268 - Paubha depicting Rahula and Padmasambhava, Nepal, Kathmandu Valley, Newar tradition, 19th century

Paubha depicting Rahula and Padmasambhava, Nepal, Kathmandu Valley, Newar tradition, 19th century Polychrome painting on canvas with a vertical composition centered around three central figures: Rahula, depicted in his tantric form with multiple heads and a serpentine body, above Padmasambhava (Guru Rinpoche), with a mustache, seated on a lotus, holding a damaru in his right hand and the khatvanga in the crook of his left arm; and, in the lower section, a priest standing before a hearth, presumably performing a homa ritual. On either side are six deities, including Dharmadhatu Vagishvara Manjushri, with four faces and eight arms, and a form of Manjushri with one face and two arms holding the sword of wisdom. The other figures, whose attributes are too damaged to be clearly discerned, cannot be identified with certainty. The association of Rahula and Padmasambhava does indeed exist in the tantric iconography of the Nyingma tradition, as Padmasambhava is regarded as the one who subdued Rahula and bound him by oath to the protection of the Dharma. The painting is mounted on cardboard and adorned with a brown and black silk border featuring floral motifs and wan geometric patterns. 29 x 25.5 cm; overall dimensions: 67 x 43 cm Significant wear, abrasions, and pigment loss. Framed. Given that the composition does not follow standard iconographic conventions, this may be a random combination of deities. It is also noticeable that certain elements have been cut out and pasted onto the support.