Mandala of Raktayamari

Mandala of Raktayamari

Mikyo Dorje

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

At the center of this mandala, Raktayamari (Red Yamari) is seen in union with his consort, an emanation of himself. He and his consort trample his enemy Yama, the god of death. Radiating from the central square are four differently colored manifestations of Yamari, also depicted in yab-yum (sexual union). The precision, strong colors, and animated line work suggest the hand of a master painter. An inscription identifies the work as a meditation tangka belonging to Kunga Lekpa, likely depicted at lower left, one of the teachers of the great Tibetan theologian Tsong Khapa (1357–1419). The master painter Mikyo Dorje is known to have been active at this time.

Asian Art

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

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The Met's collection of Asian art—more than 35,000 objects, ranging in date from the third millennium B.C. to the twenty-first century—is one of the largest and most comprehensive in the world. Each of the many civilizations of Asia is represented by outstanding works, providing an unrivaled experience of the artistic traditions of nearly half the world.