Nepalese Culture

Vol. XIII : 77-94, 2019

Central Department of NeHCA,
Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal

The sacred Mahakala in the Hindu and Buddhist texts

Dr. Poonam R L Rana

Abstract
Mahakala is the God of Time, Maya, Creation, Destruction and Power. He is
affiliated with Lord Shiva. His abode is the cremation grounds and has four arms and three
eyes, sitting on five corpse. He holds trident, drum, sword and hammer. He rubs ashes from
the cremation ground. He is surrounded by vultures and jackals. His consort is Kali. Both
together personify time and destructive powers. The paper deals with Sacred Mahakala
and it mentions legends, tales, myths in Hindus and Buddhist texts. It includes various
types, forms and iconographic features of Mahakalas. This research concludes that sacred
Mahakala is of great significance to both the Buddhist and the Hindus alike.

Key-words: Sacred Mahakala, Hindu texts, Buddhist texts.

Mahakala Newari Pauwa

Etymology of the name Mahakala
The word Mahakala is a Sanskrit word . Maha means ‘Great’ and Kala refers to
‘ Time or Death’ . Mahakala means “ Beyond time or Death”(Mukherjee, (1988). NY).
The Tibetan Buddhism calls ‘Mahakala’ NagpoChenpo’ meaning the ‘ Great Black One’ and
also ‘Ganpo’ which means ‘The Protector’.

The Iconographic features of Mahakala in Hindu text

In the ShaktisamgamaTantra.
The male spouse of Mahakali is the outwardly frightening Mahakala (Great
Time), whose meditatative image (dhyana), mantra, yantra and meditation . In the
Shaktisamgamatantra, the mantra of Mahakala is ‘Hum Hum Mahakalaprasidepraside Hrim
Hrim Svaha.’ The meaning of the mantra is that Kalika, is the Virat, the bija of the mantra is
Hum, the shakti is Hrim and the linchpin is Svaha.

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 Mahakala has four arms and three eyes, and is of the brilliance of 10,000,000 black
fires of dissolution, dwells in the midst of eight cremation grounds, is adorned with eight
skulls, seated on five corpses, holding a trident, a damaru, a sword and a kharpa in his hands.

With a beautiful body adorned with ashes from the cremation ground, on various
corpses he dallies with Kalika, fondling her and making love with her and fiercely kissing
her, surrounded by numbers of loudly shrieking vultures and jackals, adorned with a heap of
braided hair, in a deserted place.

Kalika is of the form of the void, ornamented with skulls, with a sweet and charming
face, in the midst of that five-fold love-yantra. Her yoni is the wheel of time (kalachakra).
(ShaktisamgamaTantra)

Description in Shaktisamgama Tantra

Shaktisamgama Tantra, the spouse of Kali is extremely frightening. Mahakala has
four arms, three eyes and is of the brilliance of 10 million black fires of dissolution, dwells in
the midst of eight cremation grounds. He is adorned with eight skulls, seated on five corpses,
holds a trident, a drum, a sword and a scythe in his hands.

He is adorned with ashes from the cremation ground and surrounded by numbers
of loudly shrieking vultures and jackals. Among his side is his consort Kali and they
both represent the flow of time. Both Mahakala and Kali/Mahakali represent the ultimate
destructive power of 'Brahman' and they are not bounded by any rules or regulations.

When Mahakala and Mahakali are together they have the power to dissolve even
time and space into themselves and exist as void at the dissolution of the universe. They are
responsible for the dissolution of the universe at the end of Kalpa. They are also responsible
for annihilating great evils and great daemons when other gods, Devas and even Trimurtis
fail to do so.

Mahakala and Kali annihilates men, women, children, animals, the world and the
entire universe without mercy because they are Kala or Time in the personified form and
Time is not bound by anything and Time does not show mercy, nor does it wait for anything
or anyone. (www.shivashakti.com Mahakala.htm)

Description in the Mahapasupat Sastra

“Kāla” refers to “Time” and also “death”. Usually kāla is used as a synonym for
mrityu (Yama) the god of death. Lord Ṣiva is the death of even death. We have a legendary
example of Bhakta Mārkandēya who was born with a limited lifespan but because he was
devoted to Mahādēva when Yama tried to seize his life forces, Mahādēva rescued him from
Yama and even killed that Yama who is paradoxically hailed by the name of ‘Kāla’.

