The Mandala of Vajrayogini: Tantric Goddess of Enlightened Wisdom

Join artist Dasho Karma Ura, Director of the Centre for Bhutan Studies, for the premiere of a short film made to mark the end of the recent exhibition ’Tantra: enlightenment to revolution’. The film charts the creation of a Buddhist sand mandala commissioned by the Museum in response to the exhibition, made almost 5000 miles away in the mountains of Bhutan. Depicting the Tantric deity Vajrayogini, the ’queen of enlightened wisdom’, the mandala was intricately constructed by nuns and monks from across Bhutan, before being ritually destroyed as a metaphorical expression of the impermanence and transformation of all phenomena. A large-scale thangka (painting on fabric) of Vajrayogini was also created during this time, which will eventually be available to view at the British Museum. Created in partnership with the Centre for Bhutan Studies, Bhutan. Supported by the Bagri Foundation. Part of the public programme accompanying the special exhibition Tantra: enlightenment to revolution (24 September 2020 – 24 January 2021). More information about the past exhibition can be found here: Sign up to our newsletters for the latest news on our work, stories about the collection and upcoming events: We’re bringing inspiring stories of humanity’s shared histories and cultural achievements to millions of people online. Your support ensures that we can continue to make the collection and videos like this one available to as many people as possible. If you can, please donate today: or you can text BMLEARN to 70085. Texts cost £5 plus one standard rate message.