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Sino
Tibetan Gilded Bronze Buddha Statue
Mahakala
Wealth Bestowing Six Armed Form
Qing
Dynasty, circa: 19th century
H 14 in(35cm), W 8 in(20cm), D 5 in(12.5cm)
Condition: Good, missing attributes A
finely modeled and cast bronze of the wealth-bestowing Mahakala, with all details
conforming to the one appearance in which he is always depicted. His body is white,
his face wrathful, he has three eyes, and his half-smiling mouth is red. He has
six arms; his main right hand holds a wish fulfilling jewel in front of his chest,
his upper right hand should hold a chopper and his lower right hand plays a drum.
His main left arm holds a skull cup with a vase in it filled with jewels. His
upper left hand should hold a trident and his lower left hand should hold a vajra
hook which here resembles a khatvanga. He wears the skin of an elephant on his
shoulders, a garment of many scarves ornamented with bone beads and jewels, and
a girdle of freshly severed heads. Beneath each foot is a deity with an elephant
head carrying a radish in his hands, and a mongoose with jewels spitting from
its mouth. In the crown on top of White Mahakala’s head there is an image of Vajradhara
sitting cross-legged and holding a jewel, a bell and a vajra. Sold To Private Collection | 
Click on Image for Enlargement
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The
teachings of White Mahakala were brought to Tibet in the eleventh century and
were passed down until they reached Tsong Kahpa in the fourteenth century. Tsong
Khapa was known to give away generously what he received in offerings, but when
in need he would turn to White Mahakala, performing the White Mahakala ritual
which brings abundance to the needy practitioner concerned about family, material
goods, food, power, knowledge and spiritual liberation. |