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 Therefore Bhagawān Ṣiva is the kāla of kāla hence the name “Mahākāla”. However,
scriptures don’t use the term Mahakala always to refer to Shiva in his aspect of Time or
Death, but mostly the terms Kāla are used to describe about him alone and only selectively
Yama is described.

Mahākāla is beyond the three divisions of Time, and he is the creator of Time and
he is the withdrawer of Time as well. Time (kāla) is again of two types, viz. kṣhara and
akṣhara the former one is withdrawn during cosmic dissolution, the latter which is the
‘eternal-time’ is nothing but another synonym to call “braḥman”. Both kinds of Time are
Mahadeva alone. This second ‘time’ which is the supreme and imperishable time is Brahman
(Mahākāla’snirguṇa aspect)! (Shvetashvatara Upanishad)

Description in the Veda

Mahakāla is regarded as Bhagawan-self-originated, nothing generates it. It is
without origin. In contrast, kāla is always moving on (ghatisheel), it can never be stopped.
The name 'kāla' signifies both time and death. Kāla is responsible for the life and death of
each human being. Kāla is the destroyer of all existence, carrying all organisms towards
physical destruction. Qualities attached to time are responsible for all happiness and sorrow.
These concerns are the domain of Jyotish astrology. (Parashara, 1994)

Description in the Bhagavad Gita

In the Bhagavad Gita 11.32, Krishna takes on the form of kāla, the destroyer,
announcing to Arjuna that all the warriors on both sides will be killed, apart from the
Pandavas:

…sfnf]˜l:dnf]sIfos[Tk|j[4f]nf]sfG;dfxt'{d\Oxk|j[QM .Ú
This verse means: "Time (kāla) I am the Mahakala, the great destroyer of the worlds,
and I have come here to destroy all people.".( Bhagavad Gita 11.32 )

In the Book Hindu Temple VolII mentions of ‘Shiva as Mahakala shares the name
and features of ‘Kirtimukha (Kala) . The Linguyat Legend views that Siva, Sankara, Sarabbha,
he seized Narashima who had become very proud after having killed Hiranyakasyapa. Out
of Narashimas, severed head Shiva made Kirtimukha.

The legends in Puranas says Kirtimukha should be represented at the entrance of

Shiva temple and should be worshipped first on entering the temple.

The image of Shiva in his terrific or ugra form or aspect is termed as Aghora, Bhavava
and Mahakala are depicted with bulging eyes, inflated cheeks and tusks etc. (Kramrisch,
1976, N. Delhi)

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Description in the Mahabharata and Haribansa Purana
Lord Krishna didn’t kill Banasura, only defeated him and cut all of his 1000 arms.
It’s interesting what happened to Banasura. After the battle, Nandi suggested him to dance
for Shiva. So in this amputated state he did Tandava for Shiva! After that Lord Shiva made
him Mahakala. Mahakala is Banasura. It might have been a test for him, to see if he could
still perform in this condition. The description of the dance is wonderful! He danced his
eyebrows, produced different sounds, and all this while fully covered in blood.

In the Hindu religious text Mahakala is regarded as the ultimate form of Lord Shiva,
the destroyer of all elements. It is believed that there is nothing beyond him, no elements,
no dimensions not even time. That is why he is called ‘Maha’ meaning greater than time or
‘Kaal’ Kaal is also known as (time or death).

There is another meaning of Mahakala that emphasizes the destructive aspect of

time. Everything dies in time: “Time ripens the creatures, Time rots them. “Time” (kala)
is thus another name for Yama, the god of death. The name is associated with Shiva in his
destructive aspect as Mahakala and is extended to his consort, the goddess Kali, or Mahakali
(Mahabharata 1.1.188).

In Kalatantra Mahakala is the patriarchal "God of Time". However, originally

"he" was the Universal Great Mother, ruling "birth and death" (which is the foundation of
time). His female aspect have restored her original power; linguistically we have to call her
"Mahakali", which is the feminine version. Both deal with time and death.

Mahakala is referred to as bringer of death. In many parts of India and Nepal

followers of Sanatana Dharama they worship Mahakala to ward away untimely death. In the
region of Jharkhand, Odisha, and Northern Bengal they regard wild elephants as Mahakala
and worship them.

