Item: Mahakala (Buddhist Protector) - Panjarnata (Lord of the Pavilion)

Panjarnata, Vajra Mahakala (Tibetan: dor je nag po chen po, gur gyi gon po. English: the Great Vajra Black One, Lord of the Pavilion), special protector of the Hevajra cycle of teachings and principal protector of the Sakya School of Tibetan Buddhism. This form of Mahakala arises from the 18th chapter of the Vajrapanjara exclusive explanatory tantra. The Vajrapanajara Tantra is exclusive to the Hevajra Root Tantra whereas a tantra such as the Samputa is an explanatory tantra shared between the Hevajra and Chakrasamvara (and Yogini) root literature.

"The Great Vajra Mahakala, blazing, with one face, two hands, in the right a curved knife and left a skullcup filled with blood, held above and below the heart. Held across the middle of the two arms is the 'Gandhi of Emanation;' with three eyes, bared fangs, yellow hair flowing upward, a crown of five dry human skulls and a necklace of fifty fresh, blood-dripping. [He is] adorned with six bone ornaments and snakes, with a lower garment of tiger skin, flowing with pennants and streamers of various silks; dwarfish and thick, in a posture standing above a corpse." (Konchog Lhundrub, 1497-1557).

At the lower left side is Ekajati (Tib.: ral chig ma, Eng.: One Braid) with one face and two hands holding a vase to the heart, seated in a relaxed posture. At the lower right side is Shri Devi (Tib.: pal den lha mo, Eng.: Glorious Goddess) with one face and four hands holding a sword and skullcup in the right and a spear and 'kila' in the left; riding a donkey.

Lineage: Vajradhara, Vajrapanjara Dakini, Brahmin Vararuchi, Pandita Deva Vajra, Shraddha Karavarma, Lochen Rinchen Zangpo, Drag Tengpa Yontan Tsultrim, Mal Lotsawa Lodro Drag, Sachen Kunga Nyingpo (1092-1158), etc.

Alternate Names: Vajra Panjara, Vajra Panjarnata, Panjara, Panjarnata, Panjara Mahakala, Panjarnata Mahakala.

Jeff Watt 8-2018

Reverse of Painting
Special Features: (includes "Om Ah Hum" inscription)

Thematic Sets
Mahakala: Panjarnata Iconography
Collection: Bonhams, New York (March, 2023. Paintings)
Mahakala: Panjarnata Masterworks (Painting & Textile)
Painting Type: Black Ground Masterworks
Mahakala: Panjarnata, Lord of the Pavilion (Main Page)