Himalayan Art Resources

Buddhist Deity: Hayagriva (Miscellaneous Forms)

Hayagriva Iconography

Miscellaneous & Unidentified Forms:

- HAR #21: The right and left legs splayed to the sides in an exaggerated stance is highly unusual. The hand attributes follow the iconography of the 'Secret Accomplishment' Hayagriva.

- #65262: The central figure is identified by a Hayagriva mantra on the reverse of the painting. There is also a stacked horse head with a white Garuda above. It is possible that there is a small figure of Vajrapani in the heart of the large central figure. This is reminiscent of the meditational deity Vajrapani, Hayagriva, Garuda Combined descending from the tradition of Lodrag Khenchen. It is important to note that this painting example predates Lodrag Khenchen Namkha Gyaltsen (1326-1401 [p1317]) .

- #65567: Hayagriva has three faces and six hands and holds a long snake in a similar manner to Mahachakra Vajrapani. Two hands held upraised grasp a hook and lasso. The lower pair of hands each hold a yellow coloured severed human shaped head. The religious context of the composition is Sakya, possibly Shalu or Jonang.

- #90093: The painting is highly unusual because Nyingma history related how this practice was lost in the early 12th or 13th centuries and not rediscovered until the 19th century. Dregpa Kundrol and Krodhishvari from the 'Revealed Treasure' of Drugu Yangwang of the 11/12th century. The texts are found in the Rinchen Terdzo of Jamgon Kongtrul.

Jeff Watt 7-2022