Interpreting Buddhist Protector Panjarnata Mahakala

Panjarnata Mahakala is the protector of the Hevajra cycle of Tantras. The iconography and rituals of Panjarnata Mahakala are found in the 18th chapter of the Vajra Panjara Tantra which an exclusive ‘explanatory tantra’ to the Hevajra Tantra itself.

Life of Panjarnata Mahakala

In this section, we are going to learn about the life of Panjarnata Mahakala, after that, the short etymological description of the word  Panjarnata Mahakala itself.

Panjarnata Mahakala is the main protector of the Sakya School. Arising from the Vajrapanjara Tantra, he along with Brahmarupa Mahakala associated with the Guhyasamaja Tantra are known as the ‘Greater and Lesser Mahakalas’ of the Sakya School.

Etymology of Panjarnata Mahakala

Panjarnata Mahakala is known as gur gyi gon po in Tibet.  Panjarnata Mahakala is also known as the Great Black One, Lord of the Pavilion in English.

Iconography of Panjarnata Mahakala

In the iconography of Panjarnata Mahakala, we are going to learn about his body posture, hand and leg gesture, and different representations of  Panjarnata Mahakala in thangka and statue.

The great Panjarnata Mahakala blazes with one face and two hands. The right hand of Panjarnata Mahakala is holding a curved knife. The left hand of Panjarnata Mahakala holds a skullcup filled with blood.

Panjarnata Mahakala is held above and below the heart. He is held across the middle of the two forearms is the Gandhi of Emanation. Panjarnata Mahakala is with three eyes, bared fangs, yellow hair flowing upward.

He has a crown of five dry human skulls and a necklace of fifty wet blood dripping. Panjarnata Mahakala is adorned with six bone ornaments and snakes, having a lower garment of tiger skin, flowing with pendants and streamers of various silks, in a posture dwarfish and thick. He stands above a corpse.

Previously, we learned about the life of Panjarnata Mahakala and the iconography of Panjarnata Mahakala. Now, we are going to learn about depicting Buddhist protector Panjarnata Mahakala thangka.

Depicting Buddhist Protector Panjarnata Mahakala Thangka

The thangka of Buddhist protector Panjarnata Mahakala is from Tibet. The thangka of Buddhist protector Panjarnata Mahakala is made between 1800 to 1899 AD. Panjarnata Mahakala is from Sakya and Buddhist lineages. The base of the painting is ground mineral pigment on cotton. This thangka is from a private collection.

By depicting this thangka, we are going to learn about the presentation of Panjarnata Mahakala with different deities such as Ekajati, Shridevi, and Putra Missing Nga, etc.

Ekajati

Ekajati is presented at the bottom left of the thangka. Ekajati is in the seated position in the thangka. Ekajati is also known as Mahacinatara who is one of the 21 Taras.

Ekajati is along with Palden Lhamo deity who is one of the most powerful and fierce goddesses of Vajrayana Buddhist mythology. Ekajati is also known as “Blue Tara”, Vajra Tara, or “Ugra Tara”. She is generally considered one of the three principal protectors of the Nyingma school along with Rāhula and Vajrasadhu.

Ekajati is the protector of secret mantras and “as the mother of the mothers of all the Buddhas” represents the ultimate unity.

Shri Devi

Shri Devi is presented on the right side of the thangka. Shri Devi is a category of female Tantric Buddhist deity. She is not one entity or personality.

She is a category such as Buddha or Bodhisattva. Her primary function is a protector (Dharmapala) and specifically the principal female Wisdom Protector of Himalayan and Tibetan Buddhism

Putra Mising Nga

Putra Mising Nga is presented on the bottom of the thangka. Putra Mising Nga is along with five figures such as  Kala Rakshasa, Kala Rakshasi, Putra, Bhatra, and Singmo.

Previously, we learned about the life of Panjarnata Mahakala, the iconography of Panjarnata Mahakala, and depicting Buddhist protector Panjarnata Mahakala thangka. Now, we are going to learn about the lineages of Panjarnata Mahakala.

