Item: Mahakala (Buddhist Protector) - Kartaridhara (Knife Holder)

Kartaridhara Mahakala attributed to the 19th century artist Khazi Lhazo. (See HAR #59685 & 12505).

Video: HAR #10820

Contributor: Shinzo Shiratori

This painting of Kartaridhara Mahakala can be attributed to Khazi Lhaso or his atelier on the basis of four distinguishing features discussed below.

The central face of the wrathful deity: The mouth is opened exceptionally wide, a treatment seen in other wrathful deities attributed to Khazi Lhaso, for example HAR #204616. The overall proportions of the face closely match that painting, and the slight tilt of the head is especially striking in both.

The postures of the retinue deities: The dynamic, animated depiction of the retinue figures is characteristic of Khazi Lhaso and his atelier. In HAR #204616 and HAR #206203, as in the present work, the wrathful retinue figures are all shown in motion, poised to engage in wrathful activity. The intensity of their bodily gestures and facial expressions is distinctive of Khazi Lhaso and related paintings.

The white tiger or leopard skin: In all three paintings, the customary orange or yellow tiger-skin skirt is replaced with a white one. This is a key indicator of Khazi Lhaso's work. To our knowledge, no other artist repeatedly uses white tiger or leopard skin as an ornament for deities, teachers and other subjects.

Detailed depiction of wrathful offerings: Khazi Lhaso paintings are noted for their highly detailed rendering of wrathful offerings, for example HAR #7778. These graphic scenes of wrathful activity in the charnel grounds follow descriptions found in the relevant protector tantras, such as the Twenty-Five Chapter and Fifty Chapter Mahakala Tantras.

Shinzo Shiratori, 10-2026