Item: Item No. 204251

Panjarnata Mahakala. Yongle Period based on the inscription. The ‘ghandi’ staff held across the forearms does not appear to be original to the sculpture. There are several different iconographic versions of Panjarnata. With respect to attributes the Gayadhara tradition, also known as the Sakya Lamdre, does not depict a ‘ghandi’ staff. The Rinchen Zangpo and Mal Lotsawa traditions describe the staff. With respect to physical bodily appearance the above mentioned traditions depict bent squat looking legs while the Nagarjuna tradition describes the two legs as standing together and straight.

Jeff Watt 3-2020