An antique Tibetan tsakli painting, 19th Century or earlier (much earlier), depicting on an opened brilliant red wrapping cloth, a blue bowl containing a heap of white mustard seeds - as offered to the Shakyamuni Buddha by the wrathful Bodhisattva Vajrapani, and which is used in destructive rites against negativities and hindrances which arise as obstructive demons. Behind the offering to the left is a bundle of kusha grass which is used to purify defilements and symbolises keen intellect, and which enhances the clarity of visualisation and meditation - in the kalachakra initiation, kusha grass is used to reveal clear dreams.
Behind the offering to the right is a bundle of fresh leaves (Tibetan: shing lo gsar pa'i sbrang yab) which is held by the yellow and black forms of the bodhisattva Parnashabari - the goddess of perfume who dispels fear. 10 lines of text -2 red illuminations plus 1 syllable.
9.3 x 12.5