This mandala features Hevajra in his form as Shastradhara, "he who wields weapons". The eight-faced, sixteen-armed, four-footed god embraces his consort, Nairatma ("she who is without ego"). All eight faces are wrathful, three on both sides of the central face, the eighth surmounting it, enveloped by flames. One pair of legs assumes a powerful stance in which the right leg is held taut, the left knee bent (alkjha); the other pair assumes a dancer's pose (ardhaparyarika). Crushed underneath are the four Maras, obstacles to enlightenment. Hevajra holds sixteen weapons, each indicating his multifaceted powers: the hook, trident, staff, cup, wheel, arrow, sword, vajra, lasso, gesture of argumentation (tarjanI mudra), jewel, skullcup, ceremonial staff, bow, lotus, and bell. 

The first circle of deities include: Gauri (E), Cauri (S), Vetali (W), Ghasmari (N), Pukkasi (NE), Sabari (SE), Candali (SW), Dombini (NW). The second circle includes four deities at the intermediate points of the compass: Vamsa (NE), Vina (SE), Mukunda (SW), Muraja (NW). The door guardians bear the heads of animals: Hayasya (horse-headed, E), Sukarasya (pig-headed, S), Svanasya (dog-headed, W), Simhasya (lion-headed, N). 

A lineage of historical teachers and deities associated with the teachings of this mandala appear in the top and bottom registers. They include Indian masters and Tibetans such as Ra Dorje Drakpa (rva rdo-rje grags-pa, b. 1016), whose translations of Indian Buddhist literature were praised in his own time as exemplary. (For a brief biography of Ra Dorje Drakpa see Roerich, The Blue Annals, pp. 374-76)