#Mahakala Panjarnata

[womblegrinch]

A monumental Imperial silk brocade thangka of Mahakala, Yongle period

134 x 87 inches, 340 x 221 cm. Estimate: US$800,000-1,200,000.

Failed to sell Sotheby's, New York, 21 March 2024.

The textile was produced in the Imperial workshops of the Yongle Emperor (1360-1424) during his reign (1403-1424) as a gift to a high-ranking Tibetan lama and depicts Mahakala Panjarnatha.

If you want to look at a big image just copy the following into a new window:

http://sothebys-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com/media-desk/92/a6/b53249fa445296fb14d3fde38e37/n11418-cxsj2-t1-02.jpg

I posted another artwork depicting Mahakala back in 2019. You'll find it by clicking any of the tags below. Again, you can look at a big image.

[whatevergreen]

A black-ground thangka painting of Panjarnata Mahakala - Tibet, 19th century

[magictransistor]

Mahakala as Panjarantha. Tibet. 1500s. 

Standing on a prostrate corpse, Panjaranatha or Great Vajra Black One, is a special protector of the Hevajra cycle of teachings in Tibetan Buddhism. Here, Panjaranatha is seen encircled by flames, in which appear jackals, crows, dogs, and other denizens of the cemeteries which he inhabits. The deep reds and dark blues of this painting, as well as the lack of any landscape comes out of the Beri stylistic tradition made famous in Central Tibet and known for a high degree of Nepalese influence. 

[kkdas]

Mahakala (Sanskrit: Mahākāla) is a Dharmapala ("protector of Dharma") in Vajrayana Buddhism (Tibetan, Nepalese Newar, Chinese, Japanese Shingon traditions and related). In Chinese and Japanese Buddhism tradition is known as Daheitian or Daikokuten (大黒天).

Mahakala is a category of Tantric Buddhist deity. His primary function is as a protector (Dharmapala) and specifically the primary Wisdom Protector of Tantric Buddhism - Vajrayana. There are dozens of different variations and forms of Mahakala. He is typically in wrathful appearance following the Indian model of a Raksha demon. In most occurrences and uses of Mahakala, he is paired with a meditational deity such as Panjarnata Mahakala and Shri Hevajra, Chaturbhuja Mahakala and Chakrasamvara, Chaturmukha Mahakala and Guhyasamaja. In most cases Mahakala is an emanation, or wrathful aspect, of the principal meditational deity that he is associated with. For instance Panjarnata Mahakala is the most wrathful emanation, or form, of Hevajra. In other situations Mahakala might be a wrathful emanation of Vajradhara or Akshobhya Buddha. Aside from the individual Anuttarayoga Tantras that teach various forms of Mahakala, the principal texts are the Twenty-five and Fifty Chapter Mahakala Tantra.

In one specific case, Shadbhuja Mahakala, Avalokiteshvara takes on the form of Mahakala. Therefore, it can be said that the Shadbhuja form, with one face and six hands, arising from the Eight Chapter Mahakala Tantra, is a wrathful Avalokiteshvara.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahakala

[hinducosmos]

Panjarnata Mahakala 15th century, Ming dynasty. China. A rare and superbly cast gilt-bronze figure of Panjarnata Mahakala. 12 1/8 in. (31 cm.) high. (via Christie's) The protector deity is standing with a fierce expression holding a kartri and kapala in each of his hands.

[lamathanka]

Mahakala Panjarnata ( Lord of Pavilion).

#Mahakala #panjarnata #buddhist #protector #vajra #tantra #hevajra #thangka #lamathankapaintingschool #thankapainting

[womblegrinch]

Black ground painting of Mahakala Panjarnata - Tibet, 18th century.

33 x 21.1 inches, 83.8 x 56.2 cm. Estimate: US$250,000-350,000.

Sold Christie’s, New York, 20 March 2019 for US$300,000 incl B.P.

There is a lot going on in the picture. If you want to look at a big image then copy the following into a new window:

dubdubdubdot  christies.com/img/LotImages/2019/NYR/2019_NYR_17347_0666_000(a_rare_black_ground_painting_of_mahakala_panjarnata_tibet_18th_century).jpg

[lamathanka]

Mahakala, Vajra Panjarnata , Fiercely wrathful, black in colour with one face, large round eyes, flaming yellow hair and two hands he holds a curved knife in the right and a skullcup in the left - both held to the heart. Resting across the forearms is a 'gandhi' stick from which all other forms of Mahakala emanate. Adorned with a crown of five dry skulls, bone ornaments and a necklace of fifty freshly severed heads he wears a lower garment of tiger skin. Atop a corpse, circular disc of the sun and multi-coloured lotus he stands surrounded by the flames of pristine awareness. (at LAMA THANKA PAINTING SCHOOL) https://www.instagram.com/p/CF1muBRhoKV/?igshid=nwc1cjezr0f9

[lamathanka]

Mahakala, Vajra Panjarnata , Fiercely wrathful, black in colour with one face, large round eyes, flaming yellow hair and two hands he holds a curved knife in the right and a skullcup in the left - both held to the heart. Resting across the forearms is a 'gandhi' stick from which all other forms of Mahakala emanate. Adorned with a crown of five dry skulls, bone ornaments and a necklace of fifty freshly severed heads he wears a lower garment of tiger skin. Atop a corpse, circular disc of the sun and multi-coloured lotus he stands surrounded by the flames of pristine awareness. (at LAMA THANKA PAINTING SCHOOL) https://www.instagram.com/p/CF1muBRhoKV/?igshid=nwc1cjezr0f9

[magictransistor]

Mahakala Panjarnata, Lord of the Pavilion. Ngor Monastery. 1700.