32.5"x25" Hayagriva Thankga Painting

 Hayagriva

Hayagriva is a wrathful manifestation of Avalokiteshvara, Lord of Compassion. The Hayagriva teachings were first brought to Tibet by Guru Padmasambhava. Medition on Hayagriva has the special ability to cure diseases, especially skin diseases such as leprosy. He is magnificently wrathful, and can be easily recognized by his symbol of the horse. A small horse head appears surmounted above his main head, and he is known as the "Horse Necked One." His horse head neighs very loudly and the sound is said to pierce and destroy all delusion, especially appearances of inherent existence created by the self-grasping ego. According to legend, Tibetan horse traders would invoke Hayagriva for protection because the sound of his neighing terrifies and drives away all demons and evil spirits.

Gestures and Attributes

Here Hayagriva is depicted with three faces, six arms and four legs. He holds his consort Krodhishvari in a passionate embrace. Their blissful union represents the perfect balance of wisdom and compassion. They tread upon dark human figures, representing demons and obstacles. And they both hold skull bowls brimming with the blood of the four maras, symbolizing their enlightened wisdom and victory over the forces of death. Their crowns adorned with human skulls indicate their purification of the five aggregates, and Krodishvari's long necklace of skulls indicates her purification of the inner winds.

Hayagriva's main right hand holds a vibrantly-colored lotus blossom, a reminder of his aspect as Avalokiteshvara and his pure nature of compassion. His other hands hold implements and weapons symbolizing his indestructibility and his special power to conquer demons and obstacles. He wears an elephant skin across his back, showing that he has abandoned the ignorance of self-grasping. A human skin is hung diagonally across the front of his body, indicating his conquest of the self-cherishing ego. His loin cloth is made of tiger skin, symbolizing his abandonment of hatred, and he wears a long necklace of freshly severed human heads, representing his abandonment of ordinary appearances and conceptions.

He stands stands courageously in the warrior's pose, with one leg bent and the other extended, his magnificent wings rising above his back. His consort's right leg is extended along his, while her left leg is wrapped around his waist. They are surrounded by a blazing fire of exalted wisdom, symbolizing their terrific power and fierce determination to destroy all delusions and negative forces.