22
Sep
2020
Worldly Protector – Pehar Gyalpo
Pehar Gyalpo is known as the Worldly Protector and the King Daemon Pehar. Pehar Gyalpo is a non-Tibetan protector who is invited to Tibet by Guru Rinpoche and bound by an oath to protect all the Buddhist centers. Pehar Gyalpo is a spirit belonging to the Gyalpo class.
Table of Contents
Life of Pehar Gyalpo
Pehar Gyalpo is the leader of a band of five Gyalpo spirits and would later become the protector deity of Nechung Monastery in the 17th century under the auspices of the Fifth Dalai Lama.
Pehar Gyalpo is known as rgyal po dpe har in Tibet.
The iconography of Pehar Gyalpo
Pehar Gyalpo is white in color. Pehar Gyalpo has three faces, right white, left red, each with three large round eyes. In the first lower pair of hands of Pehar Gyalpo, there is a sword and stick.
The middle pair hands of Pehar Gyalpo holds bow and arrow. The upper pair hands of Pehar Gyalpo hold a long-handled hook and knife. Pehar Gyalpo is wearing a yellow hat with a multi-colored brim.
He is adorned with variously colored silks and garments, bone and jewel ornaments, and a necklace of freshly severed heads. He is riding on the back of a white snow lion with a green mane. Pehar Gyalpo is surrounded by the dark flames of wisdom fire.
Depicting Worldly Protector Pehar Gyalpo Thangka
The thangka of Pehar Gyalpo is from Mongolia. It is made in between 1800 to 1899 AD. Pehar Gyalpo is from Nyingma and Gelug lineage. The size of the thangka is 71.12×55.88cm. The base of the painting is ground mineral pigment on cotton. Presently, this thangka is in the Rubin museum of art.
Lama Tsongkapa
Lama Tsongkapa is at the top center of the thangka. Lama Tsongkapa is the founder of the Gelugpa School. Lama Tsongkapa is wearing monastic robes and a yellow Pandita hat.
He performs the ‘Dharma teaching’ gesture with the two hands while holding the stems of two lotus blossoms supporting a sword and book.
Tseringma
Tseringma is at the top left of the thangka. Tseringma is inside a rainbow sphere in the thangka. Tseringma is the female worldly guardian. Tseringma is white in color with one face and two hands holding an upraised vajra and a long-life vase.
Vaishravana
Vaishravana is to the right of the thangka. Vaishravana is inside a rainbow. Vaishravana is the Direction Guardian.
Vaishravana has one face and two hands holding a victory banner and mongoose. Tseringma is riding a snow lion.
Shakyamuni Buddhas
Shakyamuni buddhas are presented slightly below at the left and right in the thangka. Shakyamuni buddhas are supporting a begging bowl in the lap with the left hand.
Vajrasattva
Vajrasattva is at the lower left of the thangka. Vajrasattva is the Buddha of purification. Vajrasattva is white in color who is holding a vajra and bell.
Avalokiteshvara
Avalokiteshvara is on the right side of the thangka. Avalokiteshvara is white in color with one face and four hands holding a wishing jewel with the first pair and a crystal mala and lotus with the second.
Dorje Lekpa
Dorje Lekpa is at the bottom center of the thangka. Dorje Lekpa is known as the worldly protector. Dorje Lekpa has one face and two hands holding a vajra and heart.
Dorje Lekpa is wearing a round yellow hat, extensive garments. He is riding a snow lion surrounded by flames.
Pehar Gyalpo with Padmasambhava Thangka
The thangka of Pehar Gyalpo with Padmasambhava is from Mongolia. The thangka of Pehar Gyalpo with Padmasambhava is made between 1800 to 1899 AD. Pehar Gyalpo with Padmasambhava is from nyingma lineage. The size of the thangka is 96.52×71.76cm. The base of the painting is ground mineral pigment on cotton. Presently, this thangka is in the Rubin museum of art.
