We would like to inform you Monday ( 3rd January,2011) is a Mahalaka Day, there will be Mahakala practice starting from 1:30 pm for almost for 4 hours. If you are available we would love to have your presence here.
Here is a brief about the Mahakala and the Practice.
"Mahakala is seen standing on the corpse of two human bodies, thus symbolizing the death of negativities and the complete uprooting of negative patterns to such a point that, like a dead body, they will not come to life.
新年快樂，吉祥如意！
謹通知您1月3日星期一是瑪哈嘎拉修行日，將於當日下午1：30開始長達四小時的【二臂瑪哈嘎拉修法】，創古寺竭誠歡迎您參與法會、共修此殊勝的除障法。
以下是關於瑪哈嘎啦大護法及修法的簡介、提供您初步了解。
『瑪哈嘎拉腳踏兩具人身屍首，象徵降服邪魔、消滅惡障，完全地拔除負面能量的作用；如同死屍般絕無再生作惡之可能。
了解瑪拉嘎拉的特徵及象徵是很重要的，很多人誤以為他是頑劣作惡的邪魔、甚至誤認為是會攻擊及吞噬的死神。若能了解瑪拉嘎拉便是我們慈悲般若的殊勝功德、才得以明白他所象徵的種種功德利益。
瑪拉嘎拉是開悟智慧的持續不斷地表現及作用，永遠利益有情眾生，而絕不會有一絲一毫的傷害。
瑪哈嘎拉是藏傳佛教的智慧大護法
瑪哈嘎拉又名大黑天，依照不同教法傳承而展現許多不同的形貌：例如有：
二臂瑪哈嘎拉，是為噶瑪噶舉傳承的二臂大黑袍護法。
It is very important that we know these symbols of Mahakala because many times we have mistaken notions that he may be a clinging spirit or harmful, evil being, perhaps even the Lord of Death ready to devour and attack. One would find great difficulty in relating to the various symbols without understanding that our awakened compassion is the essential quality of the being of Mahakala.
Mahakala has never been known to harm one being, even in the slightest manner, because he is constantly benefiting beings through the continuous play of the enlightened mind."
Mahakala is a Protector of all Tibetan Buddhism
The form varies according to the different teaching lineages. For example, there is the two-armed, big-mouthed Mahakala Bernakchen of the Karma Kagyu, the four-armed Mahakala who is protector of the Drikung Kagyu, and six-armed Mahakala of the Gelugpas described below. They are not all wrathful forms of Chenresi [Skt.: Avalokiteshvara] although
"There is an emanation of Avalokiteshvara which arose in the form of Mahakala and this is the Shangpa Kagyu Mahakala with one face and six arms, in a standing posture. This form was later adopted by Tsongkhapa and followers as the main protector of the Gelugpa School.
Mahakalas can arise from various sources namely Vajradhara and the Anuttarayoga Tantras but are not generically Avalokiteshvara."
~ Jeff Watt, Himalayan Art
There is a white one associated with prosperity, and also a eunuch and some feminine forms, but it is incorrectly held that there are 75 variants.
* "White" Mahakala.
" . . . the different Mahakalas with various number of arms are not all the same. The Six-Armed version is the emanation of Chenrezig (in association with the head-blowing-up episode) and was originally the specialty of Shangpa Kagyu, but has now been adopted all over; one of the Four-Armed versions is an emanation of C[h]akrasamvara and the main protector of Karma Kagyu; the two-armed Bernakchen, an emanation of Samantabhadra, is actually not the main protector of Karma Kagyu, but rather that of the Karmapas specifically, although there is nothing that says the rest of us cannot also practice on him; the Sakyapa has the two-armed Panjaranatha Mahakala, who probably is an emanation of Manjushri and holds the rod that emanate[s] many Mahakalas.
Like many of the other protectors, one pair[s] up with any one of these Mahakalas as appropriate to their cycle of practice; in other words, one doesn't just pick up a Mahakala out of the blue."
~ BB to the Kagyu email list, June 2002.
Ritual Practice
Students do not generally do practices associated with dharmapalas such as Mahakala until they have completed the Preliminary or Foundation Practices and of course, after receiving the empowerment to do so.
The Sanskrit descriptive name, Mahakala (Great Time or Great Dark One) is also used to refer to Lord Shiva, the Hindu god whose tandavadance sustains, but can also destroy, the universe of appearances, and who is associated with Time, another meaning of kala. [The teaching known as the Kala-chakra or Wheel of Time, is a Buddhist tantric system thought of as the key to reality that unites the universe, time and the breath of life.]
