Maha-Kala

MAHA-KALA

In the tradition of India, the creation of the universe is the purpose and significance of Maha-Kala, or Great Time. The Great Time consists of Siva and his ultra-ego Maha-Kala.  Siva is the artistic part of creation. Maha-Kala is the power, called Pralaya or the Great Dissolution, to dissolve the universe. Destruction is necessary for creation. Reproduction requires both creation and destruction. This interaction is Sankara through Siva, and is the reproduction of Nature. This is the Unity of Nature, and the cycle of birth and death Both male and female principles are at work here the female is destructive by dissolving what is ceasing to exist into herself; the male is creative by being the source new existence continually being created in the Universe, this interaction is represented the concept of Sankara.

The Siva and Maha-Kala are the continual rebirth of the universe, going on continuously. Also, they are the life cycle of the universe, which is born, matures, and dies. The universe is created by Siva and destroyed by Maha-Kala. New universes are created out of the destruction of the previous universe. This then brings about the Mahadaeva, who is the deity without comparison--the Great God who is Siva.

Unity is the restorer, which was symbolized by Linga the Phallus, or Global Oneness.  Lingam is the erect penis of Siva, which represents the respect and meaning of life. When combined with Yoni, the symbol for the woman's genitals, it becomes the reproduction of the universe. Yoni is the center of all that is spiritual. Through this union of the material and the spiritual, the universe is formed.

Maha-Kala is the destroyer essence of Siva; but she is more than that. She is the force that absorbs all of creation unto her. From this material, which Maha-Kala allocates into her womb, Siva can fashion the universe once more. The destroyer is the regenerator. Through destruction, rebirth and evolution are possible. Through understandings of the nature of destruction and creation, union with true enlightenment becomes possible.

This discussion goes from Maha-Kala to Maha-Kala again.

Mahayogin is the knowledge of the secrets of the Universe. Because of this Maha-Kala is the destroyer of human passions. With the annihilation of all excitement, true enlightenment is possible. With illumination, it is possible to achieve ultimate understanding and tranquility in the endless shifting cosmos and escape from the affliction and suffering of life, existence, death and fate.

Siva Maha-Kala is the Nataraja, the Lord of Dancers and the dance of creation, destruction, embodiment, liberation, and maintenance. With the invention of the cosmos, devastation of creation is realizable. The personification of the interaction of contrary forces brings release and preservation from stagnation. Nataraja is artistic representations of Siva and Maha Kala through dance. The dance expresses the continuing creation and destruction of the Universe as single interactive and ongoing process. The dance makes clear that creation is a movement in which the Universe creates it self out of its own destruction. This is why Nataraja is important in this vital understanding.

In different regions people find different ways to express this insight. Different stories were developed to understand Siva Maha-Kala nature. In South India, in the woods of Maharashtra, lived a group of sages who had strayed from the Way. Siva and Vishnu tried to win the mystics back and restore rule over the area. Vishnu took the form of a beautiful woman and the anger of the monks increased.  Siva Maha-Kala danced to breakdown the priests' control over the region. The philosophers created a tiger out of fire to pounce and kill Siva Maha-Kala. Siva Maha-Kala very gently removed the pelt of the tiger and covered himself with the fur of the tiger as if a robe. Then a venomous serpent was formed. Siva placed the snake around his neck, which became a most beautiful garland. The heretics then shaped together a giant who looked like an overgrown and deformed dwarf. Siva Maha-Kala broke this monster's back, returning substance to the earth. With song and dance, malevolence was overcome and everything foul was recycled to create beauty.

Nataraja the Dancer produces ecstasy, through which the divine embraces human life. Through the dance, life embraces the four directions.  Siva Maha-Kala holds the hourglass drum, which is creation. The drum becomes the pulse of the universe. Sound is the first element created by the universe. From the sound and songs of the universe came the Sanskrit language--the second element and the carrier of wisdom.

Siva Maha-Kala then holds up the tongue of flames that is the next element.  Fire is the destroyer. It is the element of destruction, annihilation and extinction that generates the raw materials for creation to begin again. From this, Abahaya, or protection, is born. Protection is needed for life. Through this dance, Siva Maha-Kala gives birth to the son he sired.  Ganesha, the son, removes obstacles to enlightenment, leading to the escape from birth and death.

