Fierce Buddhist Deity – Black Hayagriva

Black Hayagriva is the wrathful activity deity of the Lotus (Padma) Family of Buddha Amitabha. Black Hayagriva is a fierce activity deity of the Lotus Buddha Family.

Black Hayagriva is from the Revealed Treasure Tradition of Guru Chowang.

Black Hayagriva is known as tam drin in Tibet. Black Hayagriva is also known as the Black Horse Necked One in English.

Iconography of Black Hayagriva

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

Posture of Black Hayagriva

Black Hayagriva is on a great blazing mandala of a blue-black dharmakara. Black Hayagriva is the King of the Wrathful. Black Hayagriva is with a very fierce body blue-black in color.

He has one face, two hands, and three eyes. The face of Black Hayagriva is radiant with bared fangs. He has a blazing orange beard and mustache.

The right-hand of Black Hayagriva holds a sword aloft severing the heads and bodies of enemies into pieces. The left hand of Black Hayagriva holds a hook to conduct the life force of enemies and hindrances and from the tip of the wrathful gesture, an iron scorpion emanates and comes forth.  The body of Black Hayagriva has dressed in a great cloak of black silk and a human hide with a lower garment of tiger skin.

Black Hayagriva is having a crown of five dry skulls and a necklace of fifty wet. He is standing in a vast blazing heap of fire.

Depicting Buddhist Deity Black Hayagriva Thangka

The thangka of Buddhist deity Black Hayagriva is from Tibet. It is made between 1800 to 1899 AD. Black Hayagriva is from Nyingma lineage. The size of the painting is 66.04×37.47cm. Ground mineral pigment on cotton and fine is gold 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 Black Hayagriva with different deities such as Yaksha, Amitabha Buddha, Chaturbhuja Avalokiteshvara, Guru Padmasambhava, Rahula, Remati, and Vajra Sadhu, etc.

Yaksha

Yaksha is on the right if the thangka. Yaksha is known as the Glorious Blazing. Yaksha is red in color.

Yaksha is holding a fire hammer and a lasso.

Amitabha Buddha

Amitabha Buddha is at the top center of the thangka. Amitabha Buddha is called the Buddha of boundless light. Amitabha Buddha is known as Lord of the Lotus Family.

Amitabha Buddha is red in color with the hands placed in the lap performing the mudra of meditation.

Chaturbhuja Avalokiteshvara

Chaturbhuja Avalokiteshvara is at the left of the thangka. Chaturbhuja Avalokiteshvara is the bodhisattva of compassion. Chaturbhuja Avalokiteshvara is white in color with one face and four hands.

Guru Padmasambhava

Guru Padmasambhava is at the right of the thangka. Guru Padmasambhava is holding a vajra to the heart and a skullcup in the lap. Guru Padmasambhava is attired in various robes and a lotus hat.

Rahula

Rahula is at the lower left of the thangka. Rahula is a very wrathful protector. Rahula is dark blue in color.

Rahula has nine faces crowned by a raven’s head and four hands. The lower body of Rahula is a coiled snake.

Remati

Remati is at the below the Rahula in the thangka. She is known as the wrathful female protector. She is dark blue in color.

She has one face and two hands. The right hand of Remati holds upraised in the stick. She is riding atop a light brown mule in a sea of blood. She is surrounded by black billowing smoke.

Vajra Sadhu

Vajra Sadhu is at the right of the thangka. Vajra Sadhu is the avowed protector. Vajra Sadhu is red in color. Vajra Sadhu is with one face and two hands.

Vajra Sadhu is clutching in the bend of the elbow a spear and pendant, bow, and arrows. Vajra Sadhu is attired in a long black cloak, round hat, and boots. He rides atop a white snow lion with a  green mane above a sea of blood.

He surrounded by dark smoke and licks of flame.

Black Hayagriva with Lama Thangka

The thangka of Buddhist deity Black Hayagriva with Lama is made between 1700 to 1799 AD. Black Hayagriva with Lama is from Nyingma lineage. The base of the painting is round mineral pigment on cotton. Presently, this thangka is in the Rubin museum of art.

By depicting this thangka, we are going to learn about the presentation of Black Hayagriva with different deities such as Amitayush Buddha, Sadaksari Avalokiteshvara, and Green Tara, etc.

Lama is at the top center of the thangka. Lama is wearing the robes of a monk and a Pandita hat performs the mudra of earth witness with both hands extended across the knees. He is adorned with a kila dagger tucked in the sash.

He wears a meditation cloak. He sits on a cushioned seat.

Amitayush Buddha

Amitayush Buddha is in the corner of the thangka. Amitayus Buddha is known as a long-life Buddha. Amitayush Buddha is red in color.

Amitayush Buddha is wearing various ornaments and holding a vase.

Sadaksari Avalokiteshvara

Sadaksari Avalokiteshvara is presented below theAmitayush Buddha in the thangka. Sadaksari Avalokiteshvara is white in color. Sadaksari Avalokiteshvara is with four hands.

Green Tara

Green Tara is at the bottom center of the thangka.  Green Tara is performing the mudra of generosity with the right hand. Green Tara s holding the stem of a lotus flower to the heart with the left hand.

Black Hayagriva with Avalokiteshvara Thangka

The thangka of Buddhist deity Black Hayagriva with Avalokiteshvara is from Tibet. It is made between 1700 to 1799 AD. Black Hayagriva with Avalokiteshvara is from Nyingma, Buddhist, and Gelug lineages. The size of the painting is  70.15×41.91cm. Ground mineral pigment on cotton, fine is gold, and black background is used to color this painting. Presently, this thangka is in the Rubin museum of art.

By depicting this thangka, we are going to learn about the presentation of Black Hayagriva with  Ngag Chang Hung Nag Mebar and Yogi Benam Rechen.

Avalokiteshvara is on the right of the thangka. Avalokiteshvara is white in color. Avalokiteshvara has one face and four hands.

Ngag Chang Hung Nag Mebar

Lama Ngag Chang Hung Nag Mebar is at the far right of the thangka.  Ngag Chang Hung Nag Mebar is wearing monastic robes, a red Pandita hat. Lama Ngag Chang Hung Nag Mebar is holding a vajra outstretched in the right hand.

Yogi Benam Rechen

Yogi Benam Rechen is at the bottom center of the thangka. Yogi Benam Rechen is in a seated position.  He wears the white robes of a wandering yogi and a red meditational belt across the chest.

Yogi Benam Rechen is colorful offerings of wish-fulfilling jewels that are arranged in front.

In this article, we learned about the life of Black Hayagriva, the iconography of Black Hayagriva, depicting Buddhist deity Black Hayagriva thangka, the representation of Black Hayagriva with Lama thangka, and the representation of Black Hayagriva with Avalokiteshvara thangka.