Hand-Painted by Master from Rebkong, Qinghai
Artist: Ji Hexian
This thangka features Hayagriva (Three-Faced Six-Armed), a core subject in Tibetan Buddhist Vajrayana. Dominated by red and gold tones, it integrates faith, art, and craftsmanship. As a 100% hand-painted work, it serves as a sacred object for Vajrayana practice—symbolizing "subduing afflictions and protecting spiritual cultivation"—and as an artistic treasure showcasing the unique cultural charm of wrathful deities in Tibetan Buddhism.
Specifications
• Uniqueness: Each piece is an original, one-of-a-kind creation worldwide.
• Size: 81*115CM (subject to actual product).
• Technique: Created using traditional Tibetan meticulous heavy-color painting techniques, strictly adhering to Vajrayana iconographic rituals. Centered on the main deity, the red and gold background enhances a majestic and sacred subduing aura, with distinct layers between the deity and the background, highlighting the red thangka's intense and striking presence.
• Pigments: 100% natural mineral and plant-based pigments (including saffron, gold powder, etc.), blended with ox bile and animal glue. The colors remain vivid over time, embodying the artistic philosophy of "upholding faith through materials." The red-and-gold color scheme delivers a powerful visual impact.
• Canvas: Traditional Tibetan cotton cloth, processed through gluing, powdering, and repeated polishing.
• Mounting: Framed in modern solid wood with exquisite craftsmanship, preserving the artwork while highlighting the red thangka's noble artistic aura.
• Origin & Craftsmanship: 100% hand-painted in Rebkong, Qinghai.
About Three-Faced Six-Armed Hayagriva Red Thangka Art
1. Iconic Features & Deity Identity
Central Deity: Three-Faced Six-Armed Hayagriva – The Ultimate Symbol of Subduing Afflictions
As the core wrathful deity in Tibetan Buddhist Vajrayana, embodying "subduing demons and protecting spiritual cultivation," his iconography strictly follows Vajrayana rituals. Every detail gains greater majesty against the red and gold background:
• Body Color, Faces & Arms: His body glows with golden yellow, symbolizing the sacredness and power of subduing forces. With three faces and six arms, the central horse face is ferocious—eyes wide, fangs bared—representing the subdual of all worldly demons. The left face radiates compassion, while the right face displays wrath. Each of the six arms holds a ritual implement, embodying the Vajrayana essence of "harmony between wisdom and compassion, and mastery in subdual."
• Posture & Footing: Seated in a subduing posture, one foot trampling a female demon and the other a male ghost, symbolizing the subdual of internal and external afflictions. This posture manifests his sacred power to "suppress demonic hostility and protect spiritual practice."
• Implements & Gestures: The six arms hold various ritual implements—including a vajra (symbolizing the destruction of afflictions), a skull bowl (representing the perception of emptiness), and a lasso (symbolizing the binding of demons). Each implement carries profound meaning, materializing the Vajrayana philosophy of "subdual and protection."
• Facial Expression & Robes: His facial expression is majestic and wrathful, with three wide-open eyes seemingly penetrating all demons, and an angry snarl demonstrating unparalleled subduing power. Clad in a red-and-gold wrathful deity attire adorned with skulls, necklaces, and other Vajrayana elements, the robe's bold and powerful lines follow the contours of his body, creating a fierce yet sacred texture. It not only reflects the Vajra King's wrathful identity but also embodies the perfect state of "subduing demons and protecting purity," perfectly interpreting his sacred posture of "subduing afflictions through wrath and protecting sentient beings through compassion."
Attendant Deities
The thangka features a rich array of attendant deities, including Vajrayana masters, bodhisattvas, and dharma protectors, forming a complete Vajrayana belief system:
• Upper Masters:
￮ Central: Padmasambhava, founder of the Nyingma school of Tibetan Buddhism, symbolizing Hayagriva's dharma lineage and Vajrayana origins.
￮ Left: Guru Longshu, a Vajrayana master, representing the successive transmission of Vajrayana practice.
￮ Right: Arya Asanga, a Buddhist philosopher, providing doctrinal support for Vajrayana.
• Lower Deities:
￮ Left: Vajrapani, one of the "Three Protectors" of Vajrayana, embodying "power and protection," complementing Hayagriva's subduing force.
￮ Central: Ekajati, a Vajrayana dharma protectress, safeguarding practice and removing obstacles.
￮ Right: Garuda, a Vajrayana dharma protector, subduing dragon demons with divine power.
￮ Lower Left: Rahu, a symbol of subdued demons, demonstrating the Vajra King's unparalleled subduing power.
￮ Lower Right: Samaya Vajra, a Vajrayana oath protector, safeguarding the vows and practice of Vajrayana practitioners.
Background Elements
The thangka's background features red and gold flame patterns—wild, layered lines symbolizing Hayagriva's "unmatched subduing power like a prairie fire." These patterns enrich the visual layers, metaphorically extending the Vajra King's subduing vows to all realms, and complementing the main deity's wrathful image to create a Vajrayana artistic conception of "freedom from afflictions and pure practice."
2. Cultural Connotation & Artistic Value
The Three-Faced Six-Armed Hayagriva is the core symbol of "subduing afflictions and protecting spiritual cultivation" in Tibetan Buddhist Vajrayana. This red thangka is rooted in Vajrayana practitioners' sincere prayers for "subduing demons and achieving purity." By admiring the iconography and practicing devoutly, practitioners can not only gain spiritual strength to subdue internal and external afflictions but also embody the Vajrayana practice philosophy of "harmony between wisdom and compassion" through visualization, gradually moving toward the state of "freedom from afflictions and attainment of enlightenment." This vividly embodies the cultural connotation of Tibetan Buddhist Vajrayana—"expressing compassion through wrathful forms."
In terms of artistic value, it is an exquisite example of Rebkong red thangka. The red-and-gold color scheme is not merely decorative: red symbolizes the intense vows to subdue afflictions, and gold represents the sacredness and perfection of Vajrayana dharma, their fusion exuding unparalleled majesty and shock. The natural mineral and plant pigments—intense and pure saffron, full gold leaf gilding—remain unfaded for centuries, perfectly embodying the philosophy of "upholding faith through materials." Following strict Vajrayana iconographic rituals, the artist infused reverence for Vajrayana faith and craftsmanship into every detail, from the intricate patterns on ritual implements to the overall layout of flame patterns. Ultimately, the Vajra King's subduing vows are materialized through exquisite craftsmanship, allowing viewers to experience artistic shock while comprehending the profound heritage of Tibetan Buddhist Vajrayana culture.
