Hevajra :
Hevajra is a yidam deity that belongs to the Highest-Yoga class of
'mother-tantras', and he is represented here in his form as 'Weapon
Hevajra' (Ayudha Hevajra), with eight faces, four legs, and sixteen arms
- each of which holds a specific implement. Hevajra is blue-black in
colour and with his two principal arms he embraces his blue consort
Nairatma, who has one face and two arms. With his four feet Hevajra
tramples upon the 'four demonic obstructions or maras', which are
represented here by the four Hindu gods; yellow Brahma, green Vishnu,
white Shiva and red Indra. From left to right across the top of the
painting are the five tantric goddesses: Akash Yogini (Vidyadhari),
Vajrayogini, Guhyeshvari Kali (centre), Khadga Yogini, and Khandaroha
Dakini.
On either side of the painting are the eight wrathful
manifestations of Bhairava, 'the terrible'. Each of these 'Eight
Bhairava's' (astabhairava) are similar in appearance, except for their
colours and specific consorts, who sit upon the left knee of each
Bhairava and are collectively known as the 'Eight Mothers'
(astamatrika).
From the top left downward these are: Khroda
Bhairava with Vaishnavi (seated upon a garuda; Chanda Bhairava with
Kaumari (peacock); Ruru Bhairava with Rudrani (white bull); and Asitanga
Bhairava with Brahmani (white swan). And from the top right downward
they are: Unmata Bhairava with Varahi (black buffalo); Kapala Bhairava
with Indrani (white elephant); Bhisana Bhairava with Chamunda (human
corpse); and Sanghara Bhairava with Mahalakshmi (white lion). Across the
bottom of the painting, from left to right, are: six-armed red Kumara
with his consort Kaumari; the ten-armed red aspect of Vajravarahi; and
the ten-armed form of white Heramba Ganapati with his golden consort,
Lakshmi.