Fearsome and wrathful, blue-black in colour with one face and six hands, held in the first pair is a curved knife and skullcup to the heart. In the second pair is a human skull garland and trident - holding upraised the legs of an elephant skin garment. Held in the lower pair is a damaru (drum) and lasso. Adorned with all the wrathful ornaments and vestments he stands on the prone form of the elephant headed god Ganesh, above a sun disc and multi-coloured lotus, surrounded by the orange flames of pristine awareness.

At the top center is white Sadaksari Avalokiteshvara with one face and four hands. To the right is the wealth deity White Sadbhuja Mahakala. To the left is the 'Secret Accomplishment' Hayagriva and beneath is the Direction Guardian Vaisravana seated on a snow lion.

At the lower right is Shri Devi (Tib.: Palden Lhamo) riding a mule. Beneath her is Takkiraja and below that is black Trakshe riding a black horse. On the left side is red Jinamitra and below is Kshetrapala, the leader of the group, riding a black bear. These five wrathful deities form the retinue of Sadbhuja Mahakala.

At the bottom are a group of seven wrathful deities, all brothers, led by Tsi'u Marpo the current protector of Samye Monastery in Tibet. They are worldly deities and rank second in stature only to Gyalpo Pehar.

The painting belongs to the Gelugpa School as evidenced by the details of the iconography of Mahakala and retinue.

Indian Lineage: Buddha Vajradhara, Jnana Dakini, Mahasiddha Shavaripa, Maitripa, Rahulagupta, Kedrup Kyungpo Naljor (11th century), etc.

J.Watt 5-98