Unknown Artist
Palden Lhamo, the “Glorious Goddess,” is the fierce female protector of the Dalai Lamas and the only woman among the Eight Guardians of the Law—wrathful deities sworn to defend Buddhism. She rides a mule across a sea of blood, symbolizing samsara, the endless cycle of rebirth. In one hand she holds a staff; in the other, a skull bowl filled with blood, which she transforms into amrita, the nectar of immortality. True to her fearsome nature, her hair bristles upward, and she clenches a writhing figure between her teeth.
Flanking her are her ever-present attendants: Simhavaktra Dakini, the lion-headed goddess, and her sister, Makaravaktra Dakini, with the head of a crocodile.
Above Palden Lhamo is Tsongkhapa, the revered founder of the Gelug Order of Tibetan Buddhism. Also present is Yamantaka, the Conqueror of Death—a fierce manifestation of Manjushri, the bodhisattva of wisdom—the one who is on the path to enlightenment (becoming a Buddha) but chooses to delay their own final liberation in order to help all other sentient beings reach enlightenment first, who holds a central place in Gelug meditation practices.
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P.S. Palden Lhamo was a truly fierce woman ... just like the women artists from our postcard collection! You can see their amazing works of art in the DailyArt Shop.
P.P.S. Discover the beauty of Buddhist art across cultures!