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The Sadhana of the Uncommon Mahakala

from the Shangpa Tradition
Ocean of Siddhis of the White Mahakala
Ewam Choden Tibetan Buddhist Center
254 Cambridge Ave., Kensington, California 94708
(510) 527-7363, www.ewamchoden.org
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2001 by Ewam Choden Tibetan Buddhist Center, Kensington, California.
Compiled and translated from traditional sources by Lama Kunga Tharts Rinpoche;
formatted by Wolfgang Saumweber, 2/2004.
Again, light emanates out sharply and touches the hearts of the surrounding dei-
ties, and effortlessly their minds are subdued.
All the siddhis of the universe are collected together, and one must now think that
one is surrounded with wealth the size of Mount Sumeru.
Light is extended and touches the hearts of kings, wealthy people, the famous,
the well-established families, men, women, all dakinis, wealth gods, and all their
minds are subdued.
Once again, repeat the 13-syllable mantra (you may add OM at the beginning):
OM GURU MAHAKALA HARI NI SA SIDDHI DZA
This is called the essence of subduing the three realms. If one is interested in
accomplishing this extensive meditation, one must repeat the mantra 300,000 times
without the interference of other words. The highest result of this practice is that one
will see Guru Mahakala. The mediocre result is that Guru Mahakala will appear to
one in visions. The lesser result is that he will appear to one in dreams.
The other good signs of accomplishing the siddhis is that one will meet in dreams
and visions lamas at the cemetery, or one will receive things from yoginis, or one will
dream that one is giving initiations to all sentient beings, or there will be a sun rise,
or one will dream about wearing a white cloth or nding a skull cup or jewel. These,
then are the signs of accomplishing the practice. One will then become rejuvenated.
Dedication and Sharing of Merits
Through our praise and supplication to you,
May sickness, poverty, and warfare subside
Wherever we may be,
And may Dharma and good omens increase.
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Offerings
To make the sense offerings (outer offerings), one must say
GURU MAHAKALA HA RI NI SA SIDDHI DZA SAPARIWARA
ARGHAM PADAM PUSHPE DHUPE ALOKE GANDHE NAIVIDYA
SHABDA RUPA SHABDA GANDHE RASA PRATISHTHA SOHA
One must then press the thumb and ring ngers of the left hand together, dip the ring
nger in the cup of offering water, recite the names of the lineage gurus and at the
end say,
OM GURU MAHAKALA HARI NI SA SIDDHI DZA
Then say,
OM AH HUM
while sprinkling water as an offering.
Mantra Recitation and Visualization
In the heart of the red Dakini, around the rim of the thigl are lined up counter-
clockwise the syllables of the mantra (GU RU MA HA KA LA HA RI NI SA SI
DHI DZA) like a rosary of red coral. From these syllables shine forth red lights
very sharply, like razors. These rays draw all the virtues of the world and beyond
effortlessly. Then these rays return and absorb into the thigl.
Respectfully recite the following phrase to Guru Mahakala:
LAMA GONKAR YERME LA
DAGNI KUPAY KYABSU CHI
DAGTANG SEM CHEN TAM CHAY KYI
NGYON MONG MA LU SEWAR SHOG.
GONPO LAMA YERME LA
DAGNI KUPAY KYABSU CHI
DAGNI SEM CHEN TAM CHAY KYI
OL PONG MA LU SEWAR SHOG
White Mahakala, teacher and protector,
With respect I pay homage to you.
For myself and all sentient beings,
May all obstacles be removed.
Protector and teacher,
With respect, I pay homage to you.
For myself and all sentient beings,
Preliminaries
Say the Refuge Prayer and Four Immeasurables, then:
NAMO! Guru Mahakala! Dakini!
The person who is interested in the Vajrayana and especially devoted to this particu-
lar Mahakala, in order to ripen his mind, should obtain the initiationespecially
the initiation of Mahakala as well as the common and uncommon torma initiations.
Afterwards, he must pray to Guru Mahakala for many months and years.
The practitioner should arrange extensive tsog offerings. He must rst please the
Guru and then receive the complete abhisheka. He must make the necessary altar
arrangements in a suitable place. Then, sitting on a comfortable seat, he must do the
prayers of Refuge and the Mind of Bodhichitta (the Four Boundless Minds).
