Shadbhuja Mahakala – the “Six-armed Great Black One”
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Emporium
Orientation 2
Wall object 4
ABP 017
Code: ABP 017
Country: Tibet (west)
Style:
Date: 1400 - 1500
Dimensions in cm WxHxD: 81.4 x 91.5
Materials: Glue distemper on cotton
Shadbhuja Mahakala – The Six-armed Mahakala with his entourage
This massive painting represents the famous wisdom protector Mahakala “The Great Black One” under his six-armed aspect. Corpulent and fearsome, he has a dark skin, sometimes described as dark blue, a furious expression with gaping mouth, bulging eyes, and flaming hair standing on his head. He is adorned with the charnel ground bone ornaments and his six hands brandish various attributes among which the curved blade and the skull cup, a snare and a double drum, a skull garland and a trident.
This form of Mahakala is a manifestation of Avalokiteshvara, bodhisattva of Compassion under a wrathful aspect praised to swiftly overcome the obstacles standing on the way towards Buddhahood. This quality is illustrated by the protector trampling on the Hindu god Ganesha considered as the Lord of hindrances and obstacles. Surrounding Mahakala are a host of protective deities and two groups of lineage masters fill in the upper right and left corners. Of unusual large dimensions, the coarse body of Mahakala conveys all the wrathful strength of this important protector.
(Collected by Walter Norman Koelz in 1933).
This massive painting represents the famous wisdom protector Mahakala “The Great Black One” under his six-armed aspect. Corpulent and fearsome, he has a dark skin, sometimes described as dark blue, a furious expression with gaping mouth, bulging eyes, and flaming hair standing on his head. He is adorned with the charnel ground bone ornaments and his six hands brandish various attributes among which the curved blade and the skull cup, a snare and a double drum, a skull garland and a trident.
This form of Mahakala is a manifestation of Avalokiteshvara, bodhisattva of Compassion under a wrathful aspect praised to swiftly overcome the obstacles standing on the way towards Buddhahood. This quality is illustrated by the protector trampling on the Hindu god Ganesha considered as the Lord of hindrances and obstacles. Surrounding Mahakala are a host of protective deities and two groups of lineage masters fill in the upper right and left corners. Of unusual large dimensions, the coarse body of Mahakala conveys all the wrathful strength of this important protector.
(Collected by Walter Norman Koelz in 1933).