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46-682: In Buddhism, Mahākāla is regarded as a Dharmapāla ("Protector of the Dharma ") and a wrathful manifestation of a Buddha , while in Hinduism, Mahākāla is a fierce manifestation of the Hindu god Shiva and the consort of the goddess Mahākālī ; he most prominently appears in the Kalikula sect of Shaktism . Mahākāla appears as a protector deity in the various traditions of Vajrayana Buddhism, like Chinese Esoteric Buddhism , Shingon , and Tibetan Buddhism . He

92-594: A central figure in the minority Buddhist tradition of Azhaliism . In some texts, Mahākāla is described as a fearsome god, a "demon who steals the vital essence (of people)" and who feeds on flesh and blood, though he is also said to only devour those who committed sins against the Three Jewels of Buddhism. One story found in the Tang-era monk Yi Xing 's commentary on the Mahāvairocana Tantra portrays Mahākāla as

138-466: A dedicated dharmapāla which was originally comparable to a genius loci . The many forms of Mahakala are emanations of Avalokiteshvara . Kalarupa and Yamantaka are considered by practitioners to be emanations of Manjushri the Bodhisattva of Wisdom . Principal wisdom protector dharmapalas include: Other dharmapalas include: The main functions of a dharmapāla are said to be to avert

184-623: A descendant of Tangmi , or Chinese Esoteric Buddhism , dharmapālas such as Acala and Yamantaka are classified as Wisdom Kings . Other dharmapālas , notably Mahakala , belong to the Deva realm , the fourth and lowest class in the hierarchy of honorable beings. In Tibetan Buddhism, there are two other classes of defender, the lokapālas and Kshetrapala Papiya. Guan Yu and Hachiman are also known as defenders. Nandi (bull) Saiddhantika Non - Saiddhantika Nandi ( Sanskrit : नन्दि ), also known as Nandikeshvara or Nandideva ,

230-511: A fierce expression with protruding fangs. Although dharmapala have a terrifying appearance, they only act in a wrathful way for the benefit of sentient beings. The devotional worship of dharmapālas in the Tibetan tradition is traceable to early 8th-century. There are many different dharmapalas in Tibetan Buddhism . Each school has its own principle dharmapalas and most monasteries have

276-493: A manifestation of the buddha Vairocana who subjugated the ḍākinīs , a race of flesh-eating female demons, by swallowing them. Mahākāla released them on the condition that they no longer kill humans, decreeing that they could only eat the heart - believed to contain the vital essence of humans known as 'human yellow' ( 人黄 , pinyin : rénhuáng ) - of those who were near death. A tale found in Amoghavajra 's translation of

322-417: 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. At his side is his consort, symbolized as Kālī. Both Mahākāla and Kālī represent the ultimate destructive power of Brahman and they are not bounded by any rules or regulations. They have the power to dissolve even time and space into themselves, and exist as

368-573: A zoo-anthropomorphic form, with the head of bull and four hands, with antelope , axe, mace, and abhayamudra . In his mount form, Nandi is depicted as a seated bull in all Shiva temples, all over the world. This form has been found even in Southeast Asian countries including Cambodia . The white color of the bull symbolizes purity and justice. Symbolically, the seated Nandi faces the sanctum in Shiva temples and represents an individual jiva (soul) and

414-531: Is almost always depicted with a crown of five skulls, which represent the transmutation of the five kleśās (negative afflictions) into the five wisdoms . He also wears a garland consisting of fifty severed heads, the number fifty is in reference to the number of letters in the Sanskrit alphabet and is symbolic of the pure speech of Buddha. Mahākāla is also an important deity in East Asian Buddhism , where he

460-405: Is also used to refer specifically to Mahākāla. According to Shaktisamgama Tantra , the spouse of Mahākālī is extremely frightening. Mahākāla 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 ( śmaśāna ). He is adorned with eight human skulls , seated on five corpses, holds a trident ( triśūla ), a drum,

