TIBET, XVEME SIECLE

He can be recognised by the horse-head topping his hair-dress. Hayagriva (‘horse-neck’) is an important deity in Tibet, Mongolia and China as their large nomadic community adopted him as protector of horses. He is considered to be a defender of the Buddhist faith and is as well a tutelary deity. This rare esoteric example tramples in pratyalidhasana on some snakes, embraces his consort Vajravarahi and has a pair of wings behind. The base is engraved with an inscription giving his name.