"The great Vajra Mahakala blazes, with one face, two hands, holding in the right a curved knife and in the left a skullcup filled with blood held above and below the heart. Held across the middle of the two forearms is the 'Gandhi of Emanation.' With three eyes, bared fangs, yellow hair flowing upward, [he has] a crown of five dry human skulls and a necklace of fifty wet - blood dripping. Adorned with six bone ornaments and snakes, having a lower garment of tiger skin, flowing with pendants and streamers of various silks, in a posture dwarfish and thick [he] stands above a corpse." (Konchog Lhundrup 1497-1557).

Above a multi-coloured lotus, Mahakala is surrounded by the stylized flames of pristine awareness and emanating forth from the licks of flame are messengers in the shapes of various animals, black crows, black dogs, wolves, black men and women.

To the upper left of Mahakala is the tutelary deity Shri Hevajra, light blue in colour with multiple faces and hands embracing the consort Vajra Nairatmya. To the upper right is Ekajati, the mother of all Mahakalas, blue with one face and two hands holding a vase. To the lower left is Kartaridhara Mahakala with one face and two hands. To the right is Mahakali, light blue, with one face and four hands riding a brown mule.

At the top left is the primordial buddha Vajradhara followed by the three laymen known as the 'Three White Ones of Sakya;' Sachen Kunga Nyingpo (1092-1158), Sonam Tsemo (1142-1182) and Trakpa Gyaltsen (1147-1216). The 'Two Red Ones' attired in monastic robes are Sakya Pandita Kunga Gyaltsen (1182-1251) and Chogyal Phagpa (1235-1280). Collectively they are called the 'Five Holy Superiors' (Tib.: jet sun gong ma nga).

Along the bottom are the Five Activity Lords, the main attendants to Mahakala, each with one face and two hands, wrathful and dark blue in colour; accompanied by a monk and a sorcerer representing the hosts of the lesser retinue.

Panjarnatha Mahakala is the main protector of the Sakya School. Arising from the Vajrapanjara Tantra, he along with Brahmarupa Mahakala, associated with the Guhyasamaja Tantra, are known as the 'Greater and Lesser Mahakalas' of the Sakya School (Tib.: gon po che chung).

Panjarnatha Eight Deity Lineage: Vajradhara, Dakini Vajrapanjara, Acarya Brahmin Vararuci, Norbu Lingka Dewa'i Dorje, Shraddhakara Varman, Lochen Rinchen Zangpo, Drag Tengpa Yontan Tsultrim, Mal Lotsawa Lodro Dragpa, Sachen Kunga Nyingpo, etc.

The style of painting is Southern Tibetan with strong Nepali influence indicated by the geometric layout, deep blue and red colours and ornate detail.

J.Watt 7-98