Kalarupa
(By Tsem Rinpoche)
Manjushri, the Buddha of Wisdom has emanated into countless emanations. He emanates in different forms and aspects according to the time, people and dispositions. He manifests as Yidams or meditational deities in all four classes of Tantras to suit the needs of practitioners. Manjushri also emanates in the form Protectors to protect the Buddhadharma and Dharma practitioners.
Kalarupa is one of the emanations of Manjushri, manifesting as a Dharma Protector or Dharmapala. Kalarupa (Sanskrit) or Choegyal (Tibetan) has by his side, his consort, Tsamundi, an emanation of the goddess Saraswati.
Kalarupa’s has many names like Yama Dharmaraja, Lord of Death, King of the Law or Black Karma Yama. This terrifying form of the Buddha of Wisdom, personifies enlightenment through the conquest of anger.
Although Kalarupa is found in all the Dharma Schools, the Gelugpa tradition holds Yama Dharmaraja in special regard as he is one of the three main Dharma protectors of the Gelugpa- along with the Six-Arm Mahakala and Vaishravana.
Three Forms of Kalarupa – outer, inner and secret. Click on image to enlarge or for more high resolution thangka downloads click here.
Dharma Protectors
A Dharma Protector is a wrathful deity who has pledged to defend the Dharma and support practitioners from inner and outer obstacles. Dharmapalas manifest with a fierce expression like protruding fangs, blood-shot eyes, holding skull-cops filled with blood, coloured skin, and carrying wrathful attributes like threatening weapons, a crown of skulls, standing on humans or other figures, which represent our negative afflictions.
There are two classes of Dharma Protectors: enlightened and unenlightened Dharma Protectors.
- Enlightened or extra-worldly Protectors are emanations of enlightened beings such as Dharmapala Setrap, six-armed Mahakala and Kalarupa. They are already out of the six realms of samsara. They willingly manifest in a worldly form to be closer to us and help us remove obstacles for our Dharma practice.
- Unenlightened Protectors are powerful beings, which were demons, spirits or even non-Buddhist deities. They have been subdued by high Lamas and bound by oath to protect Dharma institutions, Dharma practitioners and their work. We do not take refuge in or pray to unenlightened Protectors but we may propitiate them for help. Examples of unenlightened Protectors are Nechung and Namkar Barzin.
Manjushri’s Emanations as Various Dharma Protectors
Apart from Kalarupa, Manjushri has also emanated as other Dharma Protectors like four-faced Mahakala and Dorje Shugden.
- Kalarupa is regarded as the protector of the Yamantaka tantras and helps to subdue the afflictions that arise during our practice of the Yamantaka tantras. Kalarupa’s practice helps us also to destroy ignorance and to develop wisdom to overcome our anger and suffering.
- Four-Faced Mahakala is the protector of the Guhyasamaja and Chakrasamvara Tantras. Four-Faced Mahakala is also efficacious for the subjugation of the afflictive emotions like anger and depression.
- The most recent and therefore potent is Dorje Shugden. Dorje Shugden arose to be the special protector of Lama Tsongkhapa’s teachings on Emptiness and has been highly regarded by the highest Gelugpa lamas of the modern time.
How Kalarupa Arose as a Protector
At the time when Buddha Shakyamuni was absorbed in the process of generating the mind of Bodhicitta at Dorje Den (Bodhgaya), it was said that an army of three hundred and sixty million devils manifested to attack him in order to stop him. The Buddha in return meditated on the mandala of Yamantaka and the devils were stopped, subdued and placed onto the path of generating the Bodhicitta mind. It was then that the Buddha imparted the tantric treatise of Yamantaka to those present and entrusted it to Chagna Dorje or Vajrapani.
Buddha Shakyamuni then manifested himself in the form of the assemblage of deities of the wrathful Yamantaka mandala in all its component parts and gave instructions on the tantric treatise. He also caused the manifested emanations of Yamantaka to perform numerous miracle deeds of different kinds to suit the nature and inclination of each of the individual subjects to be subdued and he instructed them, ‘should any one deviate from my instructions, may all their heads and bodies burst.’ Subsequently, it was said that Buddha Shakyamuni in the form of Yamantaka got hold of his handstaff and stirred the ocean. This resulted in an enormous whirlwind, which caused the whole earth to shake.
