Mahakala (protector) - Panjarnata (Lord of the Pavilion)
(item no. 87011)

Central Tibet

1500 - 1599

Sakya Lineage

97.16x66.68cm (38.25x26.25in)

Ground Mineral Pigment on Cotton

Collection of Philadelphia Museum of Art

(acc. #1994-148-638, Stella Kramrisch Collection, 1994)

 


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
Buddhist Protectors: Enlightened
Buddhist Protector: Mahakala (All Forms)
Tradition: Sakya, Enlightened Protectors
Mahakala: Panjarnata (Pavilion)
Collection of Philadelphia Museum of Art
1500 - 1599 (16th Century)
Painting Style: Central Tibetan



Copyright © 2008 Shelley and Donald Rubin Foundation.
Photographed Image Copyright © 2004 Philadelphia Museum of Art