Iconography
The front doors have a Phurba, probably Manjushri's, set upon a lotus throne surrounded by the rainbowed and gilted radiance of a deity. The double-edged sword ("Khadga" in Sanskrit, "Phurba" in Tibetan) symbolizes the knowledge that severs and burns away the knot of ignorance, besides keeping danger at bay. The sword is depicted as a flaming sword and is therefore representative of Manjushri. Manjushri, a bodhisattva who goes fearlessly wherever his help is needed by those on the path to enlightenment. He has a special affinity for women, children, and travelers, and he is characterized chiefly by benevolence, determination, and unflagging optimism. The lotus is an important Buddhist motif. Images of the Buddha and other important persons often are shown seated on a lotus throne. The growth of the lotus, with its roots in mud, growing through water, and emerging as a wonderful plant above the water's surface, is seen as an analogy of the soul’s path from the mud of materialism to the purity of enlightenment. The 3 stages of the lotus, bud, utpala (mid-blossom) and the full blossoming throne represent the past present and future respectively. There are two sets of Cintamani that also flank the handle of the Phurba on the Lotus throne. The Cintamani are Jewels of Buddhist thought; the three represented here are the Triratna, representing an inexpressible, unimaginable reality that lies beyond all conceptualizing, the highest development of spirit, speech & body. They can also refer to the Buddha himself (the Enlightened One), dharma (his teachings), & sangha (a community of monks).
The table's sides feature a Dharma wheel with Kusha grass radiating outward, giving hope for a long life in which to use the harmonizing connection with the cosmos for the benefit of all. In the upper background is the Mahamudra mists and below the lotus throne are rainbows and rainbow colored mountains. The Dharma wheel has three parts, hub, spokes, & rim. The hub represents the center of the world, & the 8 spokes denote the 8 paths to enlightenment. These 8 steps work together, not separately. 1. Right understanding 2. Right attitude 3. Right speech 4. Right action 5. Right work 6. Right effort 7. Right mindfulness 8. Right meditation. The rim represents the attribute of limitation. All are contained within a circle, which is perceived as perfection & completeness, like the teachings of the Buddha. Because grass is highly resilient, it is believed to be immortal. Therefore, it proclaims the end of samsara, the successive death & rebirth of all beings. Because a long time is usually needed to overcome samsara, a longer life span will allow greater progress in moving towards enlightenment within a given cycle. In this case the Kusha grass has an additional meaning of purity. Kusha grass grows to a height of two feet and is used to purify defilements. Those wishing purification sleep in a field or patch of kusha grass for ritual purification. Placed under a pillow at night before initiation, Kusha grass is believed to produce clear dreams; it is also used to enhance the clarity of visualization and meditation. Kusha is the grass of choice for the manufacture of sacred meditation mats. The rainbow is eternity’s expression of momentary delight. This is Auspicious and takes on a supernatural meaning: the demise of a great teacher and his rebirth. This would coincide with the dating of this table to probably 1804-1808 as this alaigns with the death of Jamphel Gyatso in 1804 and his reincarnation as Lungtok Gyatso in 1806. Rainbows materialize and dissolve into nothingness, and in Tibetan tradition, it is the “Body of Light” or the “Rainbow Body” and refers to a great master who has attained Mahamudra and no longer perceives the world as a conceptual concrete dimension; rather, he now permeates space as mist, also known as the ultimate form of reality. The self is now permeating space with luminescence transparency, with nothing solid or any sharp lines of separation.