Choegyal or Kalarupa manifested externally with the face of a buffalo and alongside with his consort Tsamundi, surrounded by four male and four female Shinjes or Yamas, as part of Yamantaka’s entourage. His internal aspect is manifested as solitary and buffalo-faced with his entourage. It is said that in this form, he went to Yama, seven levels below the earth. He trampled upon all the sixteen doorless iron citadels with sixteen feet and by doing so violently subdued its inhabitants. The chiefs of the Yamas individually offered their life-essence to him and were oath-bound. They pledged to protect the Buddha Dharma as long as this aeon endures. They also pledged to work for all deeds of Yamantaka to complete successfully.
Kalarupa, The Way to Enlightenment by the Conquest of Anger
Kalarupa’s terrifying form displays the ugliness that arises from inner obstacles like anger, fear, hatred, pride and jealousy. From these poisons, Kalarupa demonstrates our appearance to others when we use harsh speech and harsh actions or are under afflictive emotions like anger, jealousy or hatred.
The fierceness of his iconography teaches us to remind ourselves that all the causes and effects of anger arising from ignorance are dreadful and distorted.
Yet, his entire form sits on a lotus to signify that everything he does, no matter how wrathful his appearance is, is done out of deep compassion to help us out of our suffering. He is thus also the opponent of all that is foul and despicable.
As an emanation of Manjushri, Kalarupa’s practice ultimately helps us to destroy ignorance and to develop wisdom to overcome our anger and suffering. From any lineage, anyone who is dedicated to cut out his anger, can practise Kalarupa.
The Outer, Inner and Secret Form of Kalarupa
The outer form of Kalarupa
In his “outer” form, he is depicted with one face and two hands, the head is in the form of a buffalo, blue in colour with three round eyes, sharp horns, whose right hand brandishes a bone stick composed of a fused spine with a skull on top and a lasso in the left hand. He is adorned with a crown of skulls and bone ornaments, wearing a necklace of fifty freshly severed heads. He stands upon a blue-coloured bull with his right leg bent and the left extended. The bull is kneeling on top of a human figure. To the left side of Kalarupa stands frequently his black consort Tsamundi. Her dress is made of ox-skin and black silk. Her breasts are emaciated and her hair are hanging loosely in stripes. Her attributes are a trident and a skull-cup.
The inner form of Kalarupa
The “inner” form is also dark-blue, but here the ruler of the hells has the head of a fierce raksasa , and his hands are holding a chopper and a skull-cup. His feet step upon a corpse. Surrounding the ‘Inner’ Kalarupa are four attendant figures each in a different colour: white, yellow, red and dark blue. Each stands atop a buffalo having the same colour as the mounted figure.
The secret form of Kalarupa
The “secret” aspect is red in colour and he steps upon a bull of the same colour. His attributes are a jewel and a skull-cup.
Kalarupa as a Dharma Protector of the Lamrim
In 1373, Lama Tsongkhapa was advised by his teacher Dondrub Rinchen, to focus on the following Dharma Protectors: Vaisravana, Mahakala and Kalarupa. These three were the special protectors of Lama Tsongkhapa and are also the Dharma Protectors of the Lamrim. Within the Lamrim tradition, there are three scopes of practice:
- The initial scope practitioner is someone who practices for a better future life.
Kalarupa is the Dharma Protector of the small or initial scope. - A middle scope practitioner practices for individual liberation.
Vaishravana also known as Dzambala is the Dharma Protector of the Medium or middle Scope of the Lamrim. - A great scope practitioner practices to attain enlightenment in order to lead other beings to liberation and happiness.
6 Armed Mahakala, an emanation of Avalokiteshvara, Buddha of Compassion is the Dharma Protector of the Great Scope of the Lamrim.
Kalarupa as a Dharma Protector for the Yamantaka Tantras
Yamantaka, is a wrathful, buffalo-headed meditational deity or Yidam of the Highest Yoga Tantra. Yamantaka, also called Vajrabhairava, is one of the principal three meditational deities of the Gelug school.
Yamantaka is specifically the type of practice that is done to overcome death and extend one’s life. Yamantaka: Yama is “death”, the “Lord of Death”, and antaka, “the one who puts an end to”, and so Yamantaka means “the one who puts an end to the Lord of Death”.