Lineages of Panjarnata Mahakala

In this section, we are going to learn about the lust of lineages of Panjarnata Mahakala.

1. Vajradhara
2. Vajrapanjara Dakini
3. Brahmin Vararuchi
4. Pandita Deva Vajra
5. Shraddha Karavarma
6. Lochen Rinchen Zangpo
7. Drag Tengpa Yontan Tsultrim
8. Mal Lotsawa Lodro Drag
9. Sachen Kunga Nyingpo (1092-1158)

Previously, we learned about the life of Panjarnata Mahakala, the iconography of Panjarnata Mahakala, depicting Buddhist protector Panjarnata Mahakala thangka, and the lineages of Panjarnata Mahakala. Now, we are going to learn about the presentation of Panjarnata Mahakala with Bhutadamara Vajrapani thangka.

Panjarnata Mahakala with Bhutadamara Vajrapani thangka

The thangka of Buddhist protector Panjarnata Mahakala with Bhutadamara Vajrapani is from Central Tibet. The thangka of Buddhist protector Panjarnata Mahakala with Bhutadamara Vajrapani is made between 1400 to 1499 AD. Panjarnata Mahakala with Bhutadamara Vajrapani is from the Sakya lineage. The size of the painting is 55.90×44.50cm. The base of the painting is ground mineral pigment on cotton. This thangka is from a Tibetan Paintings collection.

By depicting this thangka, we are going to learn about the presentation of Panjarnata Mahakala with Kartaridhara Mahakala.

Bhutadamara Vajrapani is presented at the upper left side of the thangka. Vajrapani Bhutadamara is found in the Kriya, Carya, and Anuttarayoga tantras and the iconographic form represented here indicates that it belongs to the two lower tantras.

Kartaridhara Mahakala

Kartaridhara Mahakala is presented below the Bhutadamara Vajrapani in the thangka.Kartaridhara Mahakala is known as dri gug gon po nag po chen po in Tibetan.  Kartaridhara Mahakal is also known as the Black Lord with a Curved Knife in English.

Kartaridhara Mahakala was popularized by Lord Atisha who was known as the founder of the Kadampa School in the 11th century.

Previously, we learned about the life of Panjarnata Mahakala, the iconography of Panjarnata Mahakala, depicting Buddhist protector Panjarnata Mahakala thangka, the lineages of Panjarnata Mahakala, and the representation of Panjarnata Mahakala with Bhutadamara Vajrapani thangka. Now, we are going to learn about the presentation of Panjarnata Mahakala with Chakrasamvara thangka.

Panjarnata Mahakala with Chakrasamvara Thangka

The thangka of Buddhist protector Panjarnata Mahakala with Chakrasamvara is from Tibet. It is made between 1400 to 1499 AD. Panjarnata Mahakala with Chakrasamvara is from Sakya and Ngor (Sakya) lineages. The size of the painting is 86.36×73.66cm. Ground mineral pigment on cotton, Raised Gold, Red Background is used to color this painting. Presently, this thangka is in the Shelley & Donald Rubin.

By depicting this thangka, we are going to learn about the presentation of Panjarnata Mahakala with different deities such as Three lamas and Hevajra.

Chakrasamvara is presented to the right of the thangka. Chakrasamvara is the tutelary deity of the Kanha lineage. Chakrasamvara is with four faces and twelve hands embracing the consort Vajra Yogini.

Three Lamas

Three lamas are presented at the top center of the thangka. Three lamas are wearing monastic robes and red Pandita hats. They are in a seated position.

Hevajra

Hevajra is presented to the left of the thangka. Hevajra is known as the tutelary deity. Hevajra has eight faces and sixteen hands.

Hevajra  is embracing the consort Vajra Nairatmya.

In this article, we learned about the life of Panjarnata Mahakala, the iconography of Panjarnata Mahakala, depicting Buddhist protector Panjarnata Mahakala thangka, the lineages of Panjarnata Mahakala, the representation of Panjarnata Mahakala with Bhutadamara Vajrapani thangka, and the representation of Panjarnata Mahakala with Chakrasamvara thangka.