The
Grand Mahakala Puja
Generally,
a few weeks before the Grand puja, many tormas are elaborately
prepared and arranged in the appropriate manner on the shrine
forming the Mandala of Mahakala including a huge Mahakala
torma top with thread-crosses called "Nam Kha". The puja starts
with the recitation of supplication, invocation and offerings
prayers accompanied once in a while by the rumbling of the
long horns dungchen, blaring of the shawms gyalings,
haunting cries of the thighbone horns kanglings, rolling
of drums and clashing of cymbals, while he Vajra Master plays
the damaru and bell. The deities of veneration besides the
3 Jewels an 3 roots include the 2-armed Mahakala Bernagcen
and Mahakali, the other forms of Mahakalas, Tsheringma and
4 sisters, Guardians of mantras, Guardians of the Pure Lands,
the 5 entourage guardians of Karmapas, the oath-bound Dorje
Legpa, King of Rakshas, Rahula, Yakshas, Northern King Vaishravana,
Dzambalas and wealth deities, dakas, dakinis, devas, nagas
and local deities of 24 holy places and 32 major countries,
deities of the seasons, year, month, day, times and innumerable
attendants who had vowed at one time or other to protect the
Dharma. They are all invoked to reside in the Mahakala mandala.
All kinds of offerings, outer, inner, secret and most secret
either actual or visualised are offered to them.
For 7 days and nights, through feverishly
making prayers, offerings, ritual music and visualisation,
heartfelt request are made to Mahakala
and retinues reminding them of their vows to help sentient
beings by carrying out the 4 activities of pacify, increase,
magnetise and destroy. With that, tremendous powers of the
Protectors are invoked and unleashed. All obstructive forces
and hindrances, evil spirits, maras and demons, sicknesses
and obstacles to life, prosperity and good health are gathered
and crushed into dust which is then transformed into nectar
as offering. Further, nightmares, natural calamities, epidemic,
charms, curses, black magic, poverty, famine and all negativities
are subdued and destroyed. The Protectors then bestow the
2 siddhis, wordly and supreme accomplishments. Whatever is
wished for, peace, prosperity, happiness, wealth, health,
and long life are achieved and one would ultimately realise
the profound meaning of Mahamudra.
As long as one participates in the pujas and continually
make prayers and offerings to Mahakala, one would be ensured
of the protections of Mahakala and his retinue who would not
depart from oneself until perfect awakening is experienced.
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