Panjaranata Mahakala is the protector for the Shri Hevajra cycle of Tantras. The iconography and rituals are found in the 18th chapter of the Vajra Panjara Tantra (canopy, or pavilion) a Sanskrit language text from India, and an exclusive 'explanatory tantra' to the Hevajra Tantra itself. It is from the name of this tantra that this specific form of Mahakala is known. 'Vajra Panjara' means the vajra enclosure, egg shaped, created from vajra scepters large and small - all sizes, completely surrounding a Tantric Buddhist mandala. The name of the Tantra is Vajra Panjara and the name of the form of Mahakala taught in this Tantra is also Vajra Panjara. The full name for the protector is Vajra Panjara Nata Mahakala.
---------------------------------------------------------------
本文来自郝文鑫先生（文殊金刚）的公众号：图像金刚乘教法史（或朋友圈）。
宝帐护法：金刚幕主玛哈嘎拉是密宗喜金刚的特别护法，其形象及仪轨源自于8世纪的“金刚幕续”（华盖或宝帐），源于印度的梵文转音，也是对喜金刚续的独家解说密续，玛哈嘎拉的独特形式正和这部独特的解说密续相符。“金刚幕”意指金刚围幕，卵形，由金刚权杖所创，或大或小，各种尺寸，都以密宗曼荼罗为中心，环绕四周。这部密续的名字叫金刚幕续，而这部密续所授之本尊玛哈嘎拉，则名为金刚幕怙主。全称是金刚幕怙主纳塔玛哈嘎拉（宝帐护法大黑天）。
更多相关阅读：
《玛哈嘎拉大黑天（1，2篇合集）》
《“宝帐怙主”还是“宝杖祜主”？》
《吉光集·金刚幕怙主的来源和形象》
