Mahakala Mask
Blue mask, wooden, bulging eyes, skull headdress, long ears, 3rd eye fangs.
- Object: Mahakala Mask
- Artist: -
- Circa: -
- Dimensions: 10.5" X 8"
- Culture Area: Asia
- Cultural Group: Tibet
- Cultural Context: This Tibetan mask represents Mahakala - a deity common to Hinduism, Buddhism and Sikhism. 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. Kleshas in Buddhism are mental states that cloud the mind and manifest in unwholesome actions. The five kleshas are: ignorance, attachment, aversion, pride, and envy. The five wisdoms: wisdom of absolute truth, mirror-like wisdom, wisdom of equality, wisdom of discernment, all-accomplishing wisdom.
- Donor: Elizabeth Richardson (mother), Maury & Elizabeth R
- Catalog #: 115.180