Description

Very unusual an rare Nepalese Simhamukha, also known as Narimsimha, avatar of Vishnu, ferocious countenance of half man, half lion, black schist head model on stand. Old losses with original patina consistent with age.

In terms of these Higher Tantras, a meditation deity (yi-dam lha) who is both wrathful and female is the Jnana Dakini Simhamukha. It is important to understand that, despite her exceedingly wrathful appearance and animal head, she is not a guardian spirit (srung-ma), subdued by magic, converted to the Dharma, and bound by oaths of service by some powerful Mahasiddha in the past. Rather, she is a wrathful manifestation of Guhyajnana Dakini, who, according to the Nyingmapa tradition, was the principal Dakini teacher of Padmasambhava in the country of Uddiyana. Therefore, although Simhamukha is a Dakini in her aspect, she functions as a Yidam or meditation deity and her special functions are averting and repulsing (bzlog-pa) psychic attacks that may assault the practitioner and the subduing of negative female energy as personified by the Matrikas or Mamos.

Ex: Spink, London 1986-87

R. Zentner Pvt. Collection exhibited in Residence

circa Late 17th century

Size: 9″H x 7″W x 4″D