MIRACLES OF GREAT BLACK MAHAKALA: THREE MEN IN BLACK, THE MAHAKALA BROTHERS, THE

DALAI LAMA, AND A CROW

“You come from your tree…

You, the Great Black One, the Great Crow.
Glorious Six-Armed One, homage and praise to you!
Sternly protect the doctrine of the Buddha!”

Crows and the Men in Black are recurring themes in many Tibetan Buddhist stories.
Both, are considered to be emanations of the Great Black, of Black Mahakala.

“Mahākāla is the most commonly invoked of all Dharma protectors, and is important
to all schools of Tibetan Buddhism. In Tibetan he is often known simply as ‘the
Lord’,” writes Vessantara. [5]

Mahakala, crows and the Dalai Lama

Black six-armed Mahakala is a manifestation of Chenrezig, the Buddha of Compassion,

and among the most important of deities in Vajrayana Buddhism. The Dalai Lama is
also an emanation of Avalokiteshvara (Chenrezig). In an interview, the Dalai Lama
told the story of the two crows in his own life (on his official website):

“Another thing I didn’t mention in my autobiography is that after my birth, a pair

of crows came to roost on the roof of our house. They would arrive each morning,
stay for while and then leave. This is of particular interest as similar incidents
occurred at the birth of the First, Seventh, Eighth and Twelfth Dalai Lamas. After
their births, a pair

of crows came and remained. In my own case, in the beginning, nobody paid attention
to this. Recently, however, perhaps three years ago, I was talking with my mother,
and she recalled it. She had noticed them come in the morning; depart after a time,
and then the next morning, come again.

Now the evening after the birth of the First Dalai Lama, bandits broke into the
family’s house. The parents ran away and left the child. The next day when they
returned and wondered what had happened to their son, they found the baby in a
corner of the house. A crow stood before him, protecting him.

“Later on, when the First Dalai Lama grew up and developed in his spiritual
practice, he made direct contact during meditation with the protective deity,
Mahakala.

At this time, Mahakala said to him, Somebody like you who is upholding the Buddhist
teaching needs a protector like me. Right on the day of your birth, I helped you.

“So we can see, there is definitely a connection between Mahakala, the crows, and
the Dalai Lamas.” [4]

Dhe-Tsang Monastery: crows and men in black

In the beautiful story of the founding of Dhe-Tsang monastery, the great protector
Black Mahakala personally guided Je Tsongkhapa’s great disciple Ngawang Drakpa —
appearing as a black crow.
The monastery, built in the year 1414, owed its existence to the coming of a great
black crow. Later, another crow carried a powerful sadhana from Lama Tsongkhapa to
his disciple to help subdue the demons and black magic troubling the area. Then,
came the “Men in Black” who mysteriously appeared, and who later transformed into
three statues — one of Six-Armed Mahakala, one of Four-Armed Mahakala, and one of
White Mahakala.

We can see these stories as symbolic, literal or magical, but they immediately give
us a sense of power and importance of Mahakala. Whether as a potent psychological
archetype or as an Enlightened Deity active in the world, Mahakala — the fierce
aspect of Chenrezig or Avalokiteshvara, Buddha of Compassion — the symbolism of the
history is profound.

Whether Mahakala’s activity is all in “your head”, or actually active in the

relative world (Desire Realm), there can be no doubt (to a Vajrayana Buddhist) that
Black Mahakala’s power is irresistible. Even today, in some monasteries, the monks
put aside a portion of food for “the black man” Mahakala. In Mahakala Tangkhas, you
often see the black man in the foreground.

There can be no doubt that all of these manifestations in the stories — the crows
and the three men in black (or three black men, depending on the translation) — are
none other than emanations of The Great Black One, Mahakala.

