Two skeleton dancing Thangka Painting is also known as “CITIPATI”. The word Citipati is made up of combination of two Sanskrit words “Citi” and “Pati”, which translates as “PATI” lord and “CITI” of the funeral.
These two figures are considered as principles of dharma protector and are associated with the tantric system of Vajrayogini in the form of ‘Naro khichari’ or ‘Naropa’s Dakini. The story behind these figures goes like this, once they were monks and were beheaded by the thieves when they were meditating. Later they took the revenge on thieves by transforming in to skeleton spirits.
In the above thangka, these two Skeleton (male and female) are dancing on the Sankha (conch shell) and lotus. Each of these skeleton wears a crown adorned with white dry skull, golden tiara, and a silk scarf. Their full body is covered with fire and the leg has been crossed while dancing where one has raised the right leg and another has raised their left leg.
This beautiful Dancing skeleton thangka is painted in black color, which symbolizes killing and anger as well as primordial darkness along with golden and grey color symbolizing knowledge, purity, enlightenment, freedom, and happiness. As on the thangka, each of them has two arms and their skulls with a haughty expression.
Why and how to hang two skeleton dances?
- Citipati thangka is used to place in the room as we believe that they are for the protection and safety.
- Citipati thangka is the best thangka to be placed in the meditation room.
- Citipati thangka is also used in the tattoo.