506-469: Is generally known as a protector figure. In Japanese Buddhism , Mahākāla transformed into a more friendly wealth and luck deity, known as Daikokuten . In a Mantrayana text translated during the Tang Dynasty , the mantra of Mahākāla appears as: Oṃ Mahākālāya svāhā. The same mantra also appears in a Tibetan text from Dunhuang . This mantra (or rather, its Sino-Japanese form: On Makakyaraya sowaka ),

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552-744: Is identified with the Tripur Tirth Kshetra in present-day Nandikeshwar Temple, in Jabalpur , Madhya Pradesh . According to Shaiva Siddhanta , Nandi is considered to be chief among the Siddhars , initiated by Parvati and Shiva . He is regarded to have passed on what he had learned to his eight disciples, namely, the Four Kumaras , Tirumular , Vyagrapada (also known as Pullipani), Patanjali , and Sivayoga Muni. They were sent out in eight different directions to spread his wisdom. His teachings are held by

598-651: Is known as Dàhēitiān and Daaih'hāktīn ( 大黑天 ) in Mandarin and Cantonese, Daeheukcheon (대흑천) in Korean, Đại Hắc Thiên in Vietnamese, and Daikokuten ( 大黒天 ) in Japanese. Mahākāla is a Sanskrit bahuvrihi of mahā "great" and kāla "time/death", which means "beyond time" or death. Tibetan : ནག་པོ་ཆེན་པོ། , THL : nak po chen po means "Great Black One". Tibetan : མགོན་པོ། , THL : gön po "Protector"

644-770: Is often thought to be the primary protector, but he is in fact the main protector of the Karmapas specifically. Four-Armed Mahakala is technically the primary protector. Six-Armed Mahakala ( Wylie : mgon po phyag drug pa ) is also a common dharmapala in the Kagyu school. Pañjaranātha Mahakala "Mahakala, Lord of the Tent", an emanation of Mañjuśrī , is a protector of the Sakya school. There are various Four-Armed Mahakalas (Skt. Chaturbhūjamahākāla , Wylie : mgon po phyag bzhi pa , "The Great Black Vajra Lord with Four Hands"), one popular depiction comes from

690-676: Is one of the most popular protector deities in Tibetan Buddhism and he is also sometimes used as a meditational deity ( yidam ) in tantric Buddhist yogas. He is depicted in a number of variations, each with distinctly different qualities and aspects. He is generally depicted as a wrathful deity. Mahākāla is commonly regarded as the emanation of different beings in different cases, such as Hevajra , Vajradhara , Amitabha , and Avalokiteshvara or Akshobhya Buddha. Different tantric cycles, like Guhyasamaja and Chakrasamvara , each contain Mahakala as an emanation of their central Buddha deity. Mahākāla

736-642: Is popular among Mongolian Gelugpas. Mahākāla is mentioned in many Chinese Buddhist texts , although iconographic depictions of him in China were rare during the Tang and Song periods. The deity's name was both transcribed into Chinese characters as 摩訶迦羅 ( pinyin : Móhējiāluó ; Middle Chinese ( Baxter ): mwa xa kæ la ) and translated as 大黑天 ( pinyin : Dàhēitiān ; lit. 'Great Black Deva ', with kāla being understood to mean 'black'; M. C. (Baxter): dɑ xok then ). He eventually became

782-542: Is said derive from transliteration of Mahākāla. Mahakala (known as Daikokuten 大黑天) enjoys an exalted position as a household deity in Japan , as he is one of the Seven Lucky Gods in Japanese folklore. The Japanese also use the symbol of Mahakala as a monogram. The traditional pilgrims climbing the holy Mount Ontake wear tenugui on white Japanese scarves with the Sanskrit seed syllable of Mahakala. In Japan, this deity

828-399: Is the bull vahana (mount) of the Hindu god Shiva . He is also the guardian deity of Kailash , the abode of Shiva. Almost all Shiva temples display stone images of a seated Nandi, generally facing the main shrine. The Sanskrit word nandi ( Sanskrit : नन्दि ) means happy, joy, and satisfaction, the properties of divine guardian of Shiva-Nandi. The application of the name Nandi to

