Art Institute of Chicago

Tantric Temple Banner of a Dancing Goddess Flanked by Dakinis

Nepal

Date

17th century

Medium

Pigments and black ink on cloth

Culture

Nepal

Department

Arts of Asia

Institution

Art Institute of Chicago

This horizontal scroll (bilampo) from Nepal features three dancing Buddhist deities framed within aureoles and interspersed with flowers. The white multi-armed goddess at the center is the largest and most powerful figure and is probably White Tara (the Savioress); she has a third eye and holds a lotus in each of her 18 hands. The goddess is flanked by two bird-headed female attendants, one blue and one green, each wearing a necklace of human skulls and trampling a nude male figure (a symbol of ignorance). These are probably dakinis, tantric sky dancers who play a supportive role helping humans to overcome ignorance. This type of banner was and still is displayed outdoors, often on the walls of a temple, during festivals.

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