Yamantaka is in the form of an extremely strong and forceful figure and has Manjushri in his heart. Other Dharmapalas of the Yamantaka Tantra along with Kalarupa are 6-Arm Mahakala, Palden Lhamo and Vaishravana.
Kalarupa Puja
Kalarupa puja is highly recommended by Lord Tsongkhapa himself. There are many benefits of performing Kalarupa puja once a week or at least regularly. These include:
- Will push the Lord of Death, Yama back and extend life. Kalarupa is a direct opponent of Yama like untimely or accidental death.
- Increases wisdom by creating the causes to eliminate ego. Kalarupa is Manjushri. Our real enemy is our ego.
- Helps with overcoming many types of magic, spells, negative words, incantations and bad astrological dates.
- Eliminate obstacles for big projects to embark upon or retreats or big works. Great for dharma centres success.
- When a prayer becomes “stagnant” or seems to not work, Kalarupa puja “rushes” things ahead.
- Increases study and practice of Dharma.
- Increases one’s interest in emptiness and teachings on emptiness.
- Eliminate obstacles to realisation of emptiness.
- Blessing the individual to have interest in the profound teachings of emptiness which cuts samsara at the roots.
- Will expedite tantric practice, rituals, rites and attainments.
- Mind experiences more lightness, less confusion and clarity.
- Can help assist the mind to make good decisions not based on anger or faulty emotions.
- Blesses the family, your team, your group, your company and goals.
- You create causes for a sharp mind.
- Wonderful to bless a new home, new office, new land. It is also good to bless your existing dwellings. Creates more harmony.
- Protects Yamantaka practitioners from obstacles arising from their own karma.
- Assists by creating conducive conditions for the practice of Yamantaka in order to gain high realisations and ultimately enlightenment.
Kalarupa pujas are done in the three great monasteries of Gaden, Sera and Drepung daily for 600 years now. Puja means to clear, to clear obstacles and to clear one’s mind. It is great to have this done for someone’s birthday, anniversary or any special day to bless them on their special day.
You can do this puja yourself, join a group to do the puja, or sponsor the puja to be done for you. This puja can be done in one’s office, home, or from a distance.
Druchuma Puja- Ritual Words of the Sixty-four
This special puja called Druchuma, or The Sixty-Four Part Torma Offering to Kalarupa was composed by Kyabje Pabongkha Dechen Nyingpo.
Click here to download the puja text (PDF).
Note: The recitation on page 23 of the puja text has to be recited a specific number of times. If 4 people are doing the puja together, each person will have to recite 4 times from the top to the bottom of the page. If only 2 persons is reciting the text, it has to be done 8 times.
If you’re interested in ordering a Kalarupa Puja, you can do so online through vajrasecrets.com or through Kechara Puja House +603-78033908.
Torma Offering
Offering tormas is a way to gain attainments according to Kyabje Zong Rinpoche. The shape, color and design of the tormas correspond to the winds/ channels and psychic points in our body. So when we offer tormas up, we are offering the attainments or the wish for attainments within those channels/ psychic points. In this way, the making and offering tormas is a very important and part of the practice.
Making tormas and offerings tormas are done for the Kalarupa Puja. There are 2 sets of offering to be prepared:
- one set is to be placed on the altar
- one set is to be sent out during the puja
Tormas on the left (A) is to be sent out during puja; the tormas on the right (B) is to be placed on the altar
This is a video of a session of preparing the torma offerings for Kalarupa Puja.
Prayers to Kalarupa
Praise To The Dharma King, Kalarupa
HUM
Kalarupa, splendid, fierce in form!
A string of human heads, mouths dripping blood
Hangs from your shoulders; destroyer of the pride
Of irresistible Mara-hosts, I praise you!
With vajra song, making great uproar,
I offer a torma, complete in all its parts
Tea and liquor offerings, foes’ minced flesh
And fish, adorned with oceans of blood and fat.
The worst of enemies who harms the
Doctrine Of the Tathagatha, you smash to dust!
From now on, you destroy for us the yogins,
The fears of sickness age and death – I praise you!
Showing your fangs, as dazzling white as Venus,
Your eyes, destroying enemies, dart like lightning,
As with your pores blazing like the great fire
At time’s end you burn all demon-hosts – I praise you!
