Ushnishavijaya in golden stupa

gold and paint on textile
Tibet, around 1800 AD.
size: 56 x 85 cm.

The goddess of Long Life sits in a giant golden stupa, a theme more Nepalese (related to the famous Bhimarata-ritual) than Tibetan.
Ushnishavijaya is flanked by two standing bodhisattvas, Avalokiteshvara and Vajrapani. Above left is the Paradise of Buddha Amitabha, from where, on a cloud, emanates a triad consisting of the Fifth Dalai Lama, with two Gelugpa-diginitaries. Above right is the Paradise of Buddha Maitreya, from which emanates the triad of Tsongkhapa, with his disciples Gedündub and Khedubje.

Around the stupa are four variations of Vajrapani, and below three Dharmapalas of the Gelugpa-tradition: Palden Lhamo, Yama with Yami on a bull, and Vaishravana.

The golden stupa is wonderfully painted, with ton-sur-ton gold.