Mahakala: Shadbhuja [Shangpa] (Shri Devi Notes)
Shadbhuja IconographySubjects, Topics & Types:
- Shangpa Iconography
- Sakya/Shalu Iconography
- Jonang Iconography (Taranata)
- Gelug Iconography (Kedrub Geleg Pal Zangpo)
- Karma Kagyu Iconography (Jamgon Kongtrul)
- Confusions: Magzor Gyalmo, earrings
- Others...
Variations in Appearance:
- One Face, Two Arms
--- butcher's stick & bag of disease
--- Stick & skullcup
--- Sword & skullcup
- One Face, Four Arms
--- Curved knife & skullcup, sword & spear
Mount:
- Kyang
- Mule (three legs, Jonang)
- Donkey
The Shangpa Kagyu tradition generally depicts a form of Shri Devi, as a retinue figure, that holds a butcher's stick and a bag of disease based on early literature of the 'Removing All Obstacles' Shadbhuja Mahakala. The Sakya tradition favours either the four or two armed variation. The Taranata description has two arms holding a butcher's stick and bag of disease, riding atop a three-legged mule.
The majority of Gelug tradition paintings depict a two armed Shri Devi holding a sword and skullcup. Some early Gelug forms depict four arms holding the curved knife and skullcup along with the sword and spear. The Shangpa/Karma Kagyu tradition based on the popularization of Jamgon Kongtrul also appears to depict Shri Devi with a butcher's stick and bag of disease.
As with the ornaments of Shri Devi Magzor Gyalmo, the Gelug tradition sometimes include a lion earring on the right side and a snake earring on the left for the Shadbhuja retinue Shri Devi. The Sakya tradition reverses the positions for Magzor Gyalmo with a snake on the right side and a lion on the left. Very late, likely Kongtrul inspired, Shangpa/Karma Kagyu paintings also follow tha Sakya style of depicting the animal figure earrings.
Database Search: Shadbhuja Mahakala Painting | Shadbhuja Mahakala Masterworks
Jeff Watt 2-2020
(Shri Devi is depicted as a secondary image in the selection of examples below).