Lama C. Reed says that in the liturgy known as Kha Yig Ma, which is the KTD daily practice, a short (3-page) Chagdrupa is performed incorporating the visualization, torma offering and mantra recitation.
A mid-length, "Tsendring" Mahakala practice is done on the 29th lunar day in KTD's 3-year retreat, and in the afternoon of the first day of the yearly Mahakala drupchen, KTD uses the same brief Chagdrupa liturgy, and that this is one is also a part of the Gyespa (extensive) Mahakala ritual.
At KTD, each of the 3 days of Mahakala Drupchen begin with the Dorje Phagmo self-visualization liturgy followed by the recitation of the Gyespa text, which broadly speaking, is a collection of short visualization/torma offering liturgies and mantras of the central Kamtsang protectors, Bernagchen and consort.
* The Four-armed (Skt. Chaturbhuja) Mahakala, called in Tibetan, Gonpo Chagdrupa or Gonpo ChakZhipa, is related to the Chakrasamvara tantric tradition.
Mahakala Bernakchen
Kubilai Khan succeeded his Buddhist brother Munga, and fearful of the influence of Karma Pakshi, the second Karmapa, had him confined to the Chinese Imperial Palace where he was tied by his beard (among other terrible ordeals.)
Karmapa prayed to Mahakala Bernagchen, but "Great Black Cloak" took so long putting on his boots, that by the time he got there, the ordeal had ended. However, as he had been summoned, he was obliged by rules of combat to cleave something with the hook-knife that he held at the ready. The Karmapa therefore had him strike the palace. As a result, there is still a gash somewhere in the Imperial Palace.
There is a version saying the Karmapa struck Mahakala for his tardiness, giving him his swollen face! Consequently, no subsequent Karmapa has ever worn a beard.
* tangkas at Himalayan Art
Origin of Mahakala
The compassion of the red Buddha Amitabha manifested as Avalokiteshvara who took a vow to forgo his own enlightenment until all the realms of samsara had been emptied.
This vow required a renewal of determination, and so with Amitabha's blessing, Avalokiteshvara next assumed a form with eleven heads and a thousand arms. Still he had been unable to benefit even a few beings.
Therefore after reflecting for one whole week, he determined that by assuming a wrathful form he would be able "to subdue the degenerate beings of this Age of Darkness." Also he saw that even beings who practiced Dharma were unable to escape from the Bardo realms (time between rebirths where beings may face great anxiety and terrifying experiences) and he thought that in wrathful form he could also protect them in that way. And lastly, he thought that the beings in this Dark Age were poor and needy, experiencing only suffering after suffering, and that in wrathful form he could provide them an antidote to that suffering so that by simply making the wish (for protection) their needs could be met.
These three motives made his determination even greater than before and so from the heart of Noble Avalokiteshvara emerged a dark blueHUNG syllable that immediately became the Instantaneous Protector of Wisdom, Mahakala.
The foundations of all the Pure Lands shook with six kinds of earthquakes, and the Conquering and Transcending One of Immeasurable Light (Amitabha) and all the other Tathagatas of the ten directions proclaimed with one voice:
"Son of the family, it is well that you have made this resolution. You shall have the empowerment of all the wisdom dakinis. You shall have the strength of the wrathful Yama, Lord of Death. You shall have the mountain spirits, the yakshas, the devils and the demonesses as your messengers. You shall embody the great wrathful empowerments of the Body, Speech, Mind, Qualities and Activity of all the Buddhas throughout the three times."
Ever since, bodhisattva Mahakala is the Dharma (Buddha's Doctrine) Protector of all Buddha fields.
Om, Shri Mahakala Yaksha Betli, hung dsa.
Symbolism of Mahakala in the 6-armed Manifestation:
The Protector's body is midnight blue, symbolic of the changeless Dharmakaya.
His three eyes symbolize his knowledge of the past, present and future, and also the manifestation of the three bodies of Buddha.
The crown adorned with five skulls symbolizes the transformation of the five poisons of anger, desire, ignorance, jealousy and pride into the five wisdoms.
His six arms symbolize the attainment of the six Perfections: generosity, patience, morality, diligence, meditation and wisdom. The kartika or triku [or trigu, pron. tigu] the ritual curved knife, cuts attachment to ego.
The kapila or skull bowl filled with blood symbolizes the subjugation of the maras or evil ones. (An alternate interpretation can be found in other contexts.)
