This offering cabinet (torgam) would have been used in the Protectors’ Chapel (gonkang) of a Tibetan monastery to protect and conceal consecrated cakes (torma) made of butter and roasted barley flour. They were offered as propitiation to the Buddhist protective deities (Sanskrit: dharmapala; Tibetan: ch’os-skyon), who are believed to defend Buddhism and its teachings and institutions, as well as to destroy the hindrances of its followers. Monks make offerings to the dharmapalas for their aid in overcoming negative forces that prevent enlightenment. Lay Buddhists also worship them to obtain earthly blessings, such as the attainment of wealth or longevity. The decoration of the monastic offering cabinets was associated with wrathful deities, and many were painted with Tantric imagery. The leader of the dharmapala is Mahakala (Sanskrit: Great Time/Death), who is known in Tibetan as nag po chen po (Great Black One). He is most often depicted with black or blue skin color, a crown of skulls, snarling mouth, and three bulging eyes enabling him to see the past, present, and future. Mahakala’s frightening face and spiritual anger are thought to overcome obstacles and enemies of Buddhism.
The front of the cabinet is adorned with two mirror-image fierce faces rising from flames that represent either Mahakala or ferocious servants of the dharmapala. Above each visage is a swag of dismembered eyes and entrails on the left door and the skins of a human, tiger, and elephant on the right door that that are displayed to emphasize the destructive abilities of the dharmapala and as a reminder of the impermanence of all beings. In a panel below the doors, there are three skull cup offerings filled with human substances. The central skull cup contains eyes, ears, tongue, and heart. The flanking skull cups contain brains or other organs. The top and sides are unadorned. The top has two stacking cleats. See Geshe Lobzang Tsetan with Kathleen Kernell, "Torgams and Yangams and their Ritual Use," in David Kamansky, ed., Wooden Wonders: Tibetan Furniture in Secular and Religious Life (Pasadena: Pacific Asia Museum and Chicago: Serindia Publications, 2004), pp. 143-157.
See also M.2002.209, M.2005.94.1, M.2006.62.2, and M.2010.78.3.
