Dimensions: 121" L x 80-3/4"W

Qing Dynasty Chinese Sino-Tibetan painted brocade mounts silk Thangka. Depicted Ekavira Vajrabhairava, The Solitary Hero Vajra Terror, a wrathful form of Manjushree. Sets within stripes of yellow and brown color ribbon and blue metallic thread silk cloth frames (mounts) surrounding the tangka.Bhairava, dark blue in color, has 9 faces, 34 hands and 16 legs. The main face is that of a buffalo, with a red face above and the slightly angry yellow face of Manjushree placed on top. Flames shoot from the tips of the horns. The three right faces are yellow, blue and red and the three left are black, white and smoky. Each face has three large round eyes, bared fangs and frightful expressions; brown hair flows upward like flames. The first pair of hands hold a curved knife and skull cup to the heart. The remaining hands hold a multitude of weapons with the 2nd and last set holding in addition the fresh outstretched hide of an elephant. He is adorned with bracelets, necklaces and a girdle all formed of interlaced bone ornaments, a necklace of snakes and a long necklace of fifty heads. The right legs are bent pressing down on a man, animals and various gods. The left legs are extended straight and press upon eight birds and various gods; standing above a sun disc and multi-colored lotus completely surrounded by the orange flames of pristine awareness. To each side of the lotus throne skull cups are filled with various offerings.At the top center is a Gelugpa lama, seated on a cushion, wearing monastic robes and a yellow pandita hat. With the right hand he holds to the heart the stem of a lotus blossoming at the right ear supporting a book. The left hand cradles a monk's begging bowl in the lap.At the bottom center is Shadbhuja Mahakala (the Great Black One with Six Hands), an emanation of Avalokiteshvara, dark blue in color, very wrathful and surrounded by flames. To the left is the special protector of the Vajrabhairava Tantras, with Yama Dharmaraja, blue, with the head of a buffalo, holding a bone stick and lasso. Embraced by the consort Chamundi, he rides on the back of a blue buffalo; surrounded by flame. To the right is the guardian of the northern direction, Vaishravana, yellow in color with one face and two hands holding a banner and mongoose; riding a white snow lion with green hair. These three were the special protectors of Tsongkapa and so became the main protectors for the Gelugpa School. Precious wish-fulfilling jewels and objects of wealth adorn the foreground.As a tutelary deity Vajrabhairava, also known as Yamantaka, belongs to the Bhairava and Yamari class of tantras and specifically arises from the Vajra Bhairava Root Tantra. All of those belong to the method (father) classification of Anuttaryoga Tantra. The practice of Bhairava is common to the three Sarma Schools: Sakya, Kagyu and Gelugpa. Among the Sakya it is counted as one of the four main tantric deities. There are numerous forms and styles of practice from the very complex with numerous deities to the very concise with a single Heruka form. The main lineages to enter Tibet were those of Jowo Atisha, Rwa Lotsawa, Mal Lotsawa and the like.This form of Bhairava with the central faces placed 3 vertically and 3 faces to each side arranged horizontally is unique to the Gelugpa School and true to a visionary experience of Lord Tsongkapa the founder. Vajrabhairava with nine Circular Faces is defined by the central face being that of a buffalo with three additional faces placed to the immediate right side and three more faces placed to the immediate left side. Above the central buffalo face are two more faces one above the other. The orange face of Manjushree is identified as the uppermost face. This orientation is called Circular Faces. Masterful threadwork can be seen in all the fine details.