An antique tsakli painting, Tibet, 19th Century depicting a hellish band of 4 dakini posturing Bardo
deities - all wearing the male tiger skin dhotis. Top left is a red bodied, snow lion-headed deity carrying a chain and a skull cup, to his right is a green-bodied, snake-headed deity holding a bell and a skull cup. Below him is a white-bodied horse-headed deity holding an axe and a skull cup, while to the bottom left is a yellow bodied boar-headed deity holding a snare and a skull cup. All wear jewellery - the upper row of white bone, the lower row of red, and all wear flayed human skins draped around their shoulders.
The Bardo is the After-Death Realm and these are some of its inhabitants. The purpose
of such cards is to familiarise practitioners with these horrific creatures, so that when they encounter them,
they will not be afraid. 10.9 x 12.6cm