A WOVEN THANGKA DEPICTING ABHAYAKARAGUPTA Tibet, circa 1900

Himalayan Art Resources item no. 13081.

Private family collection, acquired in the early 20th Century.

Good overall conditional. Traditional silk mounting with Japanese silk.
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The 11th/12th Century Bengali scholar Abhayakaragupta is seated crosslegged at center, with Vajrayogini in the upper left, the siddha Ratnasambhava at upper right, and Panjarnata Mahakala at lower right. 

Abhayakaragupta is considered to be one of the previous incarnations of the Panchen Lamas, hence his inclusion in this particular series of woven thangkas (together with lot 740).

Abhayakaragupta is recognizable by his red pandit's cap with hanging lappets, a snake wrapped around his upper body, and is often depicted with dark skin and a beard. He is known by several names, including Vajrasana and Abhayadatta. Under the name Vajrasana, he enumerated the list of Eighty-Four mahasiddhas commonly used and known as the so-called Vajrasana list.