874-654: Is the main mantra of this deity in Japanese Esoteric Buddhism. The two-armed "Black-Cloaked Mahakala" ( Wylie : mgon po ber nag chen ) is a protector of the Karma Kagyu school clad in the cloak of a māntrika "warlock". His imagery derives from terma of the Nyingma school and was adopted by the Karma Kagyu during the time of Karma Pakshi, 2nd Karmapa Lama . He is often depicted with his consort, Rangjung Gyalmo . He

920-604: Is undeniable. In China, the god was also associated with fertility and sexuality: during the Qixi Festival (a.k.a. the Double Seventh Festival) held on the 7th day of the 7th month of the Chinese calendar , married women traditionally bought dolls or figurines called 'Móhéluó' ( 魔合羅 ) or 'Móhóuluó' ( 摩睺羅 ) - the term probably deriving from 'Mahākāla' - in the hopes of giving birth to a child. Ritual texts also prescribe

966-459: Is used to refer to God . In the text Dasam Granth , which is attributed to Guru Gobind Singh , Mahakal is applied as a name of God to emphasize his supremacy over all beings. In the section titled Bachittar Natak , It states that in a previous incarnation the author was a sadhu meditating in the Himalayan foothills on Mahakal before being called to take birth as Guru Gobind Singh. Further verses

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1012-504: Is variously considered to be the god of wealth or of the household, particularly the kitchen. He is recognised by his wide face, smile, and a flat black hat, in stark contrast to the fierce imagery portrayed in Tibetan Buddhist art. He is often portrayed holding a golden mallet , otherwise known as a magic money mallet, and is seen seated on bales of rice , with mice nearby (mice signify plentiful food). In Sikhism Mahakal ( ਮਹਾਕਾਲ )

1058-505: The Humane King Sūtra relates how a heterodox (i.e. non-Buddhist) master instructed Prince Kalmāṣapāda (斑足王) to offer the heads of a thousand kings to Mahākāla, the "great black god of the graveyard" ( 塚間摩訶迦羅大黑天神 ), if he wished to ascend the throne of his kingdom. As time went by, Mahākāla also became seen as a guardian of Buddhist monasteries , especially its kitchens. The monk Yijing , who traveled to Srivijaya and India during

1104-660: The Mahayana and tantric traditions of Buddhism. The wrathfulness is intended to depict their willingness to defend and guard Buddhist followers from dangers and enemies. The Aṣṭagatyaḥ (the eight kinds of nonhuman beings) is one category of dharmapālas , which includes the Garuda , Deva , Naga , Yaksha , Gandharva , Asura , Kinnara , and Mahoraga . In Vajrayana iconography and thangka depictions, dharmapala are fearsome beings, often with many heads, many hands, or many feet. Dharmapala often have blue, black, or red skin, and

1150-602: The Nandinatha Sampradaya , a line of gurus who claim descent from Nandi. Many Puranic legends are available about Nandi. One describes his conflict with Ravana , the antagonist of the Ramayana . Nandi cursed Ravana, the rakshasa king of Lanka , that his kingdom would be burnt by a forest-dweller monkey ( vanara ), since he behaved in a restless manner, just like a monkey, while waiting to meet Shiva . Later, Hanuman burned Lanka when he went in search of Sita , who

1196-600: The dharmapālas are also known as the Defenders of the Justice (Dharma), or the Guardians of the Law . There are two kinds of dharmapala , Worldly Guardians ( lokapala ) and Wisdom Protectors ( jnanapala ). Only Wisdom Protectors are enlightened beings. A protector of Buddhist dharma is called a dharmapala . They are typically wrathful deities , depicted with terrifying iconography in

1242-610: The Arya linegae of Guhyasamaja . These are the primary protectors of the Karma Kagyu , Drikung Kagyu , Drukpa Lineage and the Nyingma of Tibetan Buddhism. A four-armed Mahakala is also found in the Nyingma school, although the primary protector of the Dzogchen (Skt: Mahasandhi ) teachings is Ekajati . Nyingshuk came from Khyungpo Nenjor, the founder of the Shangpa Kagyu , and spread to all

