The four-handed Mahākāla as the protector of knowledge. Distemper painting.

The four-handed Mahākāla wears the Dharmapāla (Defender of the Doctrine) ornaments: a skull crown on his head and a garland of skulls and a garland of snakes hanging from his waist. He is surrounded by a golden body-nimbus and an aureole of flames. In his upper right hand he is brandishing a sword, in his upper left hand he holds a khaṭvāṅga (ritual wand), in his original right hand he holds a karttṛkā (chopper) and in his left a skull bowl. The chopper and the skull bowl are attributes of Mahākāla. He is standing in the pratyalīḍhāsana (stepping to the right-position) on a lotus throne. Under the lotus are three tormas (gtor ma), or "offering cakes", from which issue two bulging eyes