Vajradhara, Nairatmya, and Mahasiddhas Virupa and Kanha

c. 1450

Vajradhara, Nairatmya, and Mahasiddhas Virupa and Kanha, c. 1450. Central Tibet, Ngor monastery. Gum tempera and gold on cotton; framed: 74.8 x 59.8 cm (29 7/16 x 23 9/16 in.); overall: 57.5 x 50.2 cm (22 5/8 x 19 3/4 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund 1960.206 The first in a series depicting the masters who transmitted the teachings on how to reach enlightenment, this painting begins at the upper left with the dark blue Vajradhara, who represents the essence of all Buddhas. The female enlightened being Nairatmya is seated at the upper right. She transmitted the teachings to Virupa, the brown-skinned Indian yogi at the lower left, in a vision; his disciple Kanha is at the lower right.