A black stone stele of Chaturbhuja Mahakala, Northeastern India, Pala period, 9th / 10th century

Acquired in Hong Kong, 1990s.

Christian Lequindre, Paris, October 2006.

Chaturbhuja Mahakala appears more cheerful than fierce in this unusual and petite stele depicting the enlightened protector deity. Instead of clutching a heart, he seems to be holding a coconut to his chest, a detail that aligns with the later Pala tradition, which can be seen in a far larger example in the Metropolitan Museum of Art (accession no. 1996.465). 

Originating from Northeastern India, the stele is associated with the birthplace of many tantric deities, which were directly inspired by Hindu predecessors such as the wrathful form of Shiva known as Bhairava. Its stone features a rough texture, simple ornamentation, and the figure's graceful posture, all characteristic of the early Pala period. Drawing inspiration from Pala art, Tibetans continued the tradition of sculpting the deity in stone as exhibited by an example of a six-armed standing Mahakala sold at Christie’s New York, 20th March 2019, lot 677.