Mandala of Hevajra 16th century

This is a Mandala of Hevajra made by the Sakya School. Painted with opaque watercolor on cloth, this mandala presents us with a bird’s eye view of a sacred palace. Mandalas like this one functioned as tools of ritual and contemplation in Tibetan Buddhism. Visual codes such as the carefully measured geometry, the vibrant color, and the array of figures are all designed to assist the practitioner with their meditation. The central, dark-blue figure of Hevajra represents a tantric deity whose frightening imagery is supposed to evoke the overcoming of negative emotions. It is important to remember that the production of art like this was often shaped by institutions, like the monasteries of the Sakya School. The commissioning of art, its production and reception, and its preservation are all part of the story of this mandala. To understand this artwork better, scholars look into religious texts, historical records, and the biographies of important teachers and artists. The meaning of art is always contingent on social and institutional contexts.