one of the six ornaments, the 5th century Indian scholar Dignga sits on a cushioned throne in the posture of debate, wearing richly ornamented monastic robes and a pandit's hat, he is portrayed with steadfast gaze and a face of intense concentration. His right arm is raised and his torso twisted, whilst his left hand is stretched in the gesture of debate. Dignaga is renowned as a great teacher and logician.




Above in the clouds are two Mahsiddhas holding skull cups, and underneath to the right is Nagarjuna meditating in a cave. Beneath Dignaga are Arya Deva and Asanga listening to the debate, and a group of three defeated disciples, The background of this nagtlTang thangka depicts a landscape of crags, profuse vegetation and a lotus flowering in a pool below. At the bottom right of thef composition are two white elephants.




The artist has created a feeling of movement through the asymmetry and diagonal posture of the central figure.