Himalayan Art Resources

Item: Hayagriva (Buddhist Deity)

རྟ་མགྲིན། ནང་ལྷ། 马头明王(佛教本尊)
(item no. 204880)
Origin Location Tibet
Date Range 1600 - 1699
Lineages Buddhist
Collection Private
Notes about the Central Figure

Classification: Deity

Interpretation / Description

"Conqueror of the Three Worlds" Hayagriva (pad+ma dbang chen khams gsum zil gnon) with 9 faces, 18 arms.

Above the top-most central face is a garuda's head and above that is a green horse's head. The first right hand holds a lotus, and with the first of his left hands holding a blood-filled skull cup, he embraces his consort. In the second right hand he holds a vajra, in the third a jewel, in the fourth a sword, in the fifth an iron hook, in the sixth a lasso, in the seventh a hammer, in the eighth a chain, in the ninth a sun disk. In the second left hand he holds a bell, in the third a pointing gesture, in the fourth a chakra, in the fifth a trident, in the sixth a spear, in the seventh a staff, in the eighth a pestle, in the ninth a lunar disk.

This form comes from the secret visions of the Fifth Dalai Lama.


View other items in the Thematic Set: Buddhist Deity: Hayagriva Main Page