Original beginnings and inspired strength is possible when slothfulness, apathy and preoccupation with self are overcome. The soul of the universe rests within the spirit of each individual. Through wisdom, the understanding of this relationship can be appreciated.

Eternity and Time embrace each other. The mountain streams feed the oceans of the world. Siva is both Kala (fleeting time) and Maha-Kala (the Great Time or eternity).  Mahayugas, or Great Eons, are but flashes of time. Eternity and Time stand in continual unity, conflict, disintegration and reunity at every point from the eternal past to the eternal future. Time is the tension between destruction and reproduction.

Buddhism and Maha-Kala

With the rise of Buddhism, Maha-Kala became the realization of the eternity of ever-changing time. Ngawang Drakpa founded the Dhe-Tsang monastery. While traveling in the region of Eastern Tibet, a large Crow flew down on the monk and pilfered his scarf. Days later and some distance away, the monk discovered his scarf draped over a juniper tree. This became the spot the monastery was built. To this day in Tibet, Maha-Kala means the "Great Black One".

The local Bonpo (the indigenous animistic masters) feared the coming of Buddhism. They used magic to prevent the building of the Buddhist Monastery. What the Buddhists built during the day would collapse at night.  When the Crow, Maha-Kala, saw this, he carried a correspondence between Ngawang Drakpa in Dhe-Tsang and the Most Holy Master Tsongkhapa in Lhasa. From this communiqué, the Solitary Hero Bhairava Sadhana was gathered. This enhanced and intensified the decisive factors of Buddhism.  Due to this improved Buddhism, the Bonpo monks became Buddhists.

Again, there's a need for the relationship between Maha-Kala and Maha-Kala to be made explicit.

With the construction of the monastery, it was agreed upon that there was a need for a guarding statue to protect the abbey. That very day, three Black Men from India showed up and offered their services. The sculptors were contracted to complete the sculpture.  When work began on the figure, there was only one Black Man left. When the Icon was only half-completed, a rite was planned and implemented to celebrate the holiness of the site. Tibetan dancers were asked to perform a dance of rejoicing for the ceremony that celebrated the founding of Buddhism in this region of Tibet. With dancing in progress, the Black Indian began to dance. No human ever saw a dance more wild or beautiful. Everyone stopped what she or he was doing to watch the untamed magnificence. At the height of the performance, the sculptor disappeared and the image of Maha-Kala was completed.  The same mysterious event occurred at the same time at other sites in which two other icons were constructed in exactly the same way. This was the work of none other than Maha-Kala, protector of the holy site and guardian to the Great Time.

Concluding Remarks

Maha-Kala represents time, eternity, destruction and creation. This Great Time leads us to realize that our lives are transitory flashes in the eternal ocean of change.  Because of this, our ignorance creates wisdom, pride becomes humility, desire leads to detachment, jealousy gives support to secure accomplishments and anger gives way to inner peace. Eternity is forever and changes constantly, being destroyed and reborn. The universe also returns to its beginnings and starts over. What happens to every individual happens to the universe.

Michael Joseph Francisconi

University of Montana Western

FURTHER READINGS

Miller, B. (1986). The Bhagavad-Gita : Krishna's Counsel in Time of War. New York: Bantam Classics.

Olivelle, P. (1998). Upanisads. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Many Forms of Mahakala, Protector of Buddhist Monasteries.. Retrieved from http://www.exoticindiaart.com/newsletter 2005, January.

Ramanujan, A. K. (1973). Speaking of Siva. New York: Penguin Classics.

Rig Veda.(2005). New York: Penguin Classics.

Shiva as Nataraja - Dance and Destruction In Indian Art. Retrieved from http://www.exoticindiaart.com/newsletter, 2001, January.

Tulku, U. R. (2004). As It Is. Berkeley, CA: North Atlantic Books.

Valenza, R. (1994). Maha Kala in the Center. Occidental, CA: Nine Muses.