Mahakala (Buddhist Protector) - Panjarnata (Lord of the Pavilion)
(item no. 87011), Greyscaled & Numbered

Central Tibet

1400 - 1499

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)

 
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   Greyscaled & Numbered


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.

Panjaranata Main Page | Panjarnata Outline Page

Panjaranata Masterworks | Mahakala Resource Page

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

Numbered List:
1. Panjarnata Mahakala
2. Ekajati
3. Shri Devi
4. Zangtri Mahakala
5. Bhutadamara Vajrapani
6. Mantradharin 'Sorcerer'
7. Putra
8. Singmo
9. Batra
10. Warrior
11. Bhikshu
12. Kala Rakshasi
13. Kala Rakshasa
14. Black Woman
15. Shri Devi
16. Vajradhara
17.
18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28.


View other items in:
Thematic Set
Buddhist Protectors: Enlightened
Buddhist Protector: Mahakala (All Forms)
Tradition: Sakya, Enlightened Protectors
Mahakala: Panjarnata, Lord of the Pavilion (Main Page)
Collection of Philadelphia Museum of Art
Mahakala: Panjarnata, Eight Deity
Mahakala: Panjarnata (Masterworks)
Collection of Philadelphia Museum of Art (Sakya Masterpieces)
Collection of Philadelphia Museum of Art (Nepalese Painting)
Collection of Philadelphia Museum of Art (Masterpieces)



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Photographed Image Copyright © 2004 Philadelphia Museum of Art