Lord of all Mamos, such as Chamundi
Possessed of effulgent splendour like sunlight
When you shout “DZA” to accomplish Divine Activities
You conquer fox-like hindering demons – I praise you!
All demons keep you on their heads like a hat
Your angry, buffalo-demon’s mouth gapes open
And shakes the great earth, screaming, rattling & buzzing
Wielder of skull-club born from YA, I praise you!
Attendants mounted on buffaloes sharp of horns
And hoof, others on dusty whirlwinds, such
As Shakali and Shinje-Bebma – a retinue
Of demons of the three worlds – surround you, I praise you!
O splendid-virtued, forcefully laughing, “HA HA”!
Accept the offerings, ARGHAM and the rest,
And incessantly carry out the promise
You swore before the glorious Yamantaka!
Kalarupa’s Mantra:
His spiritual energy in the form of sound helps to transform the mind:
OM KALARUPA HUNG PHET
Sources:
- Oracles and Demons of Tibet- René De Nebesky-Wojkowitz
- Tsongkhapa A simple Guide to a Powerful Practice- H.E. the 25th Tsem Rinpoche
- Faces of Enlightenment- H.E. the 25th Tsem Rinpoche
- www.yamantaka.org
- www.chinabuddhismencyclopedia.com
- https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/buddhas-dharma/dharma-protectors-of-tibetan-buddhism.html
- The Guardian Deities of Tibet by Ladrang Kalsang
For more interesting information:
- All About Manjushri / 关于文殊菩萨
- Powerful Pujas
- Tiny advice on tormas
- Learning Pujas from Gen-la
- Dharma Protectors of Tibetan Buddhism
Please support us so that we can continue to bring you more Dharma:
If you are in the United States, please note that your offerings and contributions are tax deductible. ~ the tsemrinpoche.com blog team
The forms of inner ,outer and secret looks like representing the Ida -Pingala and Sushumna nadis , there is a Sun -Moon and the unity of Shiva -Shakti image .Clearly Kundalini Yoga , looks like the whole tradition taken from Kapalika Sadhana and reshaped for Buddhist needs.This is Tantric Yoga -Vamachara knowledge ,it should be thought in its original way and be reconstructed from the scripts where the whole teaching was altered to a different message! So strange ! The so call outer form is the form representing the enlightened state where Shiva/Bhairava unites with Shakti/Chamunda .The Khatvanga and Bhairava danda or Vajra Stuff is clearly taken from Kapalika symbolism.Not mentioning the skull cups everywhere.Reading the VajraBhairava Tantra you can find the hidden elements of a Pashupata Shaiva tradition!
Wonderful blog written on the practice of Kalarupa for us to understand better. As an emanation of Manjushri, Kalarupa’s practice helps us to destroy ignorance and to develop wisdom overcoming our anger and suffering . Awesome Kalarupa manifested in multiple forms to help sentient beings who personifies enlightenment by the conquest of anger. Kalarupa also regard as one of the three main Dharma protectors of the Gelugpa is extremely fierce and ugly, and tames all kinds of spiritual ugliness. The fierceness of his iconography teaches us to remind ourselves that all the causes and effects of anger arising from ignorance are dreadful and distorted.
Thank you Rinpoche and Pastor Antionette for this detailed sharing,
I would like to ask respectfully if anyone knows of an English translation of the Druchuma puja? The wonderful PDF presented here is in the Tibetan original but that is hard to recite with devotion for those of us who cannot speak or understand Tibetan. I am a sincere practitioner within the Gelug tradition and would appreciate any advice on where to access an English translation. Many thanks
Yes. Dechen Ling Press has an English translation by the Lotsawa David Gonsalez Losang Tsering.
https://dechenlingpress.org/product/drug-chuma-the-sixty-four-part-torma-offering-to-kalarupa/
Kalarupa is one a wrathful emanation of Wisdom Buddha Manjushri, manifesting as a Dharma Protector. Kalarupa displaying as the direct spiritual protector force for all ugliness arising from the true inner spiritual obstacles of fear, hatred, pride and jealousy . As an emanation of Manjushri, Kalarupa’s practice ultimately helps us to destroy ignorance and develop wisdom to overcome our anger and suffering. Interesting read of the story how Kalarupa arose as a Protector. Beautiful pictures of Kalarupa in many forms.
