Item: Mahakala (Buddhist Protector) - Brahmarupa (Brahmin Form)

Brahmanarupa Mahakala (Tibetan: gon po dram ze, English: the Great Black One in the Form of a Brahmin): the outer form of Chaturmukha Mahakala, the special protector of the Guhyasamaja Tantra and the 2nd principal protector of the Sakya School.

Sanskrit: Brahmarupa Tibetan: Dram ze

Appearing as an Indian Brahman, dark brown in colour, he has one face and two hands. With the right hand he blows on a deer horn trumpet and with the left supports himself on the cushion while holding a white bone mala (string of prayer beads). The hair, beard and eyebrows are orange and flame upward like fire. Wearing bone ornaments and silks he sits in a relaxed posture on a deer skin mat, sun disc and lotus. At the edges of the primordial wisdom fire emanating from his form are four dakinis hovering in the air, blue, yellow, green, and red. They are naked with dishevelled orange hair, each holding a curved knife and skullcup.

At the top and bottom corners of the composition are four small vignettes depicting Brahmanarupa, in various colours, with the four naked dakinis. The five forms in total represent the Five Symbolic Buddhas, five wisdoms, five skandhas (aggregates), along with the other mnemonically coded meanings.

Directly above, floating on the clouds, is Manjuvajra Guhyasamaja, orange, with three faces and six hands embracing the consort. Seated to the left side is the female teacher Risula Dakini. Seated on the right side is Nyen Lotsawa.

Indian Lineage: Vajradhara, Nagarjuna, Balimtapa, Buddhajnana, Marmedze Zangpo, Shrideva, Drime Bepa, Ratnavajra, Ratnakirti, Risula Dakini, Nyen Lotsawa, Lama Nam Ka'upa, Sachen Kunga Nyingpo, etc.

Jeff Watt 3-2016