A MONGOLIAN OR BURIAT PAINTING ON SILK OF VAISHRAVANA

EARLY 19TH CENTURY

Depicting Vaishravana, the God of Wealth and the Guardian of the North, he is seated on a lion surrounded by his eight attendants, the Ashvapatis (riders), protectors of the Eight Directions, at the top of the thangka is a protector, Vighnantaka, who removes all obstacles on the way to prosperity, together with a copy of Art of Buriatia: Buddhist Icons from Southern Siberia, 46.5cm x 35cm. (2)

Vaishravana's role as the Guardian of the North made the cult of this deity one of the most important in Mongolia and Buriatia. These countries are located to the north of Tibet and it was the north with which the Mongols and Buriats associated themselves geographically.

Illustrated: D Ashencaen and G Leonov, Art of Buriatia: Buddhist Icons from Southern Siberia, Spink & Son Ltd, 1996, p.11, no.5.