Thank you Rinpoche for this sharing, even though I still have more to understand.
Amazing how Manjushri, the Buddha of Wisdom has manifests in so many forms and only to benefit us. Kalarupa is one of them manifesting as a Dharma Protector of the Gelugpa. Kalarupa emanates in the form Dharma Protectors to protect the Buddhadharma and Dharma practitioners. Its main benefits are protection from black magic, dispelling of harmful energies and spirits, development of wisdom and overcoming anger, fear, pride and jealousy.
Thank you Rinpoche for this details and clear sharing for us to understand better.
I like to practice puja in Tibetan letter is that possible?
Dear Pastor Antoinette:
Thank you for writing this wonderful article on Kalarupa. It seems that from the article, Kalarupa puja is extremely effective in helping us in removing obstacles and clearance of the path to us to practice Dharma and also to extend the clearance of obstacles in our samasaric life. This is undeniable based on the extensive testimonials and all the teachings given and handed down through our Gelug lineage.
I have a question – how does one practitioner choose to conduct which puja to help remove obstacles -n especially in relation to career / financial obstacles? Does one choose Kalarupa or, for example, Dorje Shugden puja?
Personally, I have sponsored and ordered many DS pujas since our Guru introduced DS back in year 2015. Would one choose the puja based on one’s affinity with the Dharmapala? Of course all of these Dharmapalas are Enlightened, and since they are also emanations of Manjushri, therefore, selecting either one will be the same.
Kindly advise.
Warmest regards
Lum Kok Luen
thank you for this beautiful article. can i still recite the praises and mantra of kalarupa if i am uninitiated?
Hi Ray, thank you for your comment! Yes, you can do and recite the mantra and practice of Kalarupa without initiation. The text that you can use is provided in the blog post above 🙂
thank you pastor 🙂 i will recite it daily along with lama tsongkhapa guru yoga
It’s interesting that Kalarupa has the outer, inner and secret aspects as well. As the prayer is very short within the pujas, it has not quite impressed me that it is a full practice on its own and that it is quite a significant practice at that.
This practice is beneficial for the destroying of ignorance and to develop wisdom to overcome our anger and suffering. His terrifying form shows us the ugliness that arises from inner obstacles like anger, fear, hatred, pride and jealousy which is reflected in our use of harsh speech and harsh actions. His fierce demeanor serves to remind us of all that the causes and effects of anger arising from ignorance are dreadful and distorted.
Thank you for this detailed sharing, and giving a better understanding of Kalarupa.
Kalarupa puja has multitudes of benefits and is highly protective. One of the Benefits of Kalarupa practice is that whenever anything of ours become stagnant Kalarupa can speed our ways towards accomplishing, how powerful and amazing this practice can be.
Wrathful Kalarupa is also able to counter negative situations and spiritual/paranormal problems that people can face.
Kalarupa is an undeniably potent dharma protector and very effective for anyone who is doing dharma practice, learning the dharma. It is also very powerful and a potent antidote in preventing us from making bad decisions based on anger.
All ugliness, especially of anger, arising from thoughts of bad feeling in hatred and pride, are the likely harmful virus infecting and creating more damage in our daily life and others too! This intensed ugliness is said to serve as a teaching to remind us of the cause and effect of anger, arising from ignorance, which is ugly, distorted and even frightening, as signified by Kalarupa. As an emanation of Mahjushri, Kalarupa, a terrifying form of the Buddha of Wisdom, helps us to destroy this ignorance and to develop wisdom to overcome suffering. One who is dedicated to cutting out this anger, naturing compassion and wisdom can practise Kalarupa! This article also shows that Kalarupa serves as one of the three special protectors of Lamrin on a small or initial scope. Kalarupa is often known as the special protector of Yamantaka practitioners by protecting against demons and to subdue anger that may arise at Yamantaka’s retreats. It is therefore fully useful to have a Kalarupa in your home to preventing and dispelling any bad harmful negatities or black magic arising! Thank you so much Pastor Antionette for your sharing.
Thank you Pastor Antoinette for this article.