First, comes the Crow

In the wondrous tale of Dhe Tsang Monastery, Mahakala manifests as both crows and
the three men in black (or black men, depending on the translation). From a
wonderful article by Nitin Kumar [3]:

“The Dhe-Tsang monastery, built in 1414 by a close disciple of Je Tsongkhapa is

situated in the Gyalrong district of eastern Tibet. When its founder, Ngawang
Drakpa, came to the region intending to build a monastery there, he realized that
the place was special but couldn’t decide on the best location to build the
Hermitage.

At that very moment, a huge crow swooped down on him, picked off his scarf, and
flew away with it. The monk hastened to follow the crow. Eventually, the garment
was found hanging from the branches of a Juniper tree. Here it is relevant to
observe that the crow is visualized in Tibetan Buddhism as an incarnation of
Mahakala, whose name literally means the ‘Great Black One.’

Taking this occurrence to be an auspicious omen, Ngawang decided to build the

monastery around the tree, which would itself serve as a natural pillar of the
prayer hall.”

This was only the beginning of this tale of wonders. Later, when demons and black
magic caused the monastery construction to collapse — whatever was built each day,
would crumble that night — Ngawang Drakpa again relied on the great Lama
Tsongkhapa’s advice — and the crow emanation of Black Mahakala.

As he was considering what to do, the crow appeared again. “Much relieved by its
presence, the venerable monk wrote a letter to his guru Tsongkhapa in Lhasa, asking
for help. The master in response to his pupil’s plea then composed a practice
brimming with spiritual potency and gave it the name:

‘The Solitary Hero Vajra Bhairava Sadhana.’ He gave it to the crow to deliver it to
Ngawang Drakpa. When the latter received the manual, he performed the practice
immediately…” All negative influences were subdued. [3]

Then, the Men in Black (or the Black Men)

From then on, construction went smoothly. Venerable Ngawang Drakpa sought out the
best possible sculptors to create the statues for the monastery, and especially the
great protector Mahakala. Again, quoting the feature by Nitin Kumar:

“When the major part of construction was completed, the lama began to look for
master sculptors who could create spiritually charged images for the retreat. One
day, three black men came to the monastery and stayed there for some time.

They later revealed that they were sculptors from India. Delighted on hearing this,
Ngawang Drakpa eagerly sought their services in building the required deity
statues. Of the three men from India, only one agreed to stay on and help. As per
his promise, the sculptor created all the statues requested except that of
Mahakala, which alas, was only half-finished when the day of inauguration arrived.

The celebrations for the occasion consisted of various ritual dance performances.
At the end of the program, the Indian sculptor declared that he too wished to
perform a dance for the contemplation of the audience and proceeded to enthrall
them with an exceptionally energetic performance wearing a swirling costume and a
large wrathful mask, leaving the viewers in raptures.

Towards the conclusion of the dance, his physical form suddenly started to shrink
until finally only the giant mask remained on the ground and there was no trace of
the body of the dancer. Taken aback by the bizarre turn of events, the monks rushed
to the chamber where the half-finished statue of Mahakala lay. To their utter
surprise, the statue was complete. The sculptor had merged with his creation,
granting it an unparalleled spiritual potency.

The story does not end here, however. Later they were informed that the two
companions of the Indian sculptor, who had declined to stay on, had each made a
Mahakala statue at two different monasteries and had likewise mysteriously
disappeared into their respective creations.

It was not long before the perceptive adepts realized that these sculptors were
none other than the great god Mahakala in his various manifestations, incarnating
himself as the savior and protector of monasteries.

Thus at Ngawang’s hermitage he was the Six-Armed Mahakala and had created a
sculpture of himself with half-a-dozen hands. In a similar manner the other two had
created icons of the Four-Armed and the White Mahakala respectively. Collectively,
they were named the three Mahakala brothers and became vastly popular all over
Tibet.”

Crow in different traditions

In Tibet — and most cultural traditions not influenced by the story of Noah (where
the crow failed his mission — the crow is considered highly auspicious. In Tibet
crow is associated with Mahakala; in Europe with Odin; in North American native
spirituality, Raven is an important entity and Crow is sometimes the totem of the
Great Spirit; in Hinduism, crow is associated with Shiva.

