Vajradhara, Nairatmya, and mahasiddhas Virupa and Kanha
Unknown Artist
c. 1450
Medium
Gum tempera and gold on cotton
Dimensions
57.5 × 50.2 cm · framed: 74.8 × 59.8 cm
Classification
Painting
Department
Indian and Southeast Asian Art
Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Credit
Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund
Accession Number
1960.206
About this artwork
The first in a series depicting the masters who transmitted the teachings on how to reach enlightenment, this painting begins at the upper left with the dark blue Vajradhara, who represents the essence of all Buddhas. The female enlightened being Nairatmya is seated at the upper right. She transmitted the teachings to Virupa, the brown-skinned Indian yogi at the lower left, in a vision; his disciple Kanha is at the lower right.