Happy Valentine’s Day! 💖 This Tibetan scroll painting, in the spectacular gold-on-red style known as mar-tang, depicts Kurukulla, the Buddhist goddess of love, attraction, and power. Like a Buddhist Cupid, her four hands holds a bow and arrow as well as other instruments symbolizing attraction, like a hook and a lasso—all made of flowers! However, the love and attraction she magnetizes are not for pursuing mundane lust, but for cultivating an unwavering commitment to compassion and selflessness. Ultimately, Kurukulla reminds us that true love comes from developing compassion for all sentient beings. How do you cultivate and celebrate love? #ValentinesDay #TibetanArt #Kurukulla _______ Kurukulla, Goddess of Power; Tibet; 18th century; Pigments on cloth; Rubin Museum of Himalayan Art, gift of the Shelley and Donald Rubin Foundation; F1996.7.2