Kalarupa Puja is one of the pujas that we do regularly here in Kechara. In my personal experience, I find Kalarupa Puja very effective in removing obstacles. How fortunate we are to learn and able to practice this puja that are done since hundreds of years ago in the three great monasteries of Gaden, Sera, and Drepung. Great that many get to know about the puja and that they can order this puja in times of need.
Thank you for also sharing the various Dharma Protectors who are emenations of Lord Manjushri who always emanates in different forms and aspects to suit the time, people and dispoitions. I am sure not many people would know that Kalarupa, Four-Faced Mahakala, and Dorje Shugden are all emanation of Manjushri.
Thank you Pastor Antoinette for your sharing. The kalarupa practice can certainly bring much benefit. What I think is most beneficial is the development of clarity of mind and the development of interest in the Dharma.
In this degenerate age, distractions are so many. They are also so tempting and enticing. Many Dharma practitioners can be easily swayed regardless of how much we see the value of Dharma. This is due to the strong imprints of our old habituations that has bound us to samsara all these lives.
However, instead of giving up and feel defeated, we can now practice Kalarupa to keep us on the good path.
This is what I love about Vajrayana. There is realistic approach to Dharma as it recognized the current status of practitioners minds and works with this state to slowly but surely develop progress with time and practice. Vajrayana does not set prerequisite conditions to qualify or disqualify practitioners, especially for beginners. Of course the journey will get more challenging if we want attainments and enlightenment. However, by the time we generate such motivation, we would have witnessed enough of Dharma and seen samsara with greater clarity and neutrality to literally want to get the hell out of here.
Thank you again and may Kalarupa bless many from outer enemies as well as inner enemies.
Praise Of The Protector Dharmaraja
by Je Tsongkhapa
Homage to blessed Vajra Bhairava!
One leg outstretched, the other drawn in,
the merest tap sending shudders through
mighty Meru and the four mandalas of the earth,
rapacious and wide-open buffalo mouth,
its thundering laugh filling the three worlds,
Manjushri, father of buddhas in wrathful form
as ferocious Yamantaka taming the dissolute.
Those prostrating devotedly before him
should offer praise to Dharmaraja.
Now is the time to beware of hindrance.
An incessant thunder of sound,
like mountains splitting apart, like the sea in tumult,
raging tongues of fire enveloped in black smoke,
like a million lightening flashes within a rain cloud,
standing amid unbearable heat encircled by five colors,
upon a black demon prostrate on a mandala circle of the sun,
atop a sacred triangle black as a bilionfold darkness,
brimming with a rolling ocean of blood and fat,
Yamaraja, king of the Lords of Death,
jet-black body, short and not slender,
stretched to the right with a gait to shake the earth,
yellowish spiky hair nestling five dried skulls
ornamenting the wrathful vajra upon your crown,
fresh and bloody human heads garlanding your neck,
three bulging eyes roving wrathfully,
a fanged snarl about your open mouth,
the vaporous breath of a venomous snake,
a blazing curved knife in your right hand
brandished at the brains of Mara’s armies,
in the left a blood-filled skull to enjoy,
a tiger skin draped about your waist-
ferocious protector, do not be distracted,
quickly bring to mind promises make to Yamantaka
and carry out this yogi’s commands.
On either side, in front and behind,
standing on sharp-horned, sharp-hoofed fierce buffaloes,
four yama demons – white, yellow, red, and black-
each horribly wrathful with buffalo face,
one leg stretched, the other drawn in,
striking an extremely arrogant pose,
all garbed in graveyard array,
open-minded, eyeballs wholly red,
hailed as vajra thunderbolts
in their destruction of hindrance and obstruction.
You too, discharge your deeds,
peaceful, wrathful, powerful, or vast.
To conclude;
so long as I have not yet walked
for living beings as vast as space
upon the glorious land of Manjushri,
famed on earth, severally praised by every Buddha,
then for so long, I ask you Dharmaraja and entourage,
who gladly and devotedly execute Yamantaka’s will,
destroy the consort of darkness and his legions
who strive to steal the jewel that is the true path!
Thank you to Pastor Antoinette for this wonderful short, yet informative write up on the practice of Kalarupa. Manifesting over and over in multiple forms to help sentient beings, we can see that Manjushri embodies enlightened compassion, as do all the Buddhas.
Here we see a form of Manjushri who is very wrathful in nature yet compassionate as well. The practice of Kalarupa is very powerful and I have found that the puja, performed correctly, really has a lot of benefit for modern day practitioners.
