Shadbhuja Mahakala (Tibetan: pal nyur dze ye she kyi gon po chag drug pa. English: the Swift Acting Lord of Pristine Awareness with Six Hands). The wrathful manifestation of the bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara after having taken on the form of Mahakala - the principal protector of the Shangpa Kagyu and Gelugpa Schools. Five attendant deities surround the central figure.

At the upper left corner is a portrait of Gyalwa Karmapa wearing the black vajra crown. At the right is a scholar wearing monastic robes and a red pandita hat.

Jeff Watt 5-2001