The practitioner must then say:
I shall free all sentient beings from poverty and liberate them to the
state of Buddhahood. In order to do that, I shall meditate upon the wish-
fullling Tathagata (the White Mahakala).
Visualization
In the center on ones own heart is the undissipating drop of essence
(thigl) which is red, clear and round and the size of a large bean. In the
center of the thigl is a mercury white letter HUM. (This should be visual-
ized clearly. )
From this letter HUM light rays emanate making offerings to the Buddhas
and Bodhisattvas, removing all poverty of sentient beings and liberating
them to the state of Guru Mahakala.
The light reabsorbs into and becomes inseparable from ones heart.
Because of this inseparability, all appearances turn into the trianglethe
Source of Dharma. It is clear like crystal. Flames burn on its rim. In its
center is the letter BAM. The letter BAM turns into an eight-petalled
lotus seat. In the center of the lotus seat is the wish-fullling conqueror
Mahakala, whose body is like a conch shell. His complexion is reddish-white.
He has one face, six arms and three eyes. His face is somewhat wrathful but at the
same time also smiling. His mouth is slightly opened with fangs visible inside. The
hair is orange in color and owing upwards. In the center of his forehead he has
a yellow-colored dot. On his head he wears a tiara of ve skulls. He also wears a
necklace of fty freshly cut heads.
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Of his six hands, in his upper right hand he
holds a blue crooked knife raised in the air, in
the second right handat his heartthe jewel
known as King of Gems, and in the third
right hand a sandalwood damaru. In his upper
left hand he holds the three-pronged staff (tri-
shula), in the second leftat his left thigha
great skull cup lled with nectar and the vessel containing precious
jewels, and in the third left hand a vajra lasso with hooks.
He also wears a precious crown, earrings, necklace, armlets,
bracelets, anklets, rings, a jeweled apron and a shawl of elephant skin. His lower
garment is a skirt made of tiger skin with a belt made of golden bell-tassels. He is
ornated with the garments of the deities. Appearing as though he has just arrived
from the great cemetery of Silwai Tsal he looks like he is about to sit down.
Under his feet is Ganesha (the elephant-faced one). Ganeshas right hand holds a
turnip which he is eating. His left hand is holding a mongoose that is vomiting
jewels as gifts to the yogis. From every opening of Ganeshas body jewels are being
exuded. Thus, Ganesha has been subdued.
Mahakala is surrounded by the ames of wisdom as well as innumerable power-
ful dakinis and all other wealth deities (such as yakshas). On top of his head sits
Lama Dorje Chang who is red in color. He is the source of wealth. He is smiling.
His right hand holds a wish-fullling gem and his left a bell to his hip. His legs are
crossed in the vajra posture.
At Mahakalas heart is the powerful Dakini who is red like a ruby. She is sixteen
years old. Her right hand holds a hook and her left hand holds a skull cup lled
with nectar. Her legs are in the gesture of dancing, her three eyes searching the
sky. She controls the three realms and surveys the universe.
In her heart is the nature of the Tathagata manifested as the red thigl. Light rays
emanate from it towards the cemetery, Silwai Tsal, to the single sandalwood tree
where Guru Mahakala sits surrounded by the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas and the
wealth deities, etc. They are invoked and come playing instruments and dancing.
Prayer to White Mahakala
HUM! From the cemetery lled with sandalwood trees,
You who are like a white cloud moved by the wind,
The supreme lord protector who is the manifestation of Avalokiteshvara,
The one who brings the rain of wealth, please come here!
You, the great deity, the Guru who is the wish-fullling Jewel,
The one who controls the entire world in the ten directions,
Together with the assembly of dakinis
Who bestow siddhis on the excellent yogis, please come here!
By the act of your compassion,
Vibrate the wealth in the world and the universe beyond that.
Bestow without hindrance all wealth
And remove the poverty of sentient beings!
Invocation
OM GURU MAHAKALA HA RI NI SA SIDDHI DZA
Repeat the last syllable DZA 21 times.
Then say:
DZA HUM BAM HO
(which causes the Yeshe Sempasthe Wisdom Deities which have been
invokedto dissolve into the Damstig Sempathe Commitment Being
yourself).
Then recite the following prayer:
In the center of the burning mountain
Of the white source of the dharma,
The triangle, on top of the luminous mandala of brilliant light,
On top of the white lotus seat,
You whose body is like a snow mountain with six arms,
I pay homage to you from the depth of my heart.