Four Armed Mahakala – The Protector of All Tibetan Buddhism
Four Armed Mahakala is a practice common to all four major lineages of Tibetan Buddhism. In particular Four Armed Mahakala is considered to be the primary Dharma protector of the Karma Kagyu and Drikung Kagyu lineages, as well as the main Dharma protector of the Chakrasamvara cycle of the tantras. His practice is very beneficial when one is on a spiritual path and is said to bestow blessings, using the four enlightened methods of:
- Pacifying ailments such as hindrances on the spiritual path, obstacles and illnesses
- Increasing like, spiritual merit, wealth, wisdom, virtuous qualities and attracting what we need on the spiritual path to enlightenment
- Controlling difficult situations, people, beings, and energies so that they do not hinder our spiritual path; and magnetizing positive energies
- Wrathfully destroying difficult energies and beings who hinder spiritual evolution, and more importantly, our negative karma, desire, hatred, and ignorance
As a Dharma protector, Four Armed Mahakala takes on a wrathful appearance due to his immense enlightened compassion to help rid us of our obstacles in reaching higher states of spiritual awakening.
Gestures and Attributes
The Four Arms of the Mahakala represents the four karmas. The left arm represents pacifying; it holds a skull cup of Amirta, the intoxicating nectar of the gods which is a means of pacification. The right arm holds a hooked knife known as Kartika which symbolizes enriching, the richness. The Kartika is also regarded as the scepter of the gods. The third upper arm, on the right, holds a sword which is a tool for gathering energies together. The sword need not strike, but just through its being waved around energies come together. The fourth upper arm, one the left holds the three-pronged spear or trident which symbolizes destruction. You do not have to destroy three times, but with one thrust of this spear you make three wounds, the ultimate destruction of ignorance, passion, and aggression simultaneously.
The Four Armed Mahakala sits on the corpses of demons, which represents the paralysis of ego. The Four Armed Mahakala is surrounded by flames representing the tremendous unceasing energy of anger without hatred, the energy of compassion. The skull crown symbolizes the negativities or emotions which are not destroyed or abandoned or condemned for being bad. Rather they are used by the Four Armed Mahakala for his ornaments.
About this Sculpture
Expertly cast from copper alloy using lost wax method gilded with 24 karat gold and hand painted face with fine hand carvings, this statue is a beautiful portrayal of Four Armed Mahakala. This sculpture was individually handcrafted in Patan, Nepal by master artisans of the Shakya clan who are considered among the best in the world. These craftsmen are the modern heirs to a centuries-old tradition of creating sacred art for use in temples and monasteries. The fine metalworking techniques have been passed down from generation to generation since ancient times.
