❤This Mahakala badge was collected from Jiegu Monastery,Tibet, about 40 years old. It is made of copper, painted with mineral pigments,height is 3.55 inches. Mahakala appears as a protector deity known as a dharmapala in Vajrayana Buddhism, particularly most Tibetan traditions as Citipati, and in Shingon Buddhism.
❤ABOUT MAHAKALA Mahakala is a deity common to Hinduism and Buddhism. In Hinduism, Mahakala is a manifestation of Shiva and is the consort of the goddess Mahakali, he most prominently appears in the Kalikula sect of Shaktism. Mahakala also appears as a protector deity known as a dharmapala in Vajrayana Buddhism, particularly most Tibetan traditions as Citipati, and in Shingon Buddhism. Six-Armed Mahakala,There are also terma lineages of various forms of Six-Armed Mahakala.it is in a dancing posture rather than upright, and is a very advanced Mahakala practice.
Mahakala is typically black in colour. Just as all colours are absorbed and dissolved into black, all names and forms are said to melt into those of Mahakala, symbolising his all-embracing, comprehensive nature. Black can also represent the total absence of colour, and again in this case it signifies the nature of Mahakala as ultimate or absolute reality. This principle is known in Sanskrit as "nirguna", beyond all quality and form, and it is typified by both interpretations.
Mahayana Buddhism, and all schools of Tibetan Buddhism, rely on Mahakala as guardian deity. He is depicted in a number of variations, each with distinctly different qualities and aspects. He is also regarded as the emanation of different beings in different cases, namely Avalokiteśvara (Wylie: spyan ras gzigs) or Cakrasaṃvara (Wylie: ’khor lo bde mchog). Mahakala is almost always depicted with a crown of five skulls, which represent the transmutation of the five kleśās (negative afflictions) into the five wisdoms.
