Mahakala originated as the wrathful power of Ishvara, absorbed and transformed by Buddhist tantric practice into a fierce dharma protector who turns his destructive fury against the enemies of the teachings.
Tibetan Buddhism identifies Ishvara (dBang phyug) with the Hindu Shiva, but reframes him as a worldly god subordinate to the Buddhas rather than a supreme deity.
Chenrezig descended into the realm of Ishvara and subdued the destructive god through the power of compassion, taming his fury and binding him by oath to serve as a protector of the Buddhist dharma.
We use cookies to understand how you use our site and improve your experience. Learn more