Thangka - Mahakala 2

Mahakala is a diety worshipped both by Hindu and buddhists. He is one of the Hindu dietes of the Brahma group. He is one of the eight terrible dieteis of Buddhist pantheon. He can be seen in the enterance of every Buddhist monastries in Kathmandu valley. In Nepalese buddhist tradition two armed form of Mahakala carved in stones is found in large number.

He is dark blue in colour, he looks wrathful bedecked with ornaments of serpents. He wears a garland of severed heads and a crown of five skulls symbolizing the five defilements. His right hand holds Kartri symbolizing that it can cut ego-clinging and attachemnt and his left hand hols a kapala filled with blood symbolizing the subjungation of evil ones.He wears a tiger skin symbolizing the purification of desire, He has three eyes symbolizinng his clear comprehension of three times. He looks ferrocious against the blazing fire. His mouth is smeared with blood signifying that he is active in eliminating evils. One attribute he holds a bundle of tent poles, he is also the protector of Mongolia and protector of tents.