Hevajra Pins and Buttons

Hevajra appears on this 15th-century tangka in his three-headed and four-armed form. This manifestation is drawn from the Hevajra Tantra, a text revered by the Sakya order of Tibetan Buddhism, who likely commissioned this painting from a Newari artist from Nepal. Hevajra and his consort Nairatmya dance at the intersection of four vajra gateways, indicating their position at the center of the cosmos. His name is composed of two syllables: “he,” compassion, representing the male aspect, and “vajra,” wisdom, the female aspect, which together offer the path beyond this illusory world. The repeating skull symbolism references the impermanence of all phenomena.

At the center of this nine-deity Hevajra mandala, the sixteen-armed Hevajra embraces his consort Nairatmya. Their assembly comprises eight dancing yoginis. In the upper corners are two lineage holders, at the left the great Indian adept (mahasiddha) Dombi Heruka riding a tigress together with a consort, and at the right the Tibetan master Sachen Kunga Nyingpo (1092–1158), a pivotal figure in the transmission of the Hevajra Tantra. In the bottom corners are wrathful deities, Panjaranatha Mahakala at the left, the special protector of the Hevajra group of tantras and its practitioners, and the four-armed Dusolma at the right.

Panjara Mahakala holds a curved knife and skull cup in front of his chest. His arms support the characteristics magic staff (gandi) that identifies him. The animals around his head are his messengers. Within a halo of flames the “Great Black One” is flanked by four deities: the four-armed Bhutadamara Vajrapani and the knife-brandishing Mahakala on the left and Ekajata and the four-armed Dusolma riding her mule on the right. Above these two pairs are Hevajra (left) and Chakrasamvara (right). The lineage of teachers depicted at the very top attributes the painting to the Sakya school. To the sides are the guardians of the directions and the bottom figures belong to Panjara Mahakala’s retinue.

Vintage 15th-century thangka of Panjaranata Mahakala - the protector for the Shri Hevajra cycle of Tantras. The iconography and rituals are found in the 18th chapter of the Vajra Panjara Tantra (canopy, or pavilion) a Sanskrit language text from India, and an exclusive 'explanatory tantra' to the Hevajra Tantra itself. It is from the name of this tantra that this specific form of Mahakala is known. 'Vajra Panjara' means the vajra enclosure, egg-shaped, created from vajra scepters large and small - all sizes, completely surrounding a Tantric Buddhist mandala. The name of the Tantra is Vajra Panjara and the name of the form of Mahakala taught in this Tantra is also Vajra Panjara. The full name for the protector is Vajra Panjara Nata Mahakala.

Ancient 17th-century image of Panjaranata Mahakala - the protector for the Shri Hevajra cycle of Tantras. The iconography and rituals are found in the 18th chapter of the Vajra Panjara Tantra (canopy, or pavilion) a Sanskrit language text from India, and an exclusive 'explanatory tantra' to the Hevajra Tantra itself. It is from the name of this tantra that this specific form of Mahakala is known. 'Vajra Panjara' means the vajra enclosure, egg-shaped, created from vajra scepters large and small - all sizes, completely surrounding a Tantric Buddhist mandala. The name of the Tantra is Vajra Panjara and the name of the form of Mahakala taught in this Tantra is also Vajra Panjara. The full name for the protector is Vajra Panjara Nata Mahakala.