M.B…..as per your question…
(By Tsem Rinpoche)
Dear Rinpoche,
I have a picture of tangka of the Medicine Buddha from your site and I’m very interested about any information about the wrathful forms of the Medicine Buddha depicted below Him. Can you tell me please their names and practices or any information about them? Can their practices or mantras be done without an initiation? Thank you very much in advance!!! And thank you VERY VERY MUCH about your teachings about Lama Je Tsongkhapa !!!
-From M.B.
Dear M.B.,
As per your questions:
The three holy protectors from left to right are:
- White Mahakala (Gongkar)
- Six Armed Mahakala (Gonpo Chakdrug)
- Four Faced Mahakala (Gonpo Shel-Shi)
Their practices can be done without initiation. They are propitiated in Gaden Shartse every single months for two days for the last 600 years. They are completely enlightened.
White Mahakala is propitiated to gain spiritual wealth and to purify the karma for experiencing poverty.
Six Armed Mahakala is an emanation of Avalokitesvara. His six arms represents the 6 paramitas and he is very powerful for removing obstacles to one’s dharma studies. He can remove mundane obstacles.
Four Faced Mahakala is an emanation of Manjushri. He is said to be very quick and give signs to those who propitiate Him regularly and consistently. His practice is done throughout Tibet and also in the past Buddhist India. Saint Nagarjuna relied upon Him very much. When we propitiate this Mahakala, we gain great protection from obstacles/disturbances. He is great for helping us when we study the dharma in depth.
All three practices can be done without initiation. If you are interested, let Ms Shin Tan know and I will pass the practices to her for you.
Tsem Rinpoche
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Fortunate to come across this old short post yet it gives me a better understanding of the beautiful thangka of Medicine Buddha. Interesting information about the three Holy Dharma Protectors .
Thank you Rinpoche for this sharing.
Hi there mates, nice piece of writing and good urging commented at this place, I am actually enjoying by
these.
Dear Rinpoche, thank you for your beautiful explanation on Mahakala. I have always loved Mahakala and felt something special with him amongst all the protectors, specifically the two-armed Mahakala who holds a ritual dagger next to a skullcup. I have learnt from Rinpoche from a previous talk that he is a very high level Dharma protector, and it is not so easy to be connected to him compared to other Dharma protectors who are closer to our realm.
Ever since i saw Mahakala’s image when i was around 8, he’s always been in my mind since. I am not sure why tho. But I could never find much resources about him. Thank you Rinpoche again!
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this very interesting information about the three wrathful Dharma Protectors in this Medicine Buddha thangka.They are all different forms of the Mahakala and each performs such a great role in removing obstacles of Dharma practitioners as they progress towards the higher stages of the Path.
The six-armed Mahakala (a wrathful emanation of Avalokitesvara) and the four-faced Mahakala(a wrathful emanation of Manjushri) would aid greatly in clearing inner obstacles to realizing bodhicitta and wisdom. The white Mahakala would help clear obstacles to realizing inner wealth and would aid in purification of karma of experiencing poverty.
OMG I am so jealous of you M.B. you are so lucky and must have good karma to receive these practices. I hope you benefit from them!!!
Hi Rinp
Could you explain why in 6 Arm Mahakala prayer it is said ‘You come from your tree and accept our torma offering,”. What tree??
grace
Dear Grace, Lord Buddha manifested full enlightenment in Bodhgaya, Bihar State of India. From Delhi, you would take a overnight train to Bodhgaya. Hundreds of thousands of pilgrims a year visit Bodhgaya to pay homage to the sacred spot where Lord Buddha attained enlightenment. From the spot in Bodhgaya where Buddha attained enlightenment about one hour away, there are hills and caves. Near one cave is a old tree. Mahakala emanated from this tree to one of his devotees hundreds of years ago as clear as day. Mahakala ‘arose’ from this tree to His devotee. Next to the tree the large cave has been turned into a mini temple to make offerings to Mahakala. Many visit and offer khata to the tree and candles in the cave to Mahakala. Thousands visit to make offerings to Mahakala at this tree these days.
Good luck, TR
Thank you very much dear Rinpoche!!!
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this information about the Mahakala. I am very interested in Mahakalas and have always been confused with the many forms, which are all called Mahakala.
I am very happy to know about White Mahakala, who became a protector of Mongolia during the 3rd Dalai Lama’s time.
I find your blog very interesting with all sorts of information, not just about Buddhism.
Hello!
I’m interested as well in these practices. Can they be passed to me as well?
=)