Dharma Protectors Day:
Monthly Mahakala & Dharmapalas Puja
On every 29th day of the Tibetan lunar calendar - the Dharma Protectors Day, Dechen Choekhor will conduct a full-day Four-armed Mahakala Puja (Tib. Gonpo Nyergu) and the Dharmapala petition offerings - the Rahula and Nyokha Solkha.
The wisdom Dharma Protectors’ practices are essential for practitioners to pacify obstacles of the outer and inner that hinder their spiritual progress and the attainment of realization. It also helps to foster favorable conditions conducive for practices.
About Dechen Choekhor Mahakala Lineage
Dechen Choekhor Mahakala Lineage is originated from Palchen Galo Namgyal Dorje, also widely known as Ga Lotsawa, a great Tibetan mahasiddha and translator who visited India and brought back many precious teachings to Tibet, particularly the Mahakala practices. He is the very specialist in the Mahakala tantra and holds all the essence of the Mahakala teachings from India. Later, instead of restraining it under a single lineage, he spread and transmitted the Mahakala practices into all four schools of Tibetan Buddhism. Any Mahakala teachings originating from Palchen Galo* are regarded as authentic and reputable sources.
The Four-armed Mahakala Thangka of Dechen Choekhorling
Mahakala, also known as the chief Dharmapala, is the guardian protector of the Buddha's teachings. Higher levels of Dharmapalas are basically emanations of Buddhas who undertake the role to protect the doctrine, its upholders, and practitioners.
Mahakala practices were taught by Lord Buddha Sakyamuni in the tantra teachings. Any teachings that are taught in the tantra is the ultimate practice; which means, through such practices, one can achieve enlightenment. Thus, Mahakala can be practiced as the Three Roots - Lama, Yidam, and Protector.
The Four-armed Mahakala is a completely enlightened Bodhisattvas manifested in the form of a wisdom Dharma protector. He is a wrathful, powerful, and ferocious manifestation of Heruka Chakrasamvara, embodying the power, wisdom, and fierce compassionate activities of the Buddhas. The wrathful compassion of Mahakala is able to overcome all obstacles and negativities one faces on the path to enlightenment.
In the Tantra, it is said that when Lord Buddha meditates under the bodhi tree, just right before He attains enlightenment, the power and wisdom that arose in His mind, and through it, He manifested to defeat and overcome the immense hindrances, negative forces, and evil spirits, is the Mahakala. In short, the strength, power, capability, and wisdom that Lord Buddha manifests to conquer all obstacles and negativities, if they ever have a form, is the Mahakala.
Similarly, the power and wisdom that Guru Rinpoche manifested to tame and subjugate all the evil forces in Samye are also the Mahakala.
*Palchen Galo Namgyal Dorje is one of the Choegon Rinpoches' Line of Incarnations.
Mahakala Practice and The Drukpa Choegon Lineage:
The Four-Armed Mahakala is the main among the eight manifestations of Mahakala. It is also the main form practices in Mindroling monastery, in Drukpa Kagyu lineage and the Nyingma tradition. Drukpa Choegon Rinpoches and Drukpa Yongzin Rinpoches of Dechen Choekhor strongly hold the Mahakala practice, particularly the Drukpa Choegon Lineage.
The line of incarnations of the Choegon Rinpoche Lineage is closely linked to the practice of Mahakala. The early lives of Choegon Rinpoche such as Palchen Galo Namgyal Dorje, Phuljung Samgyal Khache, Sangdak Namkha Palzang, etc. are all great-accomplished masters of the Mahakala practices. The first Choegon Rinpoche, Shabdrung Druk Choekyi Gonpo is also renowned for his great attainment in the Mahakala practices.
Thus, the Mahakala practices are explicitly connected and are pivotal to the Choegon Rinpoche Lineage. The Drukpa Choegon Lineage is renowned as the incomparable accomplished master in the practice of the Mahakala, Chakrasamvara and Vajrapani. The Drukpa Choegon Rinpoches is revered as the most powerful Mahakala practitioner of Drukpa Kagyu.
Should you wish to find out more details about this puja, please write to us: web@dechenchoekhor.org
Thank you!
Click on the link to view the Mahakala Practice of Drukpa Kagyu