Skip to main content
Panjaranatha Mahakala holds a curved knife and skull cup in front of his chest. His arms support the characteristic magic staff (gandi) that identifies him. The animals around his head are his messengers. Within a halo of flames, Mahakala, or the “Great Black One,” is flanked by four deities: the four armed Bhutadamara Vajrapani and the knife brandishing Mahakala on the left and Ekajata and the four armed Dusolma riding her mule on the right. Above these two pairs are Hevajra (left) and Chakrasamvara (right). The lineage of teachers depicted at the very top attributes the painting to the Sakya tradition. To the sides are the guardians of the directions and the bottom figures are Panjara Mahakala’s retinue.
Panjaranatha Mahakala
OriginTibet
Date15th century
Dimensions29 x 24 7/8 x 2 1/4 in. (73.7 x 63.2 x 5.7 cm)
MediumPigments on cloth
Classification(s)
Credit LineRubin Museum of Art, Gift of the Shelley & Donald Rubin Foundation
Object numberF1997.5.1
Himalayan Art Resources Number82
DescriptionIn southern Tibet traditional Nepalese derived thangka painting styles flourished, particularly within the Sakya tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. In this painting, as is typical for Nepalese style (Beri) works, the spaces for the figures are demarcated by yellow lines, and while the flames behind the main figure are not indicative of a particular style, both the blossoms against the blue background to the sides of the lotus and the scrollwork in the area of black background are characteristic of Beri painting as well. A particularly fine detail is the multicolored scarf forming a wide bow behind the head and around the ends of the deity’s magic staff. Panjaranatha Mahakala holds a curved knife and skull cup in front of his chest. His arms support the characteristic magic staff (gandi) that identifies him. The animals around his head are his messengers. Within a halo of flames, Mahakala, or the “Great Black One,” is flanked by four deities: the four armed Bhutadamara Vajrapani and the knife brandishing Mahakala on the left and Ekajata and the four armed Dusolma riding her mule on the right. Above these two pairs are Hevajra (left) and Chakrasamvara (right). The lineage of teachers depicted at the very top attributes the painting to the Sakya tradition. To the sides are the guardians of the directions and the bottom figures are Panjara Mahakala’s retinue.
Not on view
15th century
20th century
17th century
15th century
16th century
14th century
early 18th century, ca. 1720
late 19th century
18th century