Mahakala Religious & Spiritual Figurines & Sculptures

Features

• She is worshipped as the goddess of learning and the arts, especially in Eastern India, where her annual ritual worship is cause for great festivities. She is hence depicted with a musical instrument, the veena (lute) so characteristic of Her. Both Her forearms rest on Her veena, while Her tender feet fondle a lotus. The resplendence of Her countenance is complemented by the rich inlay embellished on Her figure as garments and jewels. Even the swan has been inlaid with unspeakable taste and perfection. Note the inlaid mount atop which the pair is seated.
• Mahakala in Buddhism is known as a Dharmapala (wrathful god) and a protector-deity. He takes terrifying forms to fight demons and defend Buddhism's esoteric teachings. He is depicted in various forms such as a four-armed god (who protects Drikung Kagyu) or a two-armed, big-mouthed one of Karma Kagyu. But in all schools of Tibetan Buddhism, Mahakala is revered as a guardian and deity. The two-armed is depicted in this thangka. Mahakala is the wrathful form of Chenresig, the Bodhisattva of compassion. The wheel of life is held by Mahakala as he is rendered with time. As habiliments, Mahakala wears a tiger-skin loincloth that is bound by a green snake belt and a decorative and protective vajra-scarf that circles his upper body with long silken ends that billow about his two principal arms and lower body.