Why is Mahakala associated with miracles and protection in Tibetan Buddhism? What do crows, three men in black, black dogs, black horses and black wolves have to do with Black Mahakala? How can wrathful Black Mahakala be considered none other than Chenrezig, Avalokiteshvara, the Lord of Compassion? In this short documentary, we answer these questions, and more, and end with a magnificent chanting of six-armed Mahakala's mantra by Yoko Dharma!
Crows, black dogs, wolves, horses and the "Men in Black" are recurring themes in many Tibetan Buddhist legends of Mahakala.
Mahakala is so well loved as a Protector that he is often simply called "The Great Black" and "The Lord."
Having a dream featuring a crow or black horse or black wolf is considered highly auspicious by many devout followers of Black Mahakala....
Full story of his miracles, followed by his Mantra chanted by the amazing Yoko Dharma!
Why is Mahakala associated with miracles and protection in Tibetan Buddhism? What do crows, three men in black, black dogs, black horses and black wolves have to do with Black Mahakala? How can wrathful Black Mahakala be considered none other than Chenrezig, Avalokiteshvara, the Lord of Compassion? In this short documentary, we answer these questions, and more, and end with a magnificent chanting of six-armed Mahakala's mantra by Yoko Dharma!
Crows, black dogs, wolves, horses and the "Men in Black" are recurring themes in many Tibetan Buddhist legends of Mahakala.
Mahakala is so well loved as a Protector that he is often simply called "The Great Black" and "The Lord."
Having a dream featuring a crow or black horse or black wolf is considered highly auspicious by many devout followers of Black Mahakala....
Full story of his miracles, followed by his Mantra chanted by the amazing Yoko Dharma!
Why is Mahakala associated with miracles and protection in Tibetan Buddhism? What do crows, three men in black, black dogs, black horses and black wolves have to do with Black Mahakala? How can wrathful Black Mahakala be considered none other than Chenrezig, Avalokiteshvara, the Lord of Compassion? In this short documentary, we answer these questions, and more, and end with a magnificent chanting of six-armed Mahakala's mantra by Yoko Dharma!
Crows, black dogs, wolves, horses and the "Men in Black" are recurring themes in many Tibetan Buddhist legends of Mahakala.
Mahakala is so well loved as a Protector that he is often simply called "The Great Black" and "The Lord."
Having a dream featuring a crow or black horse or black wolf is considered highly auspicious by many devout followers of Black Mahakala.
The significance of the crow and the three men in black, especially, is illustrated in the story of the founding of a famous monastery by Nga wang Drakpa in the year 1414.
At the time, he couldn't decide on the best site for the monastery. A huge crow swooped down on him, picked off his scarf, and flew away with it.
The monk hastened to follow the crow.
Eventually, the garment was found hanging from the branches of a Juniper tree.
Here it is relevant to observe that the crow is visualized in Tibetan Buddhism as an incarnation of Mahakala, whose name literally means the 'Great Black One.'
Taking this occurrence to be an auspicious omen, Ngawang decided to build the monastery around the tree, which would itself serve as a natural pillar of the prayer hall."
This was only the beginning of the tale of wonder. Later, when Ngawang faced demons and obstacles in constructing the monastery, again a crow appeared, with a prescribed practice from his teacher Lama Tsongkhapa on how to overcome the obstacles. Instantly, the obstacles stopped.
Then, came the three men in black. When Ngawang found it impossible to find skilled sculptors to make suitable statues to Mahakala, three men in black appeared and claimed to be sculptors from India. Two of the statues were completed, but the third was only half-finished by the time of the inauguration.
One of the Indian sculptors declared that he wished to perform a dance for opening celebration and proceeded to enthrall everyone with an exceptionally energetic performance wearing a swirling costume and a large wrathful mask, leaving the viewers in raptures.
Towards the conclusion of the dance, the audience was shocked when his physical form suddenly started to shrink until finally only the giant mask remained on the ground and there was no trace of the body of the dancer.
Taken aback by the bizarre turn of events, the monks rushed to the chamber where the last half-finished statue of Mahakala lay.
To their utter surprise, the statue was complete. It is said that the sculptor was none other than Black Mahakala himself.
We can view these stories as inspiring and symbolic myth, or was historical events. Ultimately, though, what matters is the power of the wrathful aspects of Enlightenment. Venerable Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche explains why Buddhas emanate in this wrathful form as Mahakala:
It is not because there is something ferocious about Mahakala or that he is aggressive.
Maha kala is none other than the inseparability of compassion and loving-kindness.
In the view of ultimate wisdom, there is no separation between the Awakened Mind of Buddha and that of Mahakala.
Maha kala is a manifestation of the awakened mind.
Appearing in very majestic form, splendid yet frightening, Maha kala stands in the midst of a mountain of flames to symbolize that no enemy can stand this appearance aspect...
