dPal ldan dmag zor gyi rgyal mo

This sculpture represents the wrathful goddess Palden Lhamo, a female figure who, despite her aspect, possesses beneficial virtues. Worshiped especially in Tibet and Mongolia, the goddess is presented here in the form of Magzor Gyalmo, which literally means "the queen that repels armies" and who is the chief guardian of the teachings of the Geluk order, one of the four major orders of Tibetan Buddhism. Moreover, she is also the protector goddess of the city of Lhasa. The sculpture is gilded and adorned with turquoise and coral ornaments. The elements that identify her as Palden Lhamo are the solar disc over the naked abdomen and the small peacock feathers in the hair. The three red eyes and rather angry raised eyebrows give her an aggressive look. Generally represented with a sceptre in her right hand and drinking blood from a skull cup in her left hand, which in this case has been lost, we can also appreciate her ferociousness in the mouth which, open and maliciously laughing, shows four sharp teeth while devouring a corpse. The terrifying appearance and detailed portrayal of the figure aim to show the certainty of the goddess in the victory against all types of demons. The figure presents a special position of the body, which shows that originally it was placed over the representation of a mule. With the hair standing up, sleeves flying and the body curved slightly to the side, the work manages to transmit the sensation of great movement.