In the Hindu text, Mahakala is the name of Parama-Shiva or the ultimate form of
Godhead, as for example, at the temple in Ujjain, which is mentioned more than once by
Kālidāsa. The primary temple or place of worship for Mahakala is Ujjain. Mahakala is also
a name of one of Shiva's principal attendants (Sanskrit: Gaṇa), along with Nandi, Shiva's
mount and is often represented outside the main doorway of early Hindu temples. (www.
mhakala.com ).

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The Hindu Legends on Mahakala
In the Brahma Purana on ‘Shiva Mahakala’ there is this myth :
“Once all the creatures were created and their hunger satiated they began to reproduce.
Soon there were too many of them. Brahma could see that the cosmos was choked with too
much life. He wondered where he had made an error.

Saraswati pointed out to him that he had forgotten to create death. For life to go
on, he realized death was essential. He created Mrityu, He ordered her to go and kill all
creatures. Mrityu was horrified of the formidable task and fled.

Shiva found Mrityu crying in a desolate place. He consoled her and assured her that
all those who would die would be reborn. So she would be mother even though she would
kill.

Thus it came to be that Death became not the end of life but a gateway to a new life.
Mrityu took the form of Mahakali, devoured all life and Shiva became Mahakala, the lord
of time, the regenerator. Life became a wheel, rotated by Shiva an eternal cycle of births and
rebirths.

In the Puranas there is a tale related to the oldest Mahakala temple of Ujjain

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 In the city of Ujjain was called Avantika and was famous for its beauty and its status
as a devotional epicenter. It was also one of the primary cities where students went to study
holy scriptures. According to legend, there was a ruler of Ujjain called Chandrasena, who
was a pious devotee of Lord Shiva and worshiped him all the time. One day, a farmer's boy
named Shrikhar was walking on the grounds of the palace and heard the King chant the Lord's
name and rushed to the temple to start praying with him. However, the guards removed him
by force and sent him to the outskirts of the city near the river Kshipra. Rivals of Ujjain,
primarily King Ripudamana and King Singhaditya of the neighboring kingdoms decided
to attack the Kingdom and take over its treasures around this time. Hearing this, Shrikhar
started to pray and the news spread to a priest named Vridhi. He was shocked to hear this
and upon the urgent pleas of his sons, started to pray to Lord Shiva at the river Kshipra. The
Kings chose to attack and were successful; with the help of the powerful demon Dushan,
who was blessed by Lord Brahma to be invisible, they plundered the city and attacked all the
devotees of Lord Shiva.

Upon hearing the pleas of His helpless devotees, Lord Shiva appeared in his
Mahakala form and destroyed the enemies of King Chandrasena. Upon the request of his
devotees Shrikhar and Vridhi, Lord Shiva agreed to reside in the city and become the chief
deity of the Kingdom and take care of it against its enemies and to protect all his devotees.
From that day on, Lord Shiva resided in his light form as Mahakala in a Lingam that was
formed on its own from the powers of the Lord and his consort, Parvati. The Lord also
blessed his devotees and declared that people who worshipped him in this form would be
free from the fear of death and diseases. Also, they would be granted worldly treasures and
be under the protection of the Lord himself.

Another Tale
Bharthari was the elder son of King Gandharva-Sena, and received the kingdom of
Ujjain from the celestial god Indra and the King of Dhara.

When Bharthari was king of 'Ujjayani' (modern day Ujjain) in his state there lived a
Brahman who after years of austerities was given the fruit of immortality from the celestial
tree of Kalpavriksha. The Brahman presented the same to his monarch, Raja Bharthari, who
in turn, passed it on to his love, the beautiful, Pinglah Rani or AnangaSena Raja Bhartrhari's
youngest wife.

The queen, being in love with the Head police officer of the state, Mahipaala,
presented the fruit to him, who further passed it on to his beloved, Lakha, one of the maids
of honour. Eventually, Lakha being in love with the king presented the fruit back to the
king. Having completed the circle, the fruit revealed the downsides of infidelity to the king,

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he summoned the queen and ordered her beheading, and ate the fruit himself. After that he
abdicated the throne, and became a religious mendicant.

