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In the Shaktisamagama Tantra, Lord Mahakala is the terrific deity that dwells at the juncture of eight cremation grounds. Common to Hinduism, Buddhism and Sikhism, He is the husband of Devi Mahakali and Her equal in terms of beauty and ferocity. The handpicked mask that you see on this page is the most apt depiction of the deity to be found in contemporary art, as described in the aforementioned text.
It captures to spine-chilling perfection the frightening demeanour of the cross-cultural deity. His skin is adorned with the ashes of the cremation grounds. A wild, bloodthirsty gaze characterises the eyes. He bares His teeth at the onlooker, the twin fangs on either side of the jaws making a picture of the doom that adharma deserves. For a moustache He has the slithering bodies of two snakes sculpted on His upper lip.
It is not just iconographical perfection that makes this a must-have for the Lord Mahakala devotee. Dual rows of serpents with their hoods raised constitute the crown of Mahakala. It is a complex work, a sharp pointed spire punctuating the snakes that seem to be as fierce as the deity whose head they are sitting on. This could be a powerful visualisation aid for highly advanced sadhana or a remarkable item of home decor.
