Himalayan Art Resources

Item: Hayagriva (Buddhist Deity) - Padma Ishvara

རྟ་མགྲིན། ནང་ལྷ། 马头明王(佛教本尊)
(item no. 23571)
Origin Location Tibet
Date Range 1800 - 1899
Lineages Nyingma, Gelug and Buddhist
Material Ground Mineral Pigment on Cotton
Collection Private
Notes about the Central Figure

Classification: Deity

Appearance: Wrathful

Gender: Male

Interpretation / Description

Hayagriva, Very Secret.

"To the Dharma body of all conquerors of the Lotus Lineage,
Vajra body of the Dharma Lord Amitabha,
In a raging great form, emanating from HRIH, Avalokiteshvara;
Homage to Hayagriva, neighing like a horse." (Nyingma Liturgical Text).

Arising from the Mahayoga division of the Inner Tantras, Hayagriva belongs to the set known as the Eight Sadhana Sections. From the two types of Buddhist teaching transmission, Transmitted Precepts and Revealed Treasure (terma), this form of Hayagriva belongs to the latter. Both forms were received, discovered and taught by Arya Nagarjuna. The Terma text was procured from a copper casket in the Shankarakuta stupa at the charnel ground of Sitavana near the present day Bodhgaya in Northern India.

Jeff Watt 10-98

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Buddhist Deity: Hayagriva, Very Secret, Page
Buddhist Deity: Hayagriva 'Very Secret' (Padma Ishvara)
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Buddhist Deity: Hayagriva (Painting Masterworks)
Collection of Christie's, Painting (March, 2015; New York)