Mandala of the Buddhist deity Vajrabhairava

The style of this mandala is associated with the Sakya order’s monastic and artistic centers in south-central Tibet. The aesthetic arguably reached its apogee at Ngor, where this mandala was created and where Gorampa Sonam Sengge served as abbot.

Characteristic of this style, the background is composed of intricate scrolling patterns, and comparatively thick black outlining causes often-minute imagery to stand out, as if in relief. The overall pictorial expression is one of precise, crystalline clarity especially appropriate to the visionary universes of mandalas.

During the culminating crucial phase of the initiation rite (see initiation panel in this gallery), our guide Gorampa unveils this painting to us. He tells us to impress all its imagery upon our memories, so that we may recall it at will in our mind’s eye when meditating. During the next phase of our journey toward enlightenment, Gorampa will describe various aspects of this map, beginning with its periphery and continuing toward our journey’s culmination at its center.

This mandala map shows the regions that you will explore as you enter the next gallery.