This stele shows the god Mahakala, the personification of a form of Shiva converted to Buddhism. Deity with the black epidermis, he is recognizable by his third frontal eye, his diadem adorned with skulls and presents at the top of his skull, his lineage leader, the Jina, Akshobhya. His waist is surrounded by a tiger’s skin, and a garland of fifty severed and bloody heads. In his hands, he holds a cleaver and a cranial cup (kapâlâ) filled with blood, as well as the magic stick placed horizontally on the bleeding of his arms. This Mahâkâlâ is usually accompanied by a blackbird, a black dog, a black jackal and a black man. He is here in his form Gur-Gyi Mgon-Po “the protector of the tent”. This aspect shows him squatting in the centre of a charnel house, on the body of vanquished enemies. On the back of this stele, there is an inscription of historical character (rare in Tibet) specifying the name of the donor: A-Tsa bag-shi, as well as the date of creation: 1292. This sculpture was carved in a greenish beige limestone, compact homogeneous grain and very fine. It brings a testimony of the cult of Mahâkâlâ, very widespread in Tibet, and which will experience very varied developments. This work is perhaps the work of a Newar craftsman, from Kathmandu in Nepal, having expatriated, and attests to the strong Nepalese influence, which is exerted on the Tibetan art of the time. Dating from the domination of the Mongol Yuan Dynasty on Asia, this piece reminds us that the official religion of this empire was then Tibetan Lamaism. The donor, A-Tsa bag-shi, was the assistant of Phags-pa (1235-1280) nephew of Qubilai (1215-94), emperor of the Yuan, who entrusted him with the direction of religious affairs.
Details
- Title : Mahâkâlâ, in its aspect Gur-Gyi Mgon-Po
- Year : Dated 1292
- Medium : Partially Polychrome and Gold Lithographic Limestone
- Dimension : 47 x 285 cm
- Accession No : MA 5181
- Country/ Geo-location : Nepal
- Collection : The Guimet Museum of Asian Art
- Credit Line : Donation subject to Usufruct, L. Fournier