The rosary symbolizes his continuous activity for the benefit of beings.
The damaru or hand-drum symbolizes his power over the dakinis. (Also, different interpretations in other contexts.)
His trident symbolizes his power over the three kayas -- the spheres of desire, form and formlessness. (An alternate interpretation can also be found.)
The lasso binds those who break their vows.
His two feet are the means and the wisdom to accomplish his task. That his left leg is straight and his right leg bent symbolize his accomplishment of the benefit to oneself and to others. He tramples on a vinayaka, to symbolize his destruction and dispersal of great obstacles.
The sun on which he stands symbolizes his illumination of the darkness of ignorance.
His lotus seat symbolizes purity undefiled by samsara.
The surrounding blazing fire symbolizes his activity that consumes neurotic states.
The tiger skin stands for purification of desire; the elephant skin for purification of pride, and the snake, for the purification of anger.
His other ornaments together symbolize that he has all the qualities of a Buddha.
四臂瑪哈嘎拉，是直貢噶舉傳承的大護法。
六臂瑪哈嘎拉，是格魯派（黃派）的傳承（見後面詳述）。
然而、他們不盡然全是觀音菩薩所化現的忿怒尊。
『香巴噶舉所傳的瑪哈嘎拉，是觀音菩薩以瑪哈嘎拉形貌化現的一種化身，具一面、六臂、站立之姿，其後由宗喀巴及他的後繼者承接、而為格魯傳承的主要護法。
瑪哈嘎拉可有許多不同的來源，如金剛總持及無上瑜伽密續，而非一定是來自觀音菩薩的化現。 ～傑夫沃特，喜瑪拉雅藝術網站』
還有一種白瑪哈嘎拉有眾多的種類面貌，而且和黃門（非陰非陽的中性型貌）與女性形貌都相關，但若說是有七十五種變種便不是正確的。
『不同數量手臂的瑪哈嘎拉是各自有別的。
六臂瑪哈嘎拉是觀音菩薩的忿怒尊化現，（觀音菩薩因煩惱眾生難以度盡，因此碎裂千片而成十一面千手千眼觀音菩薩，再化現為忿怒尊，以瑪哈嘎拉形象來護衛眾生免除業障魔擾。）原是香巴噶舉獨有的傳承，現已為眾傳承所普傳。
四臂瑪哈嘎拉則是勝樂金剛的化現，而為噶瑪噶舉主要護法。
二臂瑪哈嘎拉大黑袍護法則是普賢王如來的忿怒化現，不僅是噶瑪噶舉的首要護法，更還是大寶法王噶瑪巴個人的特別護法；這並不是說一般人因此就不能修他。
薩迦傳承有特別獨有的二臂紅棒瑪哈嘎拉的傳承，相傳為文殊菩薩的化現，握有一支可發放出許多瑪哈嘎拉的神變紅棒。
如同許多其他的護法一樣，這許多的瑪哈嘎拉各有其修持的法源及界定，並不可以盲目隨意選擇的。 ～來自2002年六月由BB寫給噶舉派的電子郵件』
