This form of Mahakala is an emanation of the Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara. He is the guardian of the Shangpa Kagyu School of Tibetan Buddhism. He is portrayed in dark blue, with six arms and standing upright. The first two principal hands are holding a curved knife and a skull cup, the middle two holds a damaru drum and a lasso, while the uppermost two holds a human skull mala and a trident. He wears a tiger skin, garland of heads, bones and snakes, and small bells on the wrists and feet. In this painting he is surrounded by lineage figures, meditational deities and five retinue figures. At the top is Vajradhara flanked by Sukha Siddha (left), and Khyungpo Naljor (right). Samvara is on the top left while Niguma is on the top right. Similarly, Kachod Marmo is on the lower top left while Kachod Karmo is on the lower top right. In the foreground are: upper bottom left Takkiraja, right Shri Devi, lower bottom left Jinamitra, bottom center Kshetrapala and right Trakshe.