Offering dakinis in Tibet
Share
In the 15th century, at the Mus Tang Lang Jie Temple
Late 14th Century, Dansatse style
Private Collection
Graceful fairies,
Flying to the auspicious realm,
Proof of this dependent world,
Zhuba·Baima Gabor (1527-1592)
Late 14th century, Dansatasi Temple style
Private collection
Painted in the mid-to-late 18th century in the imperial court
Collection of the Minneapolis Institute of Art, USA
Personified objects like goddesses
and personified concepts like goddesses
There are offerings on both the secular level, such as the Seven Precious Objects, and on the religious level, such as the attendants and followers.
The appearance of providers signifies
that the relationship of giving and receiving transcends images and is permanently established
This is also the real reason for the birth of images.
"The Heavenly Maiden of Fragrant Gold"
Mid-15th century, Ming court work
Collection of Guangdong Provincial Museum
13th century, Kathmandu Valley
Located in the Rubin Museum of Art
Early 15th century, Danzati style
Private collection
This is the border decoration in the layout of the altar city.
The Apsara and rakshasa are two common attendants of the deities.
Mid-17th century, in the collection of the Rubin Museum
Detail: celestial maidens dancing in the altar city
The five Vajrayogini goddesses emanating from the Five Delights represent the core combination in the system of offering goddesses. These five goddesses symbolize the five sensory perceptions (i.e. form, sound, smell, taste, touch) and the five sense organs. While they offer their respective offerings to please the deities, they also remind practitioners not to become overly attached to sensory pleasures. The journey from the Five Delights to the Five Aggregates is a process in which practitioners gradually overcome desires and confront the construction of consciousness, leading them towards complete enlightenment. It is important to note that the offerings held by the Five Delights Vajrayogini goddesses may vary, with the Sound Vajrayogini goddess, for example, holding different musical instruments (depending on the region) or performing different types of dance.
The Rubin Museum houses a scroll painting on the theme of offerings, which includes the Eight Auspicious Symbols, the Seven Jewels of a Universal Monarch, as well as various common offering goddesses. Based on existing literary evidence, it is known that this work is related to the ritual of offering in the mandala context. Additionally, the Art Gallery of New South Wales in Australia holds a set of Zabgayli thangkas related to the yoga practice of the direct disciple of the Ganden tradition, which includes a detailed image of offering goddesses.
The mirror represents the essence of emptiness of all things.
Symbolizing the sense of hearing with musical instruments
Sound of the Dharma, Celestial Harp
Signifying the essence of sublime joy in practice
It should be Celestial Drum instead of Celestial Harp
19th century, in the collection of the Art Gallery of New South Wales
19th century, Art Gallery of New South Wales
19th century, Rubens Museum collection
19th century, Rubens Museum collection
Flowers dakinis
19th century, Rubens Museum collection
19th century, Rubens Museum collection
19th century, Rubens Museum collection