1288-462: The Void at the dissolution of the universe . They are responsible for the dissolution of the universe at the end of each kalpa . They are also responsible for annihilating great evils and great demons when other gods , devas , and even Trimurtis fail to do so. Mahākāla and Kālī annihilate men, women, children, animals, the world, and the entire universe without mercy because they are Kala or Time in

1334-451: The bull (Sanskrit: Vṛṣabha ) is a development of recent syncretism of different regional beliefs within Shaivism. The name Nandi was widely used instead for an anthropomorphic door-keeper of Kailash, rather than his mount in the oldest Shaivite texts in Sanskrit, Tamil, and other Indian languages. Siddhanta texts distinguish between Nandi and Vṛṣabha . Nandi is described as the son of

1380-529: The center of a flourishing cult after the 9th century in the kingdoms of Nanzhao and Dali in what is now the province of Yunnan , a region bordering Tibet , where his cult was also widespread. Due to Tibetan influence, his importance further increased during the Mongol -led Yuan dynasty , with his likeness being displayed in the imperial palace and in Buddhist temples inside and outside the capital . Mahakala remains

1426-480: The five assemblies from misfortune. Those who offer prayers to him have their desires fulfilled. At meal-times those who serve in the kitchen offer light and incense, and arrange all kinds of prepared food before the deity. (...) In China the image of that deity has often been found in the districts of Kiang-nan , though not in Huai-poh . Those who ask him (for a boon) find their wishes fulfilled. The efficacy of that deity

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1472-413: The form of a whale and started to trouble the people. Parvati's father declared that the man who would kill the whale would marry his daughter. Later, Shiva took the form of a fisherman and killed the whale, and received Parvati in her previous form. The Cham Hindus of Vietnam believe that when they die, Nandi takes their soul to the holy land of India from Vietnam. The Agamas describe Nandi in

1518-478: The ground. Being always wiped with oil its countenance is blackened, and the deity is called Mahākāla [莫訶哥羅, pinyin : Mòhēgēluō , M.C. (Baxter): mak xa ka la ] or the great black deity [大黑神, pinyin : Dàhēishén , M. C. (Baxter): dɑ xok zyin ]. The ancient tradition asserts that he belonged to the beings (in the heaven) of the great god (or Maheśvara ). He naturally loves the Three Jewels, and protects

1564-656: The inner and outer obstacles that prevent spiritual practitioners from attaining spiritual realizations, as well as to foster the necessary conditions for their practice. In Chinese Buddhism , the Twenty-Four Protective Deities or the Twenty-Four Devas ( Chinese : 二十四諸天; pinyin : Èrshísì Zhūtiān ) are a group of gods who are venerated as dharmapālas. In addition, Wisdom Kings such as Acala , Ucchusma , Mahamayuri , and Hayagriva are venerated as dharmapālas as well. In Japanese Shingon Buddhism ,

1610-478: The late 7th century, claimed that images of Mahākāla were to be found in the kitchens and porches of Indian Buddhist monasteries, before which offerings of food were made: There is likewise in great monasteries in India, at the side of a pillar in the kitchen, or before the porch, a figure of a deity carved in wood, two or three feet high, holding a golden bag, and seated on a small chair, with one foot hanging down towards

1656-458: The lineages ( Sakya , Nyingma , and Gelug ) and to the Kagyu lineages. There are also terma lineages of various forms of Six-Armed Mahakala. Nyinghsuk, though derived from the Shangpa, is not the major Shangpa one; it is in a dancing posture rather than upright, and is a very advanced Mahakala practice. The White Six-Armed Mahakala (Skt: Ṣadbhūjasītamahākāla ; Wylie : mgon po yid bzhin nor bu )

