MAHAKALA

Mahakala: The Great Black One

Mahakala, also referred to as the Great Black, God of Time, is Buddhism's ultimate 'Protector of Dharma.' He plays a significant role in Buddhism, Hinduism, and Sikhism. In Buddhism, he is the wrathful form of deity of compassion, Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva.

He is highly revered in all schools of Mongolian Buddhism. In contrast, he is considered the manifestation of Lord Shiva, the universe's creator and destroyer, and consort of Mahakali in Buddhism. He is a wrathful form that takes on a variety of faces and names from many cultures. He is acknowledged as one of the eight protecting deities. 

History of Mahakala

The Noble Avalokitesvara, the Lord of Great Compassion, attained Enlightenment throughout countless eons; his merit was then amassed. He obtained the unique Great Light empowerment after advancing through the bodhisattva levels. Then, as he joined the Buddha's Noble Sons group, he made the following commitment.

"Throughout the samsaric world realms in the limitless space of the ten directions. I will benefit beings. I must liberate all beings from samsara. Not until all beings are established on the level of Buddhahood, not even one left behind in samsara, will I myself enter Buddhahood. Only when all beings, without exception, have been guided to Buddhahood will it be well for me to achieve it. Until then, I will remain in samsara for the benefit of all beings. And to ensure it, may my body be shattered into a thousand pieces if I should ever break this vow."

Avalokitesvara moved to Potala Mountain and has stayed there ever since. He succeeded in developing and liberation countless sentient creatures through his endless emanations. And in this way, he lived for an infinite amount of kalpas.

Then, at one point, he considered the idea that he had now freed all beings from samsara. He peered with his omniscient vision and noticed that the domains of sentient beings had not grown or shrunk. The sentient beings around had increased in number and were now living in the Age of Darkness, making them much more challenging to manage.

Avalokiteshvara then broke the pledge he had made, declaring, "Now, I cannot help even one sentient person," and his body shattered into a thousand pieces.

The Noble World protector, who has attained Enlightenment and transcendence and is known as the Buddha Amitabha, manifested powerfully and spoke:

"son of my family, it is not well that you have thus broken your vow. Now you must replenish your broken vow and make an even greater resolution to benefit beings."

He, therefore, believed that he could control the depraved creatures of this Age of Darkness by taking on a wrathful appearance. Additionally, he thought that by taking on a wrathful appearance, he could shield other creatures from the Bardo after observing how many Dharma practitioners were stuck in those regions. Finally, he believed that because people in this Dark Age were poor and in need and filled with only experienced sorrow, he could alleviate their suffering by taking on a wrathful aspect and granting them what they needed merely by wishing for it.

With tremendous effort, his promise became even more than before. The Instantaneous Protector of Wisdom appeared as a dark blue HUNG letter from the great Noble Avalokiteshvara. Six different earthquake types caused the ground to tremble throughout the Pure Lands. The One of Immeasurable Light, the Conquering and Transcending One, and all the other Tathagatas of the ten directions cried out in unison:

Mahakala has served as the Buddha fields' Doctrine Protector ever since.

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