He later became a disciple of Pattinatthar (Swetharanyar or Pattinatthu Chettiyar

is poorvashram name of this saint from Poompuhar, Tamil Nadu) who first indulged in an
argument about samsari and sanyasi with king Bhartrhari. Later during the conversation
Pattinathar said that all women have 'dual mind' and it might be the true case even with
Parameswari. King conveyed this news to Rani Pingalah and she ordered Pattinathar to get
punished and to sit in 'kalumaram' (Tree, whose top portion would be sharpened like a pencil
and whole tree is fully coated with oil, a person who is punished to sit in the top will be
split into 2 pieces), they tried to kill Pattinathar, but kalumaram started burning and nothing
happened to Pattinathar, the king came to know this news and went directly to Pattinathar
and asked him to get ready to die the next day, but Pattinathar replied, " I'm ready right now,
to die".

The next day king came with tears in his eyes and released saint from jail because he
actually noticed queen Pingalah in love with horsemen that night, He threw away his empire,
wealth, even full coat dress and dressed in a simple kovanam (loin cloth), the king became a
disciple of Pattinatthar and got mukthi (salvation) in Kalahasthi temple. (Jagannathan, 2005,
Abhinav Publications)

The famous Mahakala temple in Kathmandu

The three-storied temple of Mahakallies West of Tundikhel in Kathmandu, and
houses a terrifying idol of the deity.
The idol is made of fine black stone and depicts the deity wearing a garland of
human skulls and standing on a dead body with his mouth open, while the nose and ears

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are covered with metal leaflets. The temple is said to have been established by the King
Gunakamadeva. The date, is under contradiction.

The Legend
The legend goes that the temple was founded by a Tantric Guvaju. One day while
he was rearing his goat at Tudhikhel hewitnessed the Mahakal flying across the sky towards
China . He is believed to have called upon the King Gunakamadeva of Kantipur, where upon
the two of them decided to build an idol so as to persuade Mahankal to stay here permanently.
However, Mahakal refused the request but agreed to visit the temple every Saturday.
Thus, thousands of people visit the temple on Saturdays as it is believed that the deity himself
is present there then.

Mahakala in the Buddhist text

In the Tibetan Text
"Mahakalanamo" in the Tibetan text it is said that Mahakala means literally "the great
black one" Namo means "hail" or "homage". Mahakala symbolizes the wrathful aspect of
the compassionate mind, transforming energies such as anger into a powerful compassionate
force.

Mahakala is a Dharmapala,a protector of religious law. He is always depicted

as an extremelyfierce and terrifying deity. His purpose is to help in overcoming negative
obstacles on the path to enlightenment. A compassionate wrathful deity, he appears evil, like
a demon, but functions more like a guard dog, or guardian angel. (Sergent) His aggression
is necessary, for it allows him to demolish obstacles and negativities one faces on the path
to enlightenment. Mahakala is depicted in a variety of different ways, sometimes with
six arms, other times with two. He is often brown skinned and associated in tank as with
PendenLhamo.

The Himalayan Resource

The designation of 'Protector Deity' is common within the Buddhist and Bon
religions of the Tibet and Himalayan regions. The term is one designation in a rather fluid
yet elaborate set of religious hierarchies in the various pantheons.
There are two types of Protector Deity, first worldly and second beyond worldly.
The latter is typically called wisdom or enlightened protector, meaning that they are beyond
samsara or worldly existence.
The Buddhist protector deity Mahakala - Mahakala is a wrathful form of the
primordial Buddha Vajradhara. In various other forms Mahakala can be an emanation of
Akshobhya Buddha or any number of other Buddhas.

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 The three main Anuttarayoga Tantra deities of Hevajra, Chakrasamvara and
Guhyasamaja each have a specific Mahakala associated with the particular tantra such as:
Panjara Mahakala - Panjarnata Tantra (Hevajra), Chaturmukha Mahakala - Guhyasamaja
Tantra and the Chaturbhuja Mahakala associated with the various Chakrasamvara Tantras.
Worldly protectors are not enlightened and not considered completely trustworthy.
There is a bias in Buddhism to treat all or almost all protectors coming from India to be
wisdom protectors. The exception here are the Four Guardian Kings and what are considered
the traditional Hindu Gods, often referred to in the Tantras as worldly gods, or protectors.
Numerous mountain gods and indigenous Tibetan and Himalayan deities have been
incorporated into the Tantric Buddhist pantheon as worldly deities with the function of a
protector. Their job is to safe-guard Buddhism in general, regions, specific monasteries or
religious traditions or even a specific text as in the Nyingma Tradition.