1702-473: The message that the jiva should always be focused on the Parameshvara . From the yogic perspective, Nandi is the mind dedicated to Shiva, the absolute. In other words, to understand and absorb light, the experience, and the wisdom is Nandi, who is the guru within. Nandi flag or Vrshabha flag, a flag with the emblem of seated bull is recognized as the flag of Shaivism, particularly among Tamil community all over

1748-528: The personified form, and Time is not bound by anything, and Time does not show mercy, nor does it wait for anything or anyone. In some parts of Odisha , Jharkhand , and Dooars (that is, in eastern Bengal ), wild elephants are worshiped as manifestations of Mahākāla. Mahākāla is typically depicted blue or black in colour. Just as all colours are absorbed and dissolved into black, all names and forms are said to melt into those of Mahākāla, symbolising his all-embracing, comprehensive nature. Black can also represent

1794-545: The praise Mahakal. Verse 434 of the Chaubis Avtar section states: I will not first honor Ganesha [Ganesa], nor do I ever meditate upon Krishna or Vishnu ( kisan bisan ). I have heard of but do not recognize them. I am absorbed in contemplation at His feet. (434) Mahakal is my protector... Dharmapala A dharmapāla is a type of wrathful god in Buddhism . The name means " dharma protector" in Sanskrit, and

1840-545: The request and guidance of S. Danapala, a Sri Lankan Shaiva personage, in the 1990s. The first Nandi flag was hoisted in 1998, at Colombo Hindu College at Ratmalana , Sri Lanka. Following years, it was declared as the official Shaiva flag in fourth International Saiva Siddhanta Conference, held in Zurich in 2008. Nowadays, Tamil Shaivas, especially in Sri Lanka , Canada , Australia , UK , South Africa , and Switzerland , hoist

1886-426: The sage Shilada. Shilada underwent severe penance to have a boon– a child with immortality and blessings of Shiva, and received Nandi as his son. Shiva Purana says that Nandi was born from a yajna performed by Shilada. Nandi grew up as an ardent devotee of Shiva and he performed severe penance to become his gate-keeper, as well as his mount, on the banks of river Narmada . According to regional legend , this site

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1932-504: The temple in Ujjain , which is mentioned more than once by Kālidāsa . The primary temple, 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 so is often represented outside the main doorway of early Hindu temples. Numerous traditions of Mahayana Buddhism rely on Mahākāla as a guardian deity ( Dharmapala , "dharma protector"). Mahākāla

1978-509: The total absence of colour, and again in this case it signifies the nature of Mahākāla as ultimate or absolute reality . This principle is known in Sanskrit as nirguna , beyond all quality and form, and it is typified by both interpretations. Mahakala is also known as Mahakala Bhairava in Hinduism, often depicted with four arms and three eyes, he is associated with time, creation, destruction, and power. Many temples in India and Nepal are dedicated solely for Mahakala Bhairava , for example at

2024-530: The world. Nandi was the emblem of historical Tamil Shaiva monarchs, such as Pallava dynasty and Jaffna Kingdom . Several campaigns to aware the Shaivas about their Nandi flag is carried out continuously during the Shivaratri session, particularly among Tamil community of Sri Lanka , Tamil Nadu , and diaspora . The Nandi flag used nowadays was designed by Ravindra Sastri of Madurai , Tamil Nadu , according to

2070-710: The worship of Mahākāla to women looking for a male partner or to pregnant women. In addition, he is also commonly invoked as a protective deity in certain mantras, such as the Śūraṅgama Mantra and the Mahamayuri-vidyarajñi-dharani contained in the Mahamayuri Vidyarajñi Sutra , which are popular in Chan Buddhism tradition. The name of the Moheluo doll, a popular toy during the Song and Yuan dynasties ,

2116-541: Was imprisoned by Ravana in the grove called the Ashoka Vatika . The ancient Tamil text Tiruvilaiyadal Puranam mentions another story in which Nandi is incarnated as a whale. According to this legend, Parvati lost her concentration while Shiva was explaining the meaning of the Vedas to her. Parvati, then incarnated as a fisher-woman to atone for her lack of concentration. To unite his master and his beloved-wife, Nandi took

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