THANGKA DEPICTING VAJRAVEGA WITH CONSORT QING DYNASTY, 18TH-19TH CENTURY 清 雙身具力金剛唐卡the striking nine-headed wrathful dharmapala in alidhasana, with his red-bodied consort's left leg wrapped around his thigh, two front hands holding kartika and kapala bowl, twenty four other hands holding various ritual implements, he wears a flayed skin apron with five heads dangling, elaborate jewellery heavily adorned both the dharmapala and his consort's bodies and arms, flaming nimbus to their back and surrounded by various deities(Qty: 1)163cm x 109cmProvenance: Private Manila collection; the present owner's father acquired it in the 1970sNote: Vajravega is a wrathful form of Kalacakra (‘Lord of the Wheel of Time’) the most important cosmic deity in Tibetan Buddhism. In the form of Vajravega he serves to protect meditators embarking on Kalacakra meditation practice (up to 12 years) from hindering forces and creates a protective area surrounding them which he 'patrols'. "This large scroll is beautifully painted and its secret nature means that it should be treated with the utmost respect. For Tibetans a deity such as Vajravega’s name should only be uttered as part of the Kalacakra meditation practice and he never to be invoked for 'lesser' reasons. The inscription on the reverse reads; I go for my refuge to the Lama. I go for my refuge to the Buddha. I go for my refuge to the Teachings of the Buddha. I go for my refuge to the order of the Buddhist monks. I go for my refuge to the Lama, my tutelary (personal) deity and to the Three Jewels (Buddha, His Teachings and the Monks)."- viewed by Dr. David Templeman, Monash University of Melbourne, Australia