Tantric Art - Gods, Avatars and Buddha

The frightening Narsimha is one of the avatars, or incarnations of Vishnu. The demon Hiranyakashipu, who had a vendetta against Vishnu, won a favor from Brahma - to become invincible, incapable of being killed by man or beast. Once the boon was granted, Hiranyakashipu proceeded to conquer all the worlds and throw the gods out of heaven. But he hadn't counted on Vishnu transforming into the half-man, half-lion Narsimha. Narsimha leapt from a broken pillar at twilight, placed Hiranyakashipu on his lap and ripped his chest open. Hiranyakashipu was killed by a being that was neither man nor beast, but both. Narsimha reminds us that nothing is really ever black and white, and we must always be open to risk and the possibility that our most treasured beliefs could be wrong.

Bhairava is the most terrifying aspect of Shiva. He came to be when Shiva sliced off the nastiest of Brahma's five heads. The head was constantly destroying whatever Brahma was creating, so this was not a bad idea, but Shiva's murderous deed nevertheless turned him black with karma. Bhairava was formed from the poison and ugliness of this karma. He continues to consume all the sins he comes across, even if that means he has to tear apart the sinners. Need it be said that Bhairava urges us to face our fears and come to grips with our character defects?

Bhaishajyaguru is the Medcine Buddha, or the Buddha of healing. He is said to dispense spiritual medicine. Tibetan medicine believes that illness spring from three forms of emotional conflict - passion, aggression and ignorance. Bhaishajyaguru heals with his infinite knowledge and tradition claims that one who makes an image of this Buddha will "escape from the nine ways of death."