MahakalaHeight: 1 5/8 inches (4.1 cm)Yellow metal, polychromeGift of William J. and Kathleen A. Cavanaugh83.059.0020Mahakala, the Great Black One, seen as a Protector, is here depicted in the Gom-po nag-po form: With one hand and six arms, he steps to the right on the elephant-headed Vinayaka, who holds a flower in the raised right arm and a kapala (skull-cup) in the left hand. As one of the eight Dhamapala, Mahakala wears the head-dress and the long garland of skulls and foot-and arm-jewelry. His attributes are as follows: in main pair of hands, held in front of the body, he holds the karttrka (R) (chopper) and the Kapala (skull-cap) (L). In the lower, extended pair of hands he holds the damaru (drum; R) and the pasa (noose ;L). In the higher extended pair of hands the mala (garland) of skulls (R) and one leg of the flayed skin of an elephant that is draped around his back (L). The symbol missing, according to the iconography spelled out by Gordon, is the trisula (trident).Sculpture19332816743Unidentified artistTibet