The Bodhisattva of Wisdom, with his consort, Sarasvati; surrounded by numerous deities, many of which are their manifestations. Manjushri, the Bodhisattva of Wisdom, is shown in an embrace with his consort, Sarasvati. Manjushri is depicted with his identifying attributes, the book (in the lotus at his proper left shoulder) and sword (in the lotus at his proper right); his hands are held in the teaching gesture (dharmachakra mudra). His lions, which support his throne, symbolize the voice of Buddhist law. Sarasvati is an Indian goddess and appears as a Buddhist deity as the embodiment of culture, learning and the arts, especially music. She is sometimes depicted as the consort of Manjushri, as in this painting, where she is also shown holding a musical instrument. The pair is surrounded by a number of easily recognizable deities, and other more obscure ones. Within Himalayan Buddhism, wrathful deities take on terrifying forms in order to subdue the most tenacious, deeply rooted and powerful inner and outer demons obstructing enlightenment. Ultimately, these dreadful images are of the enlightened mind itself. Along the bottom edge, there are five figures beginning at the bottom right corner with the donor or possibly recipient of the painting. To the left, stands blue Kubera who is the Guardian of the North, holding a mongoose and skull cup. Jambala, the Guardian of the East who dispenses wealth and good fortune appears beside him and also holds a mongoose; the female deity to the left has not been identified. In the bottom left corner is red elephant-headed Ts'ogs-bdag who holds a skull cap and a Khatvanga staff. There are three wrathful deities directly below Manjushri and Sarasvati. The most terrible, the buffalo-headed, eight faced Yamantaka, is in the center. Yamantaka, whose name in Sanskrit means "one who ends death," is the ferocious emanation of Manjushri. He is flanked by Chakrasamvara (who holds a raised sword and sun-and-moon staff and wears a skull crown and belt of severed heads) on the right and on the left, the main protector of the Sakya school, Panjarantha Mahakala (who holds a wooden gong, symbolic of his protective role and authority). Beside him, at the left edge, is White Mahakala, an emanation of Avelokitesvara, and principal deity of wealth. To the left of Manjushri's lion throne is an unidentified red deity, who holds a rope and three-vajra staff. On the opposite side, to the right of the lion throne, Rathasambhava sits on her wild red horse, holding her son and a trident staff. Above her are the standing figure of Bodhisattva Maitreya, the seated fierce Green Tara, and Bodhisattva Samantabadhra leaning on his white elephant. At the corresponding position on the left, there is an unidentified female beside the peaceful White Tara. Amitayus, Buddha of Infinite Life (holding a golden vase of the elixir of long life) appears above White Tara while the three-faced, eight-armed longevity deity Unishivajaya (see gilt bronze figure in the case on the opposite wall) surmounted by a stupa appears above Green Tara. In the clouds above Manjushri and Sarasvati are, on the right, musicians with trumpets, symbols and drums, and on the left more trumpeters and attendants bearing a tray of skull cups. There are seven figures in the topmost row, with the red Shakyamuni Buddha in the central position. The three figures to the right are: the white Avelokiteshvara (Bodhisattva of Compassion), orange Manjushri (Bodhisattva of Wisdom), and blueVajrapani (protector of the faith). The three to the left are: the red dancing Vajravarahi (consort of Chakrasamvara), Padmasambhava (wearing his distinctive hat), and red lunging semi-wrathfulVajrayogini. From the bottom right corner, moving to the left, are the following: the donor; dark blue Kubera, dispenser of wealth and good fortune; Jambala, god of wealth; Green Tara; Ts'ogs-bdag. Next row: Chakrasamvara(?); 8-faced, buffalo-headed Yamantaka; Panjaranatha Mahakala, main protector of the Sakya school, holding a wooden gong, symbolic of his authority and role as protector; White Mahakala, an emanation of Avelokitesvara, and principal deity of wealth. Next row: Palden Lhamo, protectress of the Dalai Lama, riding her characteristic wild horse; red Amoghasiddhi(?). Next row: two unidentified deities. To the right of the central figures: Green Tara and Samantabadhra, leaning on his white elephant. To the left: Bodhisattva Maitreya and White Tara. Next rows: six unidentified deities. Top row, moving right to left: Vajrapani(?); two unidentified deities; Padmasambhava; Dorje Phagmo; Vajrayogini. This scroll is mounted in the typical central Tibetan style. The bands surrounding the painting are called the "rainbow" that emanates from the subject deity; the bar at the top is "heaven"; the square is the "door" through which the tangka is mentally entered.