A fierce (ugra in Sanskrit) divinity, whose flesh is gold in color, with nine heads, eighteen arms, and three legs, stands on a yantra on a red lotus which rests on a rock. In the front corner of the yantra is a limp human female figure, around which twines a red snake. The hair of all nine heads, red and gold in color, is standing on end. The central head in each tier of three is provided with tusks, and all nine faces have three eyes apiece. Skulls and snakes adorn all the nine heads, and the divinity wears a necklace of severed human heads ands sakes. His bracelets, armlets, kneelets, and anklets are all of snakes. He wears a tiger's skin from the loins to the knees, and a pink scarf is tied about his loins, leaving his navel bare; above, he is naked, except for a red scarf worn around his body under the arms. The right hand holds: 1. Conch (also held by right hand no.2) 2. Skull (also held by right hand no.1) 3. Trident 4. Human body held by legs (also held by right hand no.4) 5. Hand-drum, like the Japanese tsuzumi 6. Human head 7. Small, red, spotted animal 8. Snake's tail (the head held by right hand no.8) The left hand holds: 1. Skull (also held by left hand no.2) 2. Conch (also held by left hand no.1) 3. Trident 4. Human body held by legs (also held by left hand no.4) 5. Three-pronged vajra, upright on a pink lotus 6. Ghaṇṭā bell 7. Tortoise 8. Snake's head (the tail held aloft by left hand no.8) The divinity is surrounded by an aureole of flames in which are bird's heads, similar to those in the aureole of Acalanātha Vidyārāja. Large feathers with considerable space between are visible emerging from behind the divinity's body, and sticking out beyond his arms. Between the middle and outer legs feathers similar to those in a bird's tail hang down. It would seem that this fierce fellow has a connection of some kind with the feathered tribe. The monstrous figure may be thought of as a Tantric version of Vaiśravaṇa, shown conventionally as Lokapala of the north in the preceding frame. He has two small demon attendants, one to the right and the other to the left, each standing on a skull, Each has a skull on his head, and a tiger's skin and scarf round his waist, and another scarf tied around the neck. The demon to the divinity's proper left holds a peculiar dark object in his hands which is probably the head of some animal, as it seems to have an eye, perhaps an owl. The demon opposite holds a three-pointed vajra in a horizontal position at the level of his shoulders. The former has an open mouth with bared teeth; the latter's mouth is closed and he bites his chin with his upper teeth. |
Vaiśravaṇa, the Guardian of the North, god of wealth and of war, stands on clouds, dressed in elaborate armor. On his head, however, instead of a helmet he wears a fancy crown, seemingly more suitable for a queen, with a phoenix rising from the center; and in his left ear is a large gold ring-earring, He wears red sandals on his otherwise bare feet, and a long, white scarf is draped over both arms and flutters to right and left. He holds a stūpa on a dark grey lotus on the palm of his right hand, and a tall banner in his left, at the top of which is a two-edged spear. The banner has many streamers, yellow, blue, red, green, and maroon, In lieu of a halo, flames encircle his head. He has two much smaller attendants standing behind him, a Garuda to his left and a boy on his right. The former is slightly the taller of the two but does not reach Vaiśravaṇa's waist. He has a bird's head and wings, but human legs and feet, and is very hairy. The clouds on which all three are standing end in a long, tapering streamer sweeping around from the right of the flame-halo, and coming from a point at the top left of the panel. |
A fierce, three-headed, two-legged, eight-armed divinity, whose flesh is gold in color, stands on a pink and white lotus. He has red hair and his main head is furnished with a red beard. Each face has tusks and three eyes; and on each head are two skulls, a gold headdress, and a snake. The divinity wears snake anklets, bracelets, and armlets, while other snakes are draped over his left shoulder. He also has one snake earring. He wears in addition a gold necklace, armlets, and girdle. He has on a pink skirt, showing red at the folds, a tiger skin, and a white scarf. Above the waist he is naked except for jewelry and snakes. The left hand holds: 1. Lasso 2. Trident 3. Sword capped by three-pronged vajra 4. Bow The right hand holds: 1. Three-pronged vajra, held aloft 2. Naked sword 3. Sword (?) capped by flaming jewel 4. Quiver full of arrows The three heads and eight arms with their attributes make this probably a form taken by Trailokyavijaya Vidyārāja (Gosanze Myōō). He is usually shown trampling on the small, prostrate bodies of Śiva and Pārvatī, but also may be shown as if running. Behind the divinity are pale yellow flames edged with black and red. In their midst is a band of yellow, blue, and maroon, forming an aureole. In the foreground, to the right, is a bird with human arms, kneeling, his head raised. In front of him is an openwork basket containing three human heads. |