The Legend
Origin of Mahakala
The compassion of the red Buddha Amitabha manifested as Avalokiteshvara
who took a vow to forgo his own enlightenment until all the realms of samsara had been
emptied. This vow required a renewal of determination, and so with Amitabha's blessing,
Avalokiteshvara next assumed a form with eleven heads and a thousand arms. Still he had
been unable to benefit even a few beings.
Therefore after reflecting for one whole week, he determined that by assuming a
wrathful form he would be able “to subdue the degenerate beings of this Age of Darkness."
He also saw that even beings who practiced Dharma were unable to escape from
the Bardo realms (time between rebirths where beings may face great anxiety and terrifying
experiences) and he thought that in wrathful form he could also protect them in that way.
Lastly, he thought that the beings in this Dark Age were poor and needy, experiencing
only suffering after suffering, and that in wrathful form he could provide them an antidote
to that suffering so that by simply making the wish (for protection) their needs could be met.
These three motives made his determination even greater than before and so from
the heart of Noble Avalokiteshvara emerged a dark blue HUNG syllable that immediately
became the Instantaneous Protector of Wisdom, Mahakala.

The Different forms of Mahakala

There are different forms of Mahakala in the Buddhist texts there are 75 forms of
Mahakala in Tibetan Buddhism. Iconographically there may be fewer forms but textually
there can be an infinite number. Some are as follows:

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 ■■ ChaturbhujaVajraNataMahakala (Tibetan: gonpochagshi pa, dor je nag
pochenpo. English: The Great Black Vajra Lord with Four Hands) embracing the
consort. From the Tradition of AryaNagarjuna. In Tibetan it is known as ‘Chagshi
pa’ the chaturbhujaMahakala has four hands. (This painting is from Bhutan )

At the top center is the primordial Buddha Vajradhara. At the left are Vajrapani,
GaLotsawa and Padma Karpo (PemaKarpo). At the right are Nagarjuna, TsangpaGyare and
KunzangJalu.

Iconography
With one face and four hands, blue-black in colour, Mahakala glares ferociously
with three large round eyes, bared fangs and orange hair flowing upward. Has four hands.
The first pair of hands hold a fresh heart and the left a skullcup - held to the heart embracing
the consort. The second right hand holds upraised a sword and in the left a katvanga staff
with a trident point.

Ferocious in appearance the consort holds a skullcup in the left hand. Both are
adorned with a tiara of skulls, bone and jewel ornaments, garlands of heads and green silk
scarves. The Lord wears a tiger skin as a lower garment and the consort a girdle of finely
strung bone ornaments. In a relaxed posture they are seated above a multi-coloured lotus,
sun and red corpse seat surrounded by the flames of pristine awareness interspersed with the
emanations of black dogs, birds and Garudas.( Jeff Watt 9-2000 )

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 ■■ ShadbhujaMahakala. (Shangpa)

Photo exist at the old Tibetan university

Brought to Tibet by Khyungpo Naljor the founder of the Shangpa Kagyu School
(Outline Page), this form of Mahakala became popular in the Sakya, Kagyu and Jonang
traditions and was later adopted into the Gelugpa School, becoming the principal protector.
There are other six-armed forms Mahakala that are unrelated to this particular six-
armed Shadbhuja Mahakala.

Shadbhuja Mahakala arises from the Eight-Chapter Mahakala Tantra belonging to

the Kriya classification. The interlocutor or sponsor of the tantra was the deity Hayagriva.
Mahakala is a general class of protector deities in Tantric Buddhism and primarily associated
with the Anuttarayoga Tantras. In general Mahakala forms are wrathful emanations of
Vajradhara Buddha. From among the different forms of Mahakala only this Shadbhuja form
is an emanation of Avalokiteshvara.

Shadbhuja has a number of different forms recognizable by a variation in body

colour, the addition of a consort, hand attributes and retinue figures.

