Bhairava, dark blue in colour, has 9 faces, 32 hands and 16 legs. The main face is that of a buffalo, with a red face above and the slightly angry yellow face of Manjushri placed on top. Flames shoot from the tips of the horns. The three right faces are yellow, blue and red and the three left are black, white and smoky. Each face has three large round eyes, bared fangs and frightful expressions; brown hair flows upward like flames. The first pair of hands hold a curved knife and skullcup to the heart. The remaining hands hold a multitude of weapons with the 2nd and last set holding in addition the fresh outstretched hide of an elephant. He is adorned with bracelets, necklaces and a girdle all formed of interlaced bone ornaments, a necklace of snakes and a long necklace of fifty heads. The right legs are bent pressing down on a man, animals and various gods. The left legs are extended straight and press upon eight birds and various gods; standing above a sun disc and multi-coloured lotus completely surrounded by the orange flames of pristine awareness. To each side of the lotus throne skullcups are filled with various offerings.

At the top center is a Gelugpa lama, seated on a cushion, wearing monastic robes and a yellow pandita hat. With the right hand he holds to the heart the stem of a lotus blossoming at the right ear supporting a book. The left hand cradles a monk’s begging bowl in the lap.

At the bottom center is Sadbhuja Mahakala (the Great Black One with Six Hands), an emanation of Avalokiteshvara, dark blue in colour, very wrathful and surrounded by flames. To the left is the special protector of the Vajra Bhairava Tantras, with Yama Dharmaraja, blue, with the head of a buffalo, holding a bone stick and lasso. Embraced by the consort Chamundi, he rides on the back of a blue buffalo; surrounded by flame. To the right is the guardian of the northern direction, Vaisravana, yellow in colour with one face and two hands holding a banner and mongoose; riding a white snow lion with green hair. These three were the special protectors of Tsongkhapa and so became the main protectors for the Gelugpa School. Precious wish-fulfilling jewels and objects of wealth adorn the foreground.

As a tutelary deity Vajra Bhairava, also known as Yamantaka, belongs to the Bhairava and Yamari class of tantras and specifically arises from the Vajra Bhairava Root Tantra (Tibetan: Jig je tsa gyu). All of those belong to the method (father) classification of Anuttaryoga Tantra. The practice of Bhairava is common to the three Sarma Schools: Sakya, Kagyu and Gelugpa. Among the Sakya it is counted as one of the four main tantric deities. There are numerous forms and styles of practice from the very complex with numerous deities to the very concise with a single Heruka form. The main lineages to enter Tibet were those of Jowo Atisha, Rwa Lotsawa, Mal Lotsawa and the like.

This form of Bhairava with the central faces placed 3 vertically and 3 faces to each side arranged horizontally is unique to the Gelugpa School and true to a visionary experience of Lord Tsongkhapa the founder.

Lineage: Shri Vajra Bhairava, Jnana Dakini, Mahasiddha Lalitavajra, Amoghavajra, Yeshe Jungne Bepa, Mahasiddha Padmavajra, Marmedze Srungwa, Rwa Lotsawa Dorje Drag, Rwa Chorab, Rwa Yeshe Senge, Rwa Bum Seng, Rongpa Gwalo Namgyal Dorje, Rongpa Sherab Senge, Lamdrepa Yeshe Palwa, Je Sonam Lhundrup, Choje Dondrup Rinchen, Je Tsongkhapa Lozang Trakpa (1357-1419), etc.

J.Watt 7-98