Himalayan Art Resources

Item: Mahamaya (Buddhist Deity)

མཱ་ཧ་མཱ་ཡཱ། ནང་ལྷ། 大幻化(本尊佛教)
(item no. 57146)
Origin Location Northern India
Date Range 1200 - 1299
Lineages Buddhist
Size 15.70cm (6.18in) high
Material Metal
Collection Private
Notes about the Central Figure

Classification: Deity

Interpretation / Description

"Mahamaya, blue, with four faces, blue, yellow, red, green. The first two hands hold a skullcup and katvanga staff while embracing the consort. The lower two [hands] hold an arrow and bow. Standing with the left leg drawn up in a half posture dancing manner. Wearing a human skin upper garment. The consort, Buddha Dakini, is red, the same [in appearance], embracing, with a crown of dry skulls, head necklace and five mudra [ornaments]." (bod brgyud nang bstan lha tshogs chen mo bzhugs so, 2001. ISBN 7-5420-0816-1. Page 380-383).

Aside from the Vajravali lineage of Abhayakaragupta and the Mitra Yogin lineage there are several lineages from India that were passed through Marpa Lotsawa.
Lineage 1: Vajradhara, Nagarjuna, Aryadeva, Tilopa, Naropa, Marpa Chokyi Lodro, Ngog Choku Dorje, Shedang Dorje, etc.
Lineage 2: Vajradhara, Kukkuripa, Padmavajra, Tilopa, Naropa, etc.
Lineage 3: Vajradhara, Vajrapani, Nagarjuna, Aryadeva, Samantabhadra, Sumati, Gewai Gocha, Namgyal Wangpo, Marpa Chokyi Lodro, etc.

Jeff Watt [updated 6-2019]

Related Items
Thematic Sets
Buddhist Deity: Mahamaya (Solitary)
Buddhist Deity: Mahamaya (left leg down)
Buddhist Deity: Mahamaya Main Page
Tibet: Tsuglakang Temple, Lhasa (Visual Dharma)
Tibet: Tsuglakang Temple (Deities)
Sculpture: Gilding & Cold Gold
Buddhist Deity: Mahamaya (Masterworks)