Interpreting Buddhist protector Begtse Chen

Begtse Chen is known as the main protector for the Hayagriva cycle of practice. Begtse Chen is a Dharmapala and the lord of war in origin a pre-Buddhist war god of the Mongols. Begtse Chen is known as the Great Coat of Mail in English and Begtse Chen is also known as  Prana Atma in Sanskrit.

The iconography of Begtse Chen

In the iconography of Begtse Chen, we are going to learn about his body picture, hand and leg gesture, and different representations of Begtse Chen in thangka a statue.

Begtse Chen has one face and two hands. Begtse Chen wears dressed like a Tibetan warrior.  He is covered in protective armor.

The right hands of Begtse Chen hold a sword with a black scorpion shaped handle. The left-hand of Begtse Chen hold clutches to the breast a fresh heart with a bow and arrow held in the bend of the elbow and a long lance and banner leaning against the shoulder. Aside from the armor, he wears all the usual wrathful vestments such as the crown of five skulls, a necklace of fifty freshly severed heads, and the like.

Begtse Chen is Standing atop a sun disc with the right foot on the corpse of a horse and the left on the corpse of a man he is completely surrounded by the flames of pristine awareness.

Depicting Buddhist protector Begtse Chen Thangka

The thangka of Betse Chen is from Mongolia. The thangka is made between 1800 – 1899 AD. Begtse Chen is from Sakya and Gelug lineages. The size of the painting is 114.30×69.85cm. Ground mineral pigment on cotton and the fine line is used to color this painting. Currently, this thangka is in the Rubin museum of art.

By depicting this thangka, we will learn about the presentation of Begtse Chen with different deities such as Medicine Buddha, Indian mahasiddha Saraha, Lama, Goddess of Life, and Lord of Life, etc.

Medicine Buddha

Medicine Buddha is at the top center of the thangka. Medicine Buddha is blue in color. The right hand of Medicine Buddha holds the stem of a medicinal plant. The left hand of Begtse Chen is placed in the lap holding a begging bowl filled with healing nectar.

Indian mahasiddha Saraha

Indian mahasiddha Saraha is at the left of the thangka. Indian mahasiddha Saraha is holding upraised an arrow shaft.

Lama

Lama is at the right of the thangka. Lama wears monastic robes and a yellow cap. The right hand of the lama is placed at the heart. He holds the stem of a lotus blossom supporting a sword and book. The left hand of Lama is placed in the lap holds a gold vase.

Goddess of Life

Goddess of Life is to the right of the central lotus in the thangka. Goddess of Life is  seated in the consort. Goddess of Life has a red face and a blue body. In the right hand, she holds aloft a sword and in the left, she stabs with a ‘Purba’ dagger.

Lord of Life

Lord of Life is to the left of the thangka.  Lord of Life is red in color with one face and two hands. Lord of Life is dressed in similar attire as the father. He holds a lasso in the right hand and a spear in the left, riding a wolf.

Begtse Chen with Guru Padmasambhava Thangka

The thangka of Bagtse Chen with Guru Padmasambhava is from Mongolia. The thangka is made between 1800 – 1899 AD. Begtse Chen with Guru Padmasambhava is from Nyingma, Sakya, karma (Kagyu), and Gelug lineages. The size of the painting is 67.31×43.82cm. The base of the painting is ground mineral pigment on cotton. Currently, this thangka is in the Rubin museum of art.

Guru Padmasambhava is at the top center of the thangka.  Guru Padmasambhava is the principal founder of Tibetan Buddhism. The right hand of Guru Padmasambhava holds at the heart holding a vajra. And the left of Guru Padmasambhava is in the lap supporting a skullcup.

A katvanga staff leans against the left shoulder of Guru Padmasambhava. Guru Padmasambhava is attired in various ornaments and robes. He wears the red lotus hat and seated in a vajra posture.

Begtse Chen with Lama Tsongkapa Thangka

The thangka of Bagtse Chen with Lama Tsongkapa is from Tibet. The thangka is made between 1800 – 1899 AD. Begtse Chen with Lama Tsongkapa is from Gelug lineage. The size of the painting is 45.70×31.10cm. The base of the painting is ground mineral pigment on cotton.

Lama Tsongkapa is at the top center of the thangka. Lama Tsongkapa is with the two principal students seated at the right and left.

Principal protector of Bon religion

The principal protector of Bon religion is at the bottom center of the thangka.  The principal protector of Bon religion is dark blue in color with three faces and six hands. The principal protector of Bon religion is riding a mule.