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Six-Armed Mahakala
OriginTibet
Date15th century
Dimensions31 1/2 × 25 1/2 in. (estimated)
MediumPigments on cloth
Classification(s)
Credit LineRubin Museum of Art
Object numberC2002.34.4
Himalayan Art Resources Number65165
DescriptionThis fearsome Mahakala, or the Great Black One, manifests the emotion that a mother might have to protect her child from danger. Surrounded by flames of pristine awareness he holds his usual attributes—a curved knife and skull cup, human skull garland and trident, hand drum and lasso—and tramples obstacles represented by the prone figure of an elephant-headed god. This is a form of the peaceful deity of compassion Avalokiteshvara; deities often have varied forms in order to express different characteristics and abilities.18th century
late 18th – early 19th century
14th century
19th century
18th century
dated by inscription, 1871
ca. 1659-1671
11th century
early 18th century, ca. 1720
20th century
19th century