Mandala of Vajrasattva

The central figure in this mandala is Vajrasattva (rDorje sem pa in Tibetan), the embodiment of Buddhahood, from which everything in the universe is believed to emanate. The linear scrollwork filling many of the parts of this painting is typical of a school associated with the Sakya monasteries of central and southern Tibet in the 14th to 16th centuries. This and other stylistic features found in these areas are derived from contemporary Nepalese painting. The mobility of both artists and works of art ensured a steady cross-fertilisation of styles, particularly between Nepal and southern Tibet.