Mahakala (Buddhist Protector) - Panjarnata (Lord of the Pavilion)
(item no. 65134)

Tibet

Sakya Lineage

18.42cm (7.25in) high

Bronze

Collection of Rubin Museum of Art

(acc. #C2002.27.2)

 
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Mahakala, Vajra Panjarnata (Tibetan: dor je gur gyi gon po. English: the Great Black One, Lord of the Vajra Pavilion [or Canopy]): from the Vajra Panjara Tantra.

Wrathful in appearance with one face and two hands he holds a curved knife and skullcup to the heart. A 'gandhi' stick rests across the forearms. From this magical emanation stick all other forms of Mahakala are thought to emanate. Hair flaming upward like orange fire, bared fangs and staring eyes, he is very fierce with all the wrathful ornaments and attire such as a crown of five dry skulls, necklace of fifty freshly severed heads, tiger skin lower garment and a long snake as a Brahmin cord. The neck is further adorned with an ornate scarf. In a squat posture on a corpse seat and lotus blossom he stands within a mass of flaming fire of pristine awareness.

Panjarnata Mahakala is the special protector of the Hevajra cycle of Tantras. The iconography and rituals are found in the 18th chapter of the Vajra Panjara (canopy, or pavilion) Tantra, an exclusive 'explanatory tantra' to the Hevajra itself. This form of Mahakala can also be found in the 25 Chapter and 50 Chapter Mahakala Tantras.

Jeff Watt 5-2003


View other items in:
Thematic Set
Sculpture: Metal
Buddhist Protector: Mahakala (All Forms)
Tradition: Sakya, Enlightened Protectors
Mahakala: Panjarnata, Lord of the Pavilion (Main Page)
Medium: Sculpture - Stone
Collection of Rubin Museum of Art: Sculpture
Mahakala: Panjarnata (Sculpture)



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Photographed Image Copyright © 2004 Rubin Museum of Art