By depicting this thangka, we are going to learn about the presentation of Pehar Gyalpo with different deities such as Shing Cha Chen, and Dra Lha Kye Chigbu, etc.
Padmasambhava is at the top center of the thangka. Padmasambhava is also known as Guru Rinpoche. Padmasambhava has one face and two hands. The right hand of Padmasambhava holds a Vajra.
The left hand of Padmasambhava holds a skullcup supported in the lap. He is richly attired in various robes and wears a lotus hat. He is seated on a pink lotus above a dragon on a pink cloud.
Shing Cha Chen
Shing Cha Chen is at the top left of the thangka. Shing Cha Chen is known as the King of Qualities. Shing Cha Chen has natural color with one face and two hands holding a hook and lasso. Shing Cha Chen is wearing garments similar to the central figure.
Dra Lha Kye Chigbu
Dra Lha Kye Chigbu is at the right of the thangka. Dra Lha Kye Chigbu is known as the King of Speech. Dra Lha Kye Chigbu is red in color holding a stick of cane and a stick of sandalwood.
Gya Jin is at the bottom right of the thangka. Gya Jin is known as the King of Mind. Gya Jin is blue in color. Gya Jin is with one face and two hands holding a knife and lasso. Gya Jin is riding a white elephant above a sun disc and lotus.
Pehar Gyalpo with Ngagwang Lobzang Gyatso Thangka
The thangka of Pehar Gyalpo with Ngagwang Lobzang Gyatso is from Tibet. The thangka of Pehar Gyalpo with Ngagwang Lobzang Gyatso is made between 1600 to 1699 AD. Pehar Gyalpo with Ngagwang Lobzang Gyatso is from gelug lineage. The size of the thangka is 33.66×24.77cm. Ground mineral pigment on cotton, fine gold, and black background is used to color this thangka. Presently, this thangka is in the Rubin museum of art.
By depicting this thangka, we are going to learn about the presentation of Pehar Gyalpo with Dorje Dragden.
Ngagwang Lobzang Gyatso is at the top center of the thangka. Ngagwang Lobzang Gyatso is the 5th Dalai Lama who is wearing monastic robes and a yellow Pandita hat. The right-hand of Ngagwang Lobzang Gyatso holds the stem of a blossoming white lotus to the heart.
The left hand of Ngagwang Lobzang Gyatso holds cradles a golden Dharma wheel in the lap.
Dorje Dragden
Dorje Dragden is at the bottom center of the thangka. Dorje Dragden is the chief minister in the retinue of Pehar. Dorje Dragden is red in color.
Dorje Dragden has one face and two hands. He holds a trident lance in the upraised right and a lasso on the left. Dorje Dragden is standing upon a corpse and sun disc.
Pehar Gyalpo with Amitayus Thangka
The thangka of Pehar Gyalpo with Amitayus is from Tibet. The thangka of Pehar Gyalpo with Amitayus is made between 1700 to 1799 AD. Pehar Gyalpo withAmitayus is from Nyingma lineage. The size of the thangka is 44.45×31.75cm. The base of the painting is ground mineral pigment on cotton. Presently, this thangka is in the Rubin museum of art.
By depicting this thangka, we are going to learn about the presentation of Pehar Gyalpo with different deities such as White Tara, Ushnishavijaya, and Green Tara, etc.
Amitayus is in the middle of the thangka. Amitayus is the Buddha of Boundless Life. Amitayus is red in color with one face and two hands placed in the lap supporting a long-life vase.
White Tara
White Tara is at the left of the thangka. The right hand of White Tara is in the mudra (gesture) of generosity. The left hand of White Tara is at the heart holding the stem of a lotus blossom.
Ushnishavijaya
Ushnishavijaya is on the right side of the thangka. Ushnishavijaya is the goddess of the long-life. Ushnishavijaya is white in color with three faces and eight hands.
Green Tara
Green Tara is At the right corner of the thangka. Green Tara is with one face and two hands. Green Tara is seated in a relaxed posture with the right leg extended.
