Himalayan Art Resources

Mahakala: Chaturbhuja Religious Context

Chaturbhuja Mahakala Main Page

Subjects, Topics & Types:
- Description (below)
- Protector Deity
- Meditational Deity
- Mahakala Main Page
- Protector Deities Main Page
- Deities According to Function
- Colours & Activities
- Religious Traditions
- Differences Between Religious Traditions
- Confusions: Bhairava, Shiva
- Others...

From a general perspective there are many lineages of Chaturbhuja within the Nyingma (old) and Sarma (new) traditions. In the Sarma most lineages of Chaturbhuja Mahakala derive from the great pandita Abhayakaragupta. As the protector for the Chakrasamvara cycle of Tantras this form of Mahakala is very important to all Tibetan Buddhist Traditions. Some traditions only have the form of Chaturbhuja in singular aspect and others have him embracing the consort Chandika.

Abhayakaragupta Lineage: Vajradhara, Bodhisattva Mati, Nagarjuna, Aryadeva, Acharyavira, Du Shap Greater and Younger, Vajrasana the Greater, Abhayakaragupta, Tsami [Lotsawa] Sanggye Shap, Gva Lotsawa Namgyal Dorje, Khampa Aseng, Pagmodrupa, Drigung Jigten Gonpo, etc.

Database Search: All Images | Painting | Black Ground | Sculpture | Mandala

Jeff Watt 6-98 [updated 4-2017, 12-2019]

(The images below are only a selection of examples from the links above).