The most popular being the wealth deity White Mahakala practiced in all traditions
of Tibetan Buddhism. Variations in appearance are found in the different traditions principally
the leg postures of Mahakala, the Gelugpa preferring the more wrathful posture with the legs
apart. The Tsarpa lineage of Sakya prefers Shri Devi with four hands so as not to confuse her

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with Magzor Gyalmo the younger sister or servant that has two hands. The colours and hand
objects of the remaining retinue also vary according to individual traditions. (Eight-Chapter
MahakalaTantra)

Iconography of Shadbhuja Mahakala (Six armed)

"The Lord of Pristine Awareness has six hands and a body dark blue in colour. The
first two hold a curved knife and skullcup, the middle two a human skull mala and trident,
the lowest two a damaru drum and lasso.

ShadbhujaMahakala is adorned with a tiger skin, garland of heads, bones and snakes,
and small bells on the hands and feet. He has three eyes, bared fangs, eyebrows, beard and
hair flowing upward with Akshobhya as a crown. He is anointed with a sindhura drop on the
forehead. And behind him is a sandalwood tree, dwelling in the middle of a blazing mass of
fire." (JonangTaranatha, 1575-1634).

■■ Danda Mahakala (Tibetan: gonpobeng leg den nag posri me gyibu): a main wisdom
protector of the Nyingma School.

wrathful, black in colour, with one face and two hands he holds upraised in the right
a sandalwood staff and a skullcup held to the heart in the left. Wearing a long black cloak he
stands atop a corpse seat, sun disc and lotus blossom, surrounded by the flames of wisdom.

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 At the top center is the Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara accompanied by various
figures along with Padmasambhava. At the bottom left is the worldly protector Damchen
Garwa'iNagpo along with others in the middle and on the right.(Jeff Watt 9-2000 )

■■ Mahakala, Vajra Panjarnata (Tibetan: dor je gurgyigonpo. English: the Great

Black One, Lord of the Vajra Pavilion [or Canopy]): from the Vajra Panjara Tantra.

Fiercely wrathful, black in colour with one face, large round eyes, flaming yellow
hair and two hands he holds a curved knife in the right and a skullcup in the left - both held
to the heart. Resting across the forearms is a 'Gandhi' stick from which all other forms of
Mahakala emanate. Adorned with a crown of five dry skulls, bone ornaments and a necklace
of fifty freshly severed heads he wears a lower garment of tiger skin. Atop a corpse, circular
disc of the sun and multi-coloured lotus he stands surrounded by the flames of pristine
awareness.

Seated directly above is the primordial Buddha Vajradhara with one face and two
hands holding a vajra and bell crossed at the heart. At each side is a seated Indian Mahasiddha
holding a skullcup. At the left corner is Sahaja Hevajra in Heruka form, standing, with one
face and two hands holding skullcups crossed at the heart embracing the consort Vajra
Nairatmya. At the right is Vajrabhairava in Heruka form with one face and two hands holding
a curved knife and skullcup to the heart and riding atop a buffalo.

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 PanjaranathaMahakala arises from the Panjara (Pavilion, or canopy) Tantra for
which he is the protector and guardian. This Tantra belongs to the Hevajra Cycle of Tantras
and classified as Non-dual Anuttarayoga. The method of painting is 'nag thang,' black scroll -
gold outline on a black background with a lack of superfluous ornamentation and landscape.
( Jeff Watt 6-98 )
■■ Mahakala Bernagchen (the Black Cloak ) belongs to the class of Bhagavat
Mahakala. Bernagchen, Vajra Mahakala (English: the Great Black-Cloak Vajra
Mahakala), the personal protector of the Karmapas and the special protector of the
Karma Kagyu (Kamtsang) School of Tibetan Buddhism.

