Item: Ganapati (Indian God & Buddhist Deity) - Red (12 hands)

Ganapati, Maha Rakta (Tibetan: tsog gi dag po, mar chen. English: The Great Red Lord of Hosts). A Tantric Buddhist form of Ganapati (Ganesha) related to the Chakrasamvara Cycle of Tantras. This form of Ganapati is regarded as an emanation of Avalokiteshvara. (See the Ganapati Main Page and Outline).

Video: A Ganapati Painting

"...beside a lapis lazuli rock mountain is a red lotus with eight petals, in the middle a blue rat expelling various jewels, [above] Shri Ganapati with a body red in colour, having an elephant face with sharp white tusks and possessing three eyes, black hair tied in a topknot with a wishing-gem and a red silk ribbon [all] in a bundle on the crown of the head. With twelve hands, the six right hold an axe, arrow, hook, vajra, sword and spear. The six left [hold] a pestle, bow, katvanga, skullcup filled with blood, skullcup filled with human flesh and a shield together with a spear and banner. The peaceful right and left hands are signified by the vajra and skullcup filled with blood held to the heart. The remaining hands are displayed in a threatening manner. Wearing various silks as a lower garment and adorned with a variety of jewel ornaments, the left foot is extended in a dancing manner, standing in the middle of the bright rays of red flickering light." (Ngorchen Konchog Lhundrup, 1497-1557. Translated by Jeff Watt).

This form of Ganapati as Maharakta 'the great red one' belongs to a set of three powerful deities known as the 'mar chen kor sum' or the Three Great Red Deities included in a larger set called 'The Thirteen Golden Dharmas' of Sakya. The other two deities are Kurukulla (of the Hevajra Tantra) and Takkiraja (of the Guhyasamaja Tantra).

At the top center is Ratnasambhava Buddha, yellow in colour, with the right hand extended across the knee with the palm facing outward. He is associated with the qualities of enlightenment and in the Tantic Buddhist pantheon the host of Wealth deities. Below the Buddha are two Indian teachers and four Tibetan teachers. All of the figures except one wear the attire of fully ordained monks. At the upper left side is Durjayachandra with Chogyal Pagpa below wearing a red pandita hat and NyenPhul Jungwa wearing the garb of a lay person. At the upper right side is Kache Pandita with Sakya Pandita and Ngorchen Kunga Zangpo seated below.

At the lower left is Bhutadamara Vajrapani in the unique form that is associated with Maharakta Ganapati. On the right side is Chakrasamvara, with four faces and twelve hands, embracing the consort Vajrayogini.

At the lower left is Vaishravana Riding a Lion, holding a victory banner in the right hand and a mongoose in the left. On the right side is Aparajita, white in colour, holding a hook in the right hand and a treasure vase in the left.

At the lower left is Pita Vasudhara, yellow in colour, with the right hand extended over the knee, palm outward and the left holding a wealth vase and a stalk of grain. On the right side is Pita Jambhala, yellow in colour, holding a bijapuraka fruit in the right hand and a mongoose in the left.

At the bottom center, standing in front of a large fruit bearing tree are the three Pishaci sisters 'Yugu Chesum,' red, blue and green in colour. Beautiful in appearance, they hold wealth vases and jewels.

This form of Ganapati belongs to a set of three powerful or deities known as the 'mar chen kor sum' or the Three Great Red Deities included in a larger set called 'The Thirteen Golden Dharmas' of Sakya. The other two Great Red Ones are Kurukulla (of the Hevajra Tantra) and Takkiraja (of the Guhyasamaja Tantra).

Lineage: Vajradhara, Vajra Varahi, Saraha, Nagarjuna, Lord Shavaripa, Hangdu Karpo, Mal Lotsawa, Sachen Kunga Nyingpo, etc., (page/folio 556). The source text used in the Sakya Tradition was taught by the mahasiddha Krishnacharin and translated by Pandita Gayadhara. It is a little odd that those two names do not appear in the official lineage of teachers.

Jeff Watt 8-2001 [updated 4-2011]

Front of Painting
English Translation of Inscription: [Name inscriptions beneath each figure]

Reverse of Painting
Special Features: (Printed script (Uchen))