I remember clearly, when i first began at Kechara House, i was invited to participate in the weekly Kalarupa pujas engaged in by the Dharma staff their. It was a surreal, as i did not actually have much experience of participating in pujas with full ritual before. Engaging in this puja has very powerful results in both our secular and spiritual lives.
Dear Pastor Niral,
I can confirm that Kalarupa has powerful results and we are most lucky to be connected to Kalarupa, Manjushri and all His emanations.
Thank you for your kind comment.
Pastor Antoinette
Dear Pastor Antoinette,
Thank you for your extensive information on Kalarupa and his puja here. It is very informative and easy to understand. I had always been fascinated by his puja whenever i came across it in Puja House. I had heard many amazing stories about how it helped people with their problems especially those who are engaged in dharma works.
From this article, I have learnt:
1. Kalarupa is the protector of small scope Lamrim.
2. He is the emanation of Manjushri, hence he can help us to gain wisdom and reduce our ego.
3. His blessings is very good for those who are in dharma work or studying dharma. It can blesses their mind and remove inner obstacles to do dharma work.
Humbly,
Chris
Dear Chris,
Thank you for your kind comment and interest in Kalarupa. This powerful practice helps us also when we are doing retreat. Before any retreat, we do a Kalarupa Puja to clear obstacles and have a successful retreat.
Humbly,
Pastor Antoinette
Thank you for this information filled article! I knew Kalarupa’s practice have a rich meaning behind the practice that goes all the way back to Buddha Shakyamuni’s era, but never could find much information about the practice online. Thank you very much for putting much effort to compile them here for people like me to read and gain knowledge.
The images in the article is magnificent, especially the nathang is so beautiful.
Dear Sarah,
Thank you for your kind comment. We have also added the Puja text for Druchuma! I hope many will practice and benefit from this article.
Pastor Antoinette
I have always been fascinated by Kalarupa because He is frequently mentioned in Rinpoche’s teaching. This article so explicitly outline who is Kalarupa, His status within the ranks of Dharmapala, how He arose and most importantly His relations within the Gelug lineage.
1. Kalarupa [Choegyal in Tibetan] is one of the emanations of Manjushri. Besides Kalarupa, Manjushri has also emanated as other Dharma Protectors like four-faced Mahakala and Dorje Shugden. Kalarupa has many names like Yama Dharmaraja, Lord of Death, King of the Law or Black Karma Yama.
2. Kalarupa arose to protect the Yamantaka tantras and helps to subdue the afflictions that arise during our practice of the Yamantaka tantras. Four-Faced Mahakala is the protector of the Guhyasamaja and Chakrasamvara Tantras. While Dorje Shugden arose to be the special protector of Lama Tsongkhapa’s teachings on Emptiness.
3. Kalarupa manifested with the face of a buffalo and alongside with his consort Tsamundi, surrounded by four male and four female Shinjes or Yamas, as part of Yamantaka’s entourage during the time when Buddha Shakyamuni manifested as Yamataka to counter the attacked of three hundred and sixty million devils who tried to stop Buddha.
4. There are 3 forms of Kalarupa; i.e. Outer, Inner and Secret. Each has specific iconography that differentiate from another form.
5. In 1373, Lama Tsongkhapa was advised by his teacher Dondrub Rinchen, to focus on the following Dharma Protectors: Vaisravana, Mahakala and Kalarupa. Kalarupa being the protector of the Small scope of the Lam Rim; practices for a better future life. Vaishravana also known as Dzambala is the protector of the Medium Scope; practitioner practices for individual liberation. And lastly, 6 Armed Mahakala, an emanation of Avalokiteshvara, is the protector of the Great Scope; practices to attain enlightenment in order to lead other beings to liberation and happiness.
Thank you Rinpoche and Pastor Antoinette for this easy to understand article to increase our knowledge on Kalarupa.
Humbly, bowing down,
Stella Cheang
Dear Stella,
Thank you for your informative comment! It is amazing how Manjushri manifests in so many ways and only to benefit us!
Kalarupa is for sure a very powerful practice! We also do usually a Kalarupa Puja before a retreat to clear obstacles and have a successful retreat.
P. Antoinette
Thank you Pastor Antoinette