Fresco of the Black Cloak Mahakala (Sameye Monastery)

The Karmapas are a line of successive teachers acknowledged as the first lineage of
reincarnating lamas in Tibetan Buddhism. Mahakala is a classification of Buddhist protector
deity originating in India. This specific form of Mahakala known as Bernagchen arises from
the Nyingma 'Revealed Treasure' Tradition of Tibet and was later introduced into the Karma
Kagyu School by the 2nd Karmapa, Karma Pakshi (1206-1283).
The fiercely wrathful, Black Cloak Mahakala is black in colour, with one face, three
round bulbous eyes, a large gaping red mouth with bared white fangs. His yellow beard,
eyebrows and hair flow upward like flames. The right hand holds aloft a curved flaying knife
with a vajra handle. The left holds a white blood filled skullcup to the heart. Adorned with a
crown of five dry white skulls, earrings, bracelets and a garland of freshly severed heads, he
wears a great black cloak as his unique characteristic. He stands surrounded by black smoke
and red licks of the flames of pristine awareness fire. (Jeff Watt 4-2001)

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 ■■ Kakamukha (Raven-faced)

The Raven-faced Mahakala originated from the ChaturbhujaMahakala tradition of

GaLotsawa as a retinue figure in the surrounding mandala. Kakamukha is very easy to be
confused with the Black Garuda of the Rechungpa system.(Jeff Watt 3-2017)

■■ MahakalaVyaghraVahana

The Tiger Riding Mahakala 'Vyaghra Vahana' appearas to be of Nyingma origin and
belongs to the 'Legpa' class of Mahakala deities. So far, known examples in art are related to

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the Thartse Labrang of the Ngor Monastery of Sakya. The Ngor Ewam Monastery has four
principal monastic houses: Kangsar, Luding, Thartse and Pende. Each house has a special
protector deity. Historically the Kangsar Labrang had the ritual service for Dorje Shugden,
the Luding Labrang had the ritual service for Shri Devi Magzor Gyalmo, the Thartse Labrang
had the ritual service for Vyaghra Vahana Mahakala.( Jeff Watt 11-2014 )

■■ Kartaridhara Mahakala

Kartaridhara is wrathful in appearance, dark in colour, with one face and two hands.
He holds upraised in the right a curved knife (kartari). In the left he holds a skullcup to
the heart. Kartaridhara can be found in the NartangGyatsa publication. There are several
traditions of practice. The famous is that of JowoAtisha.

According to the Panjarnata system of Mahakala there are two forms of the deity
that have the same appearance as Kartaridhara. The first form is 'Copper Knife' Mahakala
associated with the Eight Deity practices of PanjarnataMahakala. The second is associated
with the Seventeen Deity Panjarnata Mandala. (Jeff Watt 8-2017 )

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 ■■ BrahmarupaMahakala (Tibetan: gonpo dram ze. English: the Mahakala who
appears in the form of a Brahman). Sanskrit: Brahmarupa Tibetan: Dram ze

Appearing as an Indian Brahman, dark brown in colour, he has one face and two
hands. With the right hand he holds a human shin-bone trumpet and in the left, upraised,
a human skull filled with blood. The hair, beard and eyebrows are white. Wearing bone
ornaments, intestines and a human skin he sits atop a human body.
At the edges of the pristine awareness wisdom fire are four dakinis, ghoulish in
appearance, dynamic in posture, Dombini, Chandali, Rakshasi and Singhali Devi - black,
red, yellow and green. They are naked with disheveled orange hair, each holding a curved
knife and a skullcup.

The Story
When the great Tibetan Translator Nyen Lotsawa received the Manjuvajra
Guhyasamaja (also known as the Jnanapada Lineage) empowerment from the dakini Risula,
she also bestowed the initiation of the Mahakala (Chaturmukha) in the special form according
to the Guhyasamaja Tantra.
At this time she gave him as a servant a dark skinned Brahman. When Nyen Lotsawa
and the Brahman reached Nepal the servant changed appearance and took on the form of
a monk, an appearance more conducive for travelling in Tibet. After the passing of Nyen
Lotsawa the monk remained with Lama Nam Ka'upa and then later with Sachen Kunga
Nyingpo.(. Jeff Watt 8-2005 )
The objective of Mahakala practice is to assist practitioners in removing any
challenges that impedes their spiritual practice, as well as to encourage exertion and devotion

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and at the same time purify obscuration and defilements. With earnest prayer and diligent
practices, blessings will be bestowed and obstacles will be pacified.
The Buddhist claim that Mahakala is the protector of Dharma and religious law,
while the Hindus claim him to be “the great destroyer” and consider that death is not the end
but it is the beginning of new-life.

Reference
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