The six-armed Mahakala is a fierce protector and guardian of the Dharma. He is a manifestation of Avalokiteshvara, the Bodhisattva of compassion, and is a key figure in Tibetan Buddhism.
Mahakala is often depicted with a dark blue or black body, six arms, and two legs. He wears a tiger skin skirt, a crown of skulls, and a garland of severed heads. He also has three eyes, bared fangs, and a beard.
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Mahakala's hands hold various items, including a curved knife, a skull cup, a trident, a damaru drum, and a lasso.
Consort
Mahakala's consort, Shakti, has one face and two arms. She wears a skull crown and many ornaments. Her right hand is behind Mahakala's neck, and her left hand holds a skull cup filled with demonic blood.
Mahakala's consort, Shakti, has one face and two arms. She wears a skull crown and many ornaments. Her right hand is behind Mahakala's neck, and her left hand holds a skull cup filled with demonic blood.
Mahakala's primary role is to help people overcome obstacles to enlightenment. He is a principal protector of the Geluk School of Tibetan Buddhism.
What is the meaning of six armed Mahakala?
Six-Armed Mahakala (Tibetan: Gon-po Chag-druk) A protector who is a wrathful manifestation of Avalokiteshvara, the Mahakala can be depicted in many forms. There are various aspects of Mahakala, the meditative practices associated with this protector being popular in all four traditions of Tibetan Buddhism.
The word Mahakala is a Sanskrit word. Maha means 'great' and Kala refers to 'time or death'.. Mahakala means “beyond time or death.
Mahakala's Sanskrit name is Sadbhuja Mahakala, and his Tibetan name is Chadroukpa.
Mahakala has four arms, three eyes, and is of the brilliance of 10 million black fires of dissolution. He dwells in the midst of eight cremation grounds (smasana). He is adorned with eight human skulls, seated on five corpses, and holds a trident (trisula), a drum, a sword, and a scythe in his hands.
But Mahakala is actually a protector deity, and meditators have long relied on his powers to help them through difficulties of all kinds in their daily lives. He represents our natural ability to promote what is sane and decent and to eliminate what is unreasonable and harmful.
For the advanced tantric practitioners, Mahakala fulfills the four enlightened activities. These activities are pacifying interferences, increasing favorable circumstances, gaining control over situations, and, if all else fails, destroying obstacles with wrathful force.
Through adornment with terrifying features, Mahakala can protect people from their worst traits and fears.
Repeating the Mahakala mantra may eliminate all barriers to prosperity, confusion, doubts, and ignorance. He can destroy all encroachments from the adversary, demons, evil, and dark magic. As a result, his technique has been developed by numerous individuals in Tibet.
Why is Mahakala black?
Mahakala is generally depicted as black in color. Since all the colors get dissolved into black, all the names and forms melt into the deity as well.
This symbolizes the embracing and encompassing nature of the deity. The color black also represents the absolute or ultimate reality and the nature of Mahakala.
Sternly protect the doctrine of the Buddha! Sternly praise the height of power of the Jewels! Please quell all bad conditions and obstructions, and grant us quickly whatever siddhis we wish. 
Is Mahakala enlightened?
This particular form of the deity Mahakala is the enlightened protector of the Hevajra tantras, a cycle of teachings personified by the tiny blue deity Hevajra in the central roundel of his crown. Mahakala's fierce appearance and grisly attire represent the means to overcoming negativities on the spiritual path.
A large Four-Armed Mahakala torma offering rose high above the upper tier. The lower tier held the eight traditional offerings: argham, padyam, pushpe, dhupe, alokhe, gendhe, newidye, and shabdha (pure drinking water, water for bathing, flowers, incense, light, food, scented water, and music).
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Aspiration For Bodhichitta
For those in whom the precious Bodhichitta has not arisenMay it arise and not decrease. But increase further and further.
Dedication of Merit
By this merit, may we then obtain omniscience then.
Having defeated the enemies wrongdoing. May we liberate migratory from the ocean of existence.
With its stormy waves of birth, old age, sickness, and death.
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