Context: Central Tibet, Densatil Buddhist Monastery.
Dimension/Medium: 20 1/16 x 16 9/16 in. (51x42cm). Gilt Copper Alloy and semiprecious stones.
The description of the Artwork
The figure of the Goddess Lhamo is a sculpture located in the Carlos Museum, and it is made available for educational, personal and non- commercial purpose only. The figure contains a female sitting with her legs crossed seemingly a goddess and surrounded by other small gods and goddesses. The female goddess seems to dominate the other small a gods and goddesses.
The figure of the Goddess Lhamo which is considered to be a terrifying figure of the Buddhist world. This is because the Goddess of Lhamo is considered to be the protectress of the school of Mahayana Buddhism. The figure of the Goddess Lhamo has a snake coiled upon her stomach, and she wears a garland and crown of skulls on her head. She is armed with the gods-dice who are determining the lives of the human, animals like lion, a hammer, a sword, which she holds in her right arm; and her vehicle, the mule, upon which she is seated.
Interpretation of the Artwork
In the picture the artist was trying to communicate that the Goddess Lhamo is the greatest of the other small god and goddess seated besides her in the artwork. Since the Goddess Lhamo is terrifying because she is the Greatest Protectress of the school of Mahayana Buddhism. Her actions are based on the deepest insight, and her ferociousness transforms the world as she has a snake coiled upon her stomach. Her greatness is also shown by the garland and crown on her head. An intermediary would focus on Lhamo's capability to divert delusional anger into an enlightened power to act. The garland and crown of skull stand to symbolize what she has destroyed which is believed to that she killed her biological son since her husband had refused to convert into Buddhism.
