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Mahakala
XX century
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Mongolia
Wood and papier maché
Height: 21 cm
Mahakala is
the wrathful manifestation of Avalokiteshvara,
the bodhisttava of compassion and is one of the main deities in Tibetan and
Mogolian Buddhism. He removes obstacles, grants power and knowledge and
fulfils wishes.
Six –armed blue colour Mahakala has one head with three bulging eyes with a
fierce face and an open mouth. He wears a five-skull crown. In his upper right
hand he holds a rosary of human skulls and in his upper left hand he holds a
trident. His two main hands hold a chopper and a blood-filled skull cup.
He wears ornaments on his six arms and a necklace of
severed human heads.
This very detailed piece shows the skillfulness of
the Mongolian artists untill the beginning of the XX century.
Ref:
“Treasures of Tibetan art”Barbara Lipton,Oxford University
Press,1996, pp. 161-163
Treasures of Mongolian art,Altangerel Ayurzana,Asian
art Antique Gallery,
Ulaanbaatar
,2005,
pp.86
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