No neurosis or negativity can tolerate this very majestic form; the frightening form symbolizes Maha kala as totally devoid of fear or hesitation in his spontaneous yet consistent work toward the benefit and liberation of all beings.
The psychology of wrathful compassion is explained in the wonderful origin legend of six-armed Mahakala, as described by Venerable Zasep Rinpoche. From the chapter on Six-Armed Mahakala, in his book The Source of All Buddhist Protectors, he describes how Noble Chen rezig, after working tirelessly to rescue sentient beings from the ocean of suffering in Samsara for aeons, realized that despite his compassionate activities, Samsara was still drowning in suffering.
"Then he realized that sentient beings had not become fewer, and due to the age of degeneration, there were lots of beings with incorrigible characters, savage and barbarous natures, hard to subdue. Chenrezig Avalokiteshvara felt very sad, saying to himself "I have done so much work and was hoping there would be spiritual beings, but there are so many savages. Now I feel I will not be able to liberate even one single person, therefore I will give up my previous vows." Soon after that, as he had broken his vows, his head split into a thousand pieces..."
Then, Mahavairochana blessed the thousand pieces of his head, and his face transformed into eleven-faced Chen rezig. When he became conscious again, he made the decision that in this age of degeneration, unsuitable and atrocious beings could not be subdued by peaceful means, they needed to be subdued by wrathful actions.
As soon as he had that thought, the dark blue Hung syllable appeared from his heart, and at the very same time, the wisdom six-armed Mahakala — the size of a mountain — arose to fulfil the wishes of sentient beings."
Aside from the wrathful aspect, symbolizing the power and energy of channeled wrath to overcome evil, attachments and negative forces, what do all the elaborate symbols of six-armed Mahakala represent. The rage and anger and giant mountain-sized stature symbolize a "show of force" to ferocious adversaries and evil enemies.
His midnight blue or black color represents all-encompassing Shunyata — and the space-like vastness that contains all phenomenon.
His five-skull crown stands for the transformation of the five poisons of anger, desire, ignorance, jealousy and pride — into the five wisdoms: wisdom of Dharmadatu, Mirror-like wisdom, wisdom of equality, wisdom of discernment, and all-accomplishing wisdom.
His six arms represent the attainment of the six perfections: generosity, patience, morality, diligence, meditation, and wisdom.
The rosary of skulls in one hand symbolizes continuous energetic and wrathful, compassionate activity on behalf of all sentient beings.
In another hand, the Damaru drum represents the sound of emptiness.
One hand holds a skullcup filled with blood symbolizing or the transformation of negativities and maras into the pristine nectar of wisdom.
The kartika or curved ritual knife stands for "cutting attachments" including the clinging to "ego."
The trident staff shows his power over the three worlds.
The lasso binds those who break their vows.
Why does he stand on an elephant-headed being? This is because elephants in Buddhism represent both pride and the rampaging mind, the out of control power of ego. This is not meant to symbolize the Enlightened Deity Ganesha, who is honored in Buddhism as an Enlightened protector and another emanation of Chen rezig.
He stands on a sundisc, to symbolize illumination from ignorance.
The lotus throne represents purity and the Lotus Buddha Family of Amitabha and Chen rezig.
The tiger skin represents the purification of desire.
The elephant skin stands for purification of pride.
Snakes represent the purification of anger.
How can we bring Six-Armed Mahakala's irresistable compassionate power into our lives? Once a month — on Dhama Protector Puja Day celebrated on the 29th of the lunar month — and more often if you can, you can honor Mahakala with a simple tea offering. For a feature on tea-offerings see the link at the information icon. Or, you can attend an in-person event, or internet-streamed Puja offered by various temples around the world.
You can also empower your daily practice by adding a Black Mahakala offering to your other practices, and, then reciting the mantra of Mahakala. At the end of this presentation, chant along with Yoko Dharma as she chants the powerful mantra of Six-Armed Mahakala.
When you recite the mantra, of course it is best to have empowerment or oral transmission of the mantra from a qualified teacher, but since the mantra is chanted at public pujas, it is generally acceptable to chant the mantra without empowerment as long as you remember to visualize Black Mahakala as an Enlightened Protector in front of you.
You do not self-generate as Black Mahakala. To visualize yourself in any form of Mahakala requires empowerment, permission and training from a qualified teacher.
Instead, you honor him by visualizing him in front of you and offering praises, pujas, offerings and mantras. Chant along or enjoy the powerful voice of the amazing Yoko Dharma as she offers the mantra of Six-Armed Mahakala with beautiful visualized images.
Mantra:
Om Vajra Mahakala Kshim Kshetra Vighan Vanayaka Hum Hum Phat (Pey)