This wood piece, with an awe-inspiring look, hollow from within and
with dimensions of human face beyond, is the auspicious mask
representing Mahakala, a divine form as conceived in the Buddhist
line, and a form of Shiva as Bhairava, as conceived in the Shaivite,
and in both sectarian lines, Buddhist or Shaivite, Mahakala is held in
highest reverence. Whether a manifestation of Avalokiteshvara or a
subordinate deity, Mahakala, a form in which an awe-inspiring face
dominated the entire image – and hence sometimes manifesting as the
mere face as here in this mask, had a very high place in Tantrika
Buddhism. The rest of the figure of Mahakala, mostly a dwarfish form,
was not considered significant. During many rituals and while
celebrating one or the other of the festivals, Tibetan Buddhists would
put on their faces these Mahakala masks believing that they have great
mystic power to ward off everything untoward in their lives, as also
that they are the couriers of good and benevolence.
In Mahayana Buddhism Mahakala rose to the apex and in Alchi type many
monasteries Mahakala emerged as the presiding deity and as an
essential image for Thangka art with almost every piece registering
the presence of Mahakala. The deadly looking Mahakala, or Bhairava in
the Shaivite line, is not the god of death or one who presides over
destruction, as he is sometimes contended to be. In usual imagery, the
Mahakala is conceived as neutralizing two human figures under his
feet; almost identically in the Shaivite line Bhairava, or Shiva
during Tandava, the dance of annihilation, has been conceived as
neutralizing one human figure. In Mahakala imagery the two figures
represent negative forces, and hence, Mahakala represents the death of
negatives, and in Bhairava imagery, the figure of Apasmara represents
inertia or ignorance, and hence, the end of ignorance. The artifact is
a piece from Nepal, a Hindu/Shaiva country, though not without pockets
of Buddhism, and hence it is more likely that it represents the
Shaivite form of Mahakala, though it is difficult to say if it
traveled from Tibet to Nepal and from Buddhism to Shaiva tradition or
otherwise.
The horrible looking face of Mahakala – the Timeless One, that this
mask represents, is the guardian of all directions and endowed with
great energy is the universal protector. The Buddhists believe that he
protects also the Buddhist Doctrine and sanctuary that it enshrines.
The face in the mask has been conceived with a rectangular form with
five tiny heads, as horrible looking as the Mahakala face, crowning
it. It has a wide open mouth with large teeth and a partially visible
tongue inside looking like a pyramid’s top. The round eye-balls, as
made of black cat-eye stones fitted into as dark sockets with the
third one on the forehead, and another piece of cat eye stone,
comprising the tip of the nose, are awe-striking. Much more horrible,
or rather loathsome, are the serpents-like coiling zigzag lines around
the mouth suggesting moustaches and the beard’s hair growing under the
lower lip, and on the forehead comprising strange eye-brows. A deep
black cobra with bright red hood knotted round the neck like a piece
of ornament shakes with fear. Ears shaped like the sole of a shoe and
long ear-lobes with large holes and crude heavy rings with serpentine
offshoots are alike repulsive.
This description by Prof. P.C. Jain and Dr. Daljeet. Prof. Jain specializes on the aesthetics of literature and is the author of numerous books on Indian art and culture. Dr. Daljeet is the curator of the Miniature Painting Gallery, National Museum, New Delhi. They have both collaborated together on a number of books.
Free Shipping. Delivered by 
to all international destinations within 3 to 5 days, fully insured.
Esculturas
