Super-Secret Form of Hayagriva in Father–Mother Union

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Hayagriva, a wrathful manifestation of Avalokiteshvara, was created originally to conquer a demon named Matong Rudra who had horse head in his hair. Ichnographically Hayagriva is distinguished by his blood-red colour and small green horse-head emerging from his crown. In the present black thangka his body is outlined with red colour. Hayagriva is able to destroy the massive hindrances of samsara with awesome power, without regard for his own life. He cuts away all the evil realms, completely destroys the six gatis, the four births, and the four-sufferings of births, old age, disease and death. Like a hungry horse that thinks only of water and grass, he thinks with profound compassion of the sufferings of beings and of consuming their passions and ignorance. The teachings of Hayagriva were first brought to Tibet from India by Padmasambhava in the eighth century A.D. The secret practice of Hayagriva was introduced into Tibet in twelfth century A.D. He is very popular among all four Tibetan sects, especially in Nyingma Order from its earliest days. A special ability of Hayagriva is to cure diseases, especially skin disease even as serious as leprosy caused by the nagas (malignant water spirits having the body of a serpent).

Here we Have the 'super secret' Hayagriva form and he is in terrific union with his consort. He is dancing ecstatically and stepping on human figures, representing obstacles, on a lotus throne atop a sharp rock in a lake. Hayagriva three heads, six arms, four legs and powerful wings. He is embracing his consort with his two principal hands. Each head of Hayagriva has three staring eyes, moustache on the sides of the mouth and short beard and each head wears five-skull crown. His hair is rises in flame shape. Hayagriva's principal right hand holds a vajra, upper right hand a trident-tipped khatvanga, while the lower one a serpent. His principal left hand holds vajra bell, the upper one a skull bowl and the lower left hand holds a lasso. He is wearing gold and bone ornaments with serpents; elephant skin cloak, necklace of severed human heads and tiger-skin skirt. His consort is closely embracing him. Her right hand is around his neck, while by the left hand she lifts a skull bowl, offering sips of its elixir to him. Her right leg is extended along his, while the left is wrapped around his waist. She is adorned with a crown of skulls with jewels, a long garland of human skulls, gold and bone ornament and leopard skin skirt. There is wisdom fire aureole behind Hayagriva with Garuda above his head.

The upper centre portrays Padmasambhava who is seated on a lotus supported by beautiful green leaves, upper left corner red Garuda in clouds, upper left corner a Dragon also in clouds. Middle ground of the left side depicts sketches of high peaks, Svayambhunath type stupa and lakes etc. The middle ground of the right side depicts a meditating siddha in a cremation ground and lake. The foreground is filled with terrific lake, series of high peaks and natural vegetation. Auspicious peaceful offerings are shown in bottom left corner and wrathful offerings in the bottom center. The elaborate border of silk brocade is throughout decorated with the figures of stylized dragons and flowers.

Select Bibliography

Alice Getty, The Gods of Northern Buddhism, Tokyo, 1962

B. Bhattacharyya, The Indian Buddhist Iconography, Calcutta, 1968

J.C. Huntington and D. Bangdel, The Circle of Bliss: Buddhist Meditational Art, Ohio, 2004

Marylin M. Rhie & Robert A.F. Thurman, Worlds of Transformation: Tibetan Art of Wisdom and Compassion, New York, 1999

R. Linrothe & J. Watt, Demonic Divine: Himalayan Art and Beyond, New York, 2005

This description is by Dr. Shailendra K. Verma, whose Doctorate thesis is on "Emergence and Evolution of the Buddha Image (From its inception to 8th century A.D.)".

Click Here to View the Thangka Painting along with its Brocade

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