Not to be confused with the protectors in the later higher tantras in this sūtra, or with Śiva who also has this name (though then it has the alternative meaning of “Great Time”), in the Kāraṇḍavyūha these are dangerous spirits. Elsewhere they are also said to be servants of Śiva, which may be the meaning here as they are grouped with the mātṛ goddesses.

Wrathful manifestation of the Hindu god Śiva.

A Buddhist protector deity; also the name of one of the attendants on Śiva.

One of Śiva’s wrathful manifestations and an important Buddhist protector deity.

Mahākāla (“Great Black One”) is a name for both a wrathful form of Śiva and one the most important Buddhist protector deities.

Mahākāla (“Great Black One”) is a name for both a wrathful form of Śiva and one the most important Buddhist protector deities.

Mahākāla (“Great Black One”) is a name for both a wrathful form of Śiva and one the most important Buddhist protector deities.

Mahākāla (“Great Black One”) is a name for both a wrathful form of Śiva and one the most important Buddhist protector deities.

Mahākāla is a wrathful Buddhist protector deity. In Tibetan, the name Mahākāla was mostly translated literally with nag po chen po (“Great Black One”) but on occasion it was rendered mgon po nag po (“Black Lord”). In Toh 440, for which the Sanskrit is extant, we have an attested example of this. Hence we have rendered both Tibetan terms in this text as Mahākāla. Outside the Buddhist tradition, Mahākāla is also a name for a wrathful form of Śiva.

Mahākāla is a wrathful Buddhist protector deity. In Tibetan, the name Mahākāla was mostly translated literally with nag po chen po (“Great Black One”) but on occasion it was rendered mgon po nag po (“Black Lord”). In Toh 440, for which the Sanskrit is extant, we have an attested example of this. Hence we have rendered both Tibetan terms in this text as Mahākāla. Outside the Buddhist tradition, Mahākāla is also a name for a wrathful form of Śiva.

Mahākāla is a wrathful Buddhist protector deity. In Tibetan, the name Mahākāla was mostly translated literally with nag po chen po (“Great Black One”) but on occasion it was rendered mgon po nag po (“Black Lord”). In Toh 440, for which the Sanskrit is extant, we have an attested example of this. Hence we have rendered both Tibetan terms in this text as Mahākāla. Outside the Buddhist tradition, Mahākāla is also a name for a wrathful form of Śiva.

The wrathful form of Śiva; also a wrathful Buddhist deity.

‟Great Death.” Most often considered a wrathful form of Avalokiteśvara, in the Bhūta­ḍāmara Tantra he is one of the wrathful forms of Śiva.

Mahākāla (“the great black one”) is both a name for one of the god Śiva’s wrathful manifestations and an important Buddhist protector deity. The Mahābhārata and Harivaṁśa list Mahākāla as one of Śiva’s attendants.

An epithet for the deity Mahākāla.