HAYAGRIVA 'THE HORSE-NECKED' Tibet, 19th ct. 61 x 40,5 cm (119,5 x 77 cm) Hayagriva is a protector and a meditation deity - a yidam. He is revered to this day not only by the Nyingma school, but especially kept alive by the Gelugpa schools. In the "Secret" Sadhana of Hayagriva', he is described as a wrathful deity of red body colour with three faces, six arms and four legs. The middle face is red, the right white and the left green, illustrating the three bodies of realisation (trikaya). All faces are endowed with the third wisdom eye. Hayagriva is recognisable by the green horse heads stuck in his hair. The horse's head gives him the name 'horse-necked man'. According to one interpretation, Hayagriva announces his appearance by his loud neighing, which awakens from spiritual dullness and keeps away all evil spirits and puts them under a spell. In Tibetan and Mongolian folk tradition, he is worshipped as the protector of horses. He is considered a wrathful-active manifestation of Avalokiteshvara, and is therefore associated with the lotus family of Buddha Amitabha. His energy is based on the deep compassion and mercy that the deity has for all beings, with which all obstacles, and the strongest mental poisons are to be overcome. In his six hands the deity holds weapons and symbols needed for his protective activity. In his right hands Hayagriva holds, from top to bottom: a golden vajra, a khatvanga and a sword. In his left hands he shows the threatening gesture with the uppermost hand and at the same time holds a lambent flame, the middle one holds a trident staff and the lower one intestines. At the top centre appears the Buddha Amitabha. Tsongkhapa is depicted in the left corner, and the V Dalai Lama in the right corner. At the bottom left is a rider on a black horse with a vajra and a vase of water of life. In the centre appears the deity Beg-tse and on the right a protector with a mirror on his chest, and holding the trident staff and a rope in his hands. Tempera and gold on cotton fabric, original silk brocade border. Old South German private collection, mostly acquired from Schoettle Ostasiatika between 1968 and the 1980s, Schoettle no. 8459 Traces of age, minor wear