四臂瑪哈嘎拉，藏文稱為貢布恰扎巴，是關連於勝樂金剛密續的傳承。
實修儀軌
一般而言、信眾們未完成四共前行（轉心四思維）、是還不允許修持像瑪哈嘎拉這樣的護法的，而且也必須受過灌頂後方才允許修持。
瑪哈嘎拉是梵文的音譯，漢譯為大黑天，在印度教是毀滅之神濕婆神（大自在天）的名字之一，掌握了創造、保持、毀滅與重生宇宙萬物的能力，因而也具有超越、征服時間的特質。嘎拉（kala）即為時間之意。（密續的時輪金剛Kala-chakra便是時間之輪的意思、具有掌握了宇宙時間、空間及生命呼息的特質。）
喇嘛C. Reed 指出噶瑪三乘法輪寺每日例行修的瑪哈嘎拉簡軌（Kha Yig Ma），僅三頁的短軌中包括了觀想、供養多瑪及誦咒。
瑪哈嘎拉中軌（Tsendring）是噶瑪三乘法輪寺三年閉關時，藏曆每月二十九瑪哈嘎拉修行日的必修儀軌、為中等長度之儀軌。另外每年藏曆一月初一下午的瑪哈嘎拉法會、三乘法輪寺用的是瑪哈嘎拉簡軌、也是屬於此長篇幅的瑪哈嘎拉中軌的一部分。
在噶瑪三乘法輪寺為期三天的瑪哈嘎拉法會中，每天都由觀想自己為金剛瑜伽女的儀式開始，從而吟頌長篇幅的瑪哈嘎拉法本（Gaspa）：其中包含了以這位噶瑪噶舉最重要的護法及其眷屬的觀想、供養多瑪、和咒語的各種儀式。
瑪哈嘎拉的小故事
忽必烈繼承他佛教徒的兄長蒙哥成為蒙古皇帝後，因為懼怕第二世大寶法王噶瑪巴希的影響力，因此將他囚禁在中國的皇宮內，以其自己的鬍子綑綁、並施以許多可怕的酷刑。
噶瑪巴希因而向瑪哈嘎拉祈請，然而這位黑袍大護法卻花了很長的時間才把自己的靴子穿上，因而等趕到時、酷刑已然施行。然而，當護法被傳召時、依規矩是已做好了戰鬥準備、總得讓他手上蓄勢待發的鉞刀劈些什麼；因此噶瑪巴希請他攻擊皇宮。結果便是皇宮的某一處至今還遺有被劃開了裂縫。
有一種說法是，噶瑪巴希責罰了遲到的瑪哈嘎拉，賞給他現在這樣腫脹的臉龐。而也因為此事，此後轉世繼承的噶瑪巴都不再留有鬍子。
瑪哈嘎拉之源起
大慈大悲的阿彌陀佛所化現的觀音菩薩，曾立誓要度盡眾生、輪迴空盡，方願成佛。然而雖然他的慈悲功德已令無數眾生脫離輪迴苦海，然而眾生總難度盡，喪氣而又重立悲願的觀音菩薩在阿彌陀佛加持下，復而化現為十一面的千手千眼觀音，雖則更具救度的法力、卻仍無法利益全部有情眾生。
經一整個禮拜的思省後，觀音菩薩決定再轉而化現成為忿怒尊、以具有降伏晦暗昏泯的墮落邪魔之大法力。因為他見眾生雖勤習佛法、卻無法解脫中陰階段的脆弱無助，（在死與重生之際的過度階段，眾生所面臨的是極大焦懼及恐慌佈畏。）而忿怒尊的大法力將使他能護衛並救度眾生。他最後又想，身處黑暗境地的可憐眾生、也是只一再一再的受苦，祈求著一點救援，化為忿怒尊後、即使只是一點願力，便可以提供他們免於受苦的解毒劑。
因著這三種動機，使他下定比先前更大的決心；於是從高貴的觀音菩薩心間生出了一深藍色的種子字『吽』，並隨即化現出智慧大護法瑪哈嘎拉。
頓時西方極樂世界的大地震動，超一切等等光的無量光阿彌陀佛及十方一切的如來諸佛齊聲授記贊道：
『善哉佛子！汝能如是設施行道！你將具所有一切智慧空行的加持灌頂；你將具燄摩天之不可摧之大力；你將統領山靈、妖魔、羅煞、夜叉為差役；你將具體展現十方三世諸佛之身、語、意、功德、事業以忿怒尊面貌而賜的大灌頂加持力！』
從此，瑪哈嘎拉便是所有佛法領域的大護法。
瑪哈嘎拉心咒：嗡 希瑞 瑪哈嘎拉 呀恰 佩大力 吽 紮
六臂瑪哈嘎拉的表徵
護法之身呈藍黑色，表示法身不動之本質。
三目表了悟三世及佛陀三身之化現。
頂上五骷顱冠代表轉貪瞋癡慢疑五毒成五智。
六臂表六波羅蜜：布施、持戒、忍辱、精進、禪定、般若。
彎刀表斷除一切我執。
盛血嘎巴拉表降伏一切魔障。
骨珠表示永不終止之利生事業。
手鼓表此護法之力超越事業空行母。
三叉戟表超越三界（欲界、色界、無色界）之大力。
金剛鉤繩表束縛破戒眾生。
雙足表善巧方便與智慧。以左腳站立、右腳彎屈表利益眾生之成就。踏白象王財神表降伏毗那夜迦導邪。
足下日輪為威光照破無明黑暗。
蓮花表離娑婆污染之清淨。
背後智慧火燄表摧毀一切心之散亂、掉舉。
虎皮裙表淨除一切貪念，象皮表淨除一切慢心，蛇飾為降伏瞋心。
身上一切嚴飾表具足佛陀一切德行。