It's important to remember the paradoxical nature of the appearance of the tutelary god Chakrasamvara in Tibetan Buddhism. Despite its singularly frightening appearance, it represents the subtlest and purest level of consciousness in meditation and visualization practices.
Chakrasamvara is depicted in a dynamic and wrathful attitude, with his left leg bent and right leg extended, embracing his consort with great energy. This portrayal of the god is in his most important form, with twelve arms and four heads. His main hands hold the vajra (thunderbolt-diamond) and the ghanta (bell), which are the two essential instruments used in Tantric Buddhist rituals. Chakrasamvara is surrounded by sixty-two deities and religious figures, illustrating the lineage of ritual practices associated with her. She participates in the "clear light" of the mind, enabling the practitioner to attain the bliss produced by perceiving the non-duality of samsara and nirvana. Samsara represents the state of existence, and nirvana represents the state of non-existence of all beings.
The thangka, dating back to the late 15th century, originates from the Western Tibetan cultural and religious sphere. The intricate details, such as the craftsmanship of the lotus petals supporting the divine couple and the depiction of swirling flames surrounding them, indicate its association with the art of the Guge kingdom (10th-17th centuries). Notably, this period witnessed significant advancement of the Gelugpa order, founded by the lama Tsongkhapa (1357-1419) in the early 15th century.
