Maharakta Ganapati Thangka

This central figure, the red Ganesha, has an elephant head, multiple arms, and a third eye on his forehead. He is adorned with ornate golden jewelry and a multi-tiered crown, dancing with one leg raised while balanced on a large, blue, crouching rodent. His numerous hands hold various ritual implements, including axes, hooks, and bowls. The composition is structured as a mandala-like thangka, featuring miniature depictions of wrathful and serene deities in the corners and upper periphery, all set against a dark, decorative background with stylized floral and architectural motifs.

This artwork depicts Maharakta Ganapati, a wrathful tantric form of the deity Ganesha adopted into Tibetan Buddhist practice, often associated with wealth and the removal of obstacles. It reflects the integration of Indian Hindu iconography into the Vajrayana pantheon, particularly within the Sakya and Gelug traditions of Tibetan Buddhism.