Six-Armed Mahakala (Tibetan: Gon-po Chag-druk)

A protector who is a wrathful manifestation of Avalokiteshvara, the Mahakala can be depicted in many forms. There are various aspects of Mahakala, the meditative practices associated with this protector being popular in all four traditions of the Tibetan Buddhism. He is depicted in a number of variations, each with distinctly different qualities and aspects. He is also regarded as the emanation of different beings in different cases, namely Avalokiteshvara or Chakrasamvara.

The Gelug school regards Mahakala as the protector associated with the training of one’s mind in the practices of the great scope, one of the three scopes in the context of the Lamrim. The three scopes refer to the initial, middling and the great capacities of mind. The protector associated for the other two scopes- initial and middling are Kalarupa and Vaishravana respectively.

Mahākāla translates to Maha - "great" and Kala - "time/death", which means "beyond time" or death. In Tibetan, Nag-po Chen-po means “Great Black One” and in Tibetan Gonpo or protector is also used to refer specifically to Mahakala. Mahakala is almost always depicted with a crown of five skulls, which represent the transmutation of the five Kleshas (negative afflictions) into the five wisdoms. The most notable variation in Mahakala's manifestations and depictions is in the number of arms, but other details can vary as well. For instance, in some cases there are Mahakalas in white, with multiple heads, without genitals, standing on varying numbers of various things, holding various implements, with alternative adornments, and so on.

The thangka comes framed in a traditional silk brocade border.