A THANGKA DEPICTING MAHAKALA Tibet, 17th Century

with sixteen hands holding an assortment of ritual implements, and four wrathful faces including a buffalo head at the rear, clasping his consort with his principal hands in humkara mudra, both deities wearing bone jewellery and flayed tiger skin aprons, and trampling Yama and deities prostrate on a lotus throne, with a flaming nimbus behind, Vajradhara above flanked by Chakrasamvara and four-armed Mahakala to the left, Bhutadamara Vajrapani and two-armed Mahakala to the right, three further multi-armed forms of Mahakala with their consorts below, all against a black background with ritual implements, attendants, mythical animals and birds amongst smoke and flames and seas of blood

Himalayan Art Resources item no. 35976.
29 1/2 by 21 7/8 in. (75 by 53 cm)