Item: Mahakala (Buddhist Protector) - Panjarnata (Lord of the Pavilion)

Mahakala, Vajra Panjarnata (Tibetan: dor je gur gyi gon po. English: the Great Black One, Lord of the Vajra Pavilion [or Canopy]): from the Vajra Panjara Tantra.

"...the great Vajra Mahakala, blazing, with one face, two hands, in the right a curved knife and the left a skullcup filled with blood, held above and below the heart. Held across the middle of the two arms is the 'Gandhi of Emanation.' With three eyes, bared fangs, yellow hair flowing upward, a crown of five dry human skulls and a necklace of fifty wet, blood dripping; adorned with six bone ornaments and snakes; having a lower garment of tiger skin; flowing with pendants and streamers of various silks; in a posture dwarfish and thick, standing above a corpse. To the right is a black crow, left a black dog, behind a wolf, in front a black man, above a garuda, emanations of messengers issue forth, with Akshobhya as a crown, standing in the middle of blazing fire of pristine awareness." (Konchog Lhundrub, 1497-1557).

Lineage of Teachers: Vajradhara, Vajrapanjara Dakini, Brahmin Vararuchi, Pandita Deva Vajra, Shraddha Karavarma, Lochen Rinchen Zangpo, Drag Tengpa Yontan Tsultrim, Mal Lotsawa Lodro Drag, Sachen Kunga Nyingpo (1092-1158), etc.

At the top of the composition is Vajradhara Buddha surrounded by teachers of the early Sakya Tradition. At the far left is the meditational deity Hevajra. On the far right is the deity Vajrakila.

Descending down the right and left sides are various protector deities of the Sakya Tradition. Along the bottom of the composition are the worldly protector deities.

The background is black with lighter shades of detailed floral vine patterns. The near background on which the figures are contrasted is red with intense flame swirls similar to the floral patterns. The gold fill with which all the wrathful figures have been painted is most likely real gold powder mixed with yellow earth pigments and applied as an offering meant for the deity Mahakala. The method of painting is called 'nag tang,' (black scroll) gold outline on black, and in this case red (vermilion), background.

Jeff Watt 3-2016