A FINE AND RARE THANGKA OF THE PROTECTOR DEITY CATURBHUJA-MAHAKALA, Tibet, 16th ct., framed under glass. Caturbhuja-Mahakala is mostly known as a guardian of wisdom and meditation, here shown holding a sword, a trident, a sickle, and a kapala filled with blood, the three prongs of the trident signifying the destruction of the three spiritual poisons: greed, hatred, and pride. He is wearing a tiger pelt, elephant skin, and human skin layered above each other, symbolizing his extensive power. Above the deity, the mythical sun bird Garuda is floating, accompanied by four other Garudas. Everyone who is on their path of liberation through Samsara, puts himself into the care of Mahakala, supported by various other guardians such as Las-kyi Gönpos, Palden Lhamo, the lion-headed Dakini Shimhamukha, the goddess of fortune Vaishravana, the Adibuddha Vajradhara, the Mahasiddhas Tilopa and Naropa as well as red- and black-hatted lamas of the Kagü lines, as depicted on this thangka. - Published Thangka Calender, June 1983, Papyrus Verlag Hamburg, Dec. 1983, purchased from Schoettle East Asian Art Stuttgart, October 1980, published catalogue 38, n. 3023 - Wear