wrapped around Trowo Tsochog Khagying’s body, her right outstretched arm holding a five-pointed star. The couple stands in a side lunge before blazing flames, on two snake deities (Sanskrit n?ga) lying motionless on a lotus. The latter rests on a red throne, carried by five animals: Garuda, an elephant, a snow lion, a horse and a