Gilled Copper Six-armed Hayagriva, Tibet - Soto Asian Art 禪藏

Gilled Copper Six-armed Hayagriva, Tibet

Estimate Period: 14th – 15th Century

In Tibetan Buddhism, Hayagriva (“having the neck of a horse”, “馬頭金剛明王護法”) is an important deity who originated as a yaksha attendant of Avalokiteśvara. Known as dharmapala, means “Dharma protector or defender”. Practice in all schools of Tibetan Buddhism, and was widely promoted by Buddhist Bengali religious leader and master, Atīśa Dīpaṃkara Śrījñāna.

The King of Wrath, Hayagriva with three faces, six hands, with faces possesses three glaring eyes, mustache, eyebrows, and hair. With skulls as a crown, the four right legs are bent and the four left extended – treading on the form of the eight great nagas.