Mahakala

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Mahākāla is a deity revered across Hinduism, Buddhism, and Sikhism. According to Hindu teachings, he is the consort of Goddess Kali and plays a prominent role in Kalikula sects of Shaktism. Mahākāla also appears as a protector deity known as dharmapala in Vajrayana Buddhism, particularly among Tibetan traditions, Tangmi (East Asian Esoteric Buddhism), and Shingon (Japanese Esoteric Buddhism). In Sikhism, Mahākāla is referred to as Kal, who governs Maya. According to Shaktisamgama Tantra, Kali's spouse is incredibly intimidating. Mahakala has four arms, three eyes, and radiates the brilliance of 10 million black fires of dissolution. He resides in the midst of eight cremation grounds, adorned with eight skulls, seated on five corpses, holding a trident, drum, sword, and scythe in his hands. Ashes from the cremation ground adorn him, surrounded by shrieking vultures and jackals. By his side is Kali, representing time's relentless flow. Together, Mahakala and Kali embody Brahman's ultimate destructive power, unbound by any rules or regulations. They possess the ability to dissolve even time and space into themselves, existing as Void at the universe's dissolution. At Kalpa's end, they are responsible for dissolving the universe. They also annihilate great evils and daemons when other gods fail, including Devas and Trimurtis. Mahakala and Kali mercilessly destroy men, women, children, animals, worlds, and entire universes because they personify Time, unbound by anything or anyone. Mahākāla is typically depicted as black in color. Just as all colors are absorbed and dissolved into black, all names and forms are said to melt into Mahakala's, symbolizing his comprehensive nature. Black also represents total absence of color, signifying the ultimate reality embodied by Mahakala, known as "nirguna," beyond quality and form. All Tibetan Buddhist schools rely on Mahākāla. He is depicted in various forms, each with distinct qualities and aspects. He is often regarded as the emanation of different beings, such as Avalokiteśvara or Cakrasaṃvara. Mahākāla is almost always shown wearing a crown of five skulls, representing the transmutation of five negative afflictions into five wisdoms. The most notable variation in Mahākāla's manifestations and depictions lies in the number of arms, but other details can vary as well. Some cases feature white Mahakalas with multiple heads, without genitals, standing on various items, holding different implements, adorned differently, and so on.