The crow and the Dalai Lamas

The crow also features in both the stories of the first — and the current — Dalai
Lamas.

“When the home of the baby who was to become known as the First Dalai Lama Chokey
Geundun (or, Kundun which means “the presence”) was set upon by raiders, the family
had to flee leaving behind the little child. When they returned the following
morning, they found the baby guarded by a pair of crows. To this day, crows figure
among the symbols of his rank.

In Kundun (Martin Scorsese, 1997) the film made of the first 25 years of the
current (14th) Dalai Lama’s life based upon a series of interviews conducted by
Martha Mathison, Reting the Regent tells how on the morning following the birth,
the mother noticed a pair of crows outside.” — Raven and Crow Khandro.net

Why Mahakala appears as a wrathful deity

Ven. Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche explains:

“It is not because there is something ferocious about Mahakala or that he is

aggressive. Mahakala is none other than the inseparability of compassion and
loving-kindness. In the view of ultimate wisdom, there is no separation between the
Awakened Mind of Buddha and that of Mahakala. Mahakala is a manifestation of the
awakened mind. Appearing in very majestic form, splendid yet frightening, Mahakala
stands in the midst of a mountain of flames to symbolize that no enemy can stand
this appearance aspect; the

sharp chopper, which he holds aloft in one hand, symbolizes the cutting through of
negative patterns, aggression, hatred, ignorance–any of the five poisons. No
neurosis or negativity can tolerate this very majestic form; the frightening form
symbolizes Mahakala as totally devoid of fear or hesitation in his spontaneous yet
consistent work toward the benefit and liberation of all beings.

Mahakala is seen standing on the corpse of two human bodies, thus symbolizing the
death of negativities and the complete uprooting of negative patterns to such a
point that, like a dead body, they will not come to life. It is very important that
we know these symbols of Mahakala because many times we have mistaken notions that
he may be a clinging spirit or harmful, evil being, perhaps even the Lord of Death
ready to devour and attack. One would find great difficulty in relating to the
various symbols without understanding that our awakened compassion is the essential
quality of the being of Mahakala. Mahakala has never been known to harm one being,
even in the slightest manner, because he is constantly benefiting beings through
the continuous play of the enlightened mind.” [2]

Vessantara’s story of Chenrezig’s transformation

In his wonderful book “A Guide to the Deities of Tantra” author and teacher
Vessantara gives a lovely prose visualization to help explain the transformation of
peaceful to wrathful [5]:

“Avalokiteśvara, the Lord of Compassion, gazes out across the world, his white
radiance soothing the sufferings of living beings. With one pair of hands he clasps
to his heart the wish-fulfilling gem of his vow to eradicate the world’s pain. In
his upper left hand he holds the lotus of spiritual receptivity, the desire to
leave the mud of saṃsāra and reach up towards the sun of true happiness.
Above his head we sense the oceanic love of Amitābha, his spiritual father. In
Avalokiteśvara’s heart the mantra oṃ maṇi padme hūṃ rotates ceaselessly, pouring
its light into the six realms of suffering. In his upper right hand we see his
crystal mālā turning. With each bead another being’s sufferings are extinguished.
We watch the dancing reflections in the crystal beads, follow their steady rhythm
as aeons pass.

Still the beads flow through the milk-white fingers. The pace is steady, smooth,
ceaseless. And yet … there is still so much agony, pain, and frustration mirrored
in those patient eyes. Hearts which hear the call of the mantra and long to respond
are chained by dark forces, restrained by fear, bewildered by confusion, so that
they do not know whence the sound comes or how to follow it.

The sapphire eyes cloud with a gathering storm of spiritual impatience. They steal
a glance at the steady, but too slow, circling of the crystal beads to their right.
They look once more, hard, at the plague forces of ignorance, the jailers of
hatred, the ransomers of craving who hold so many beings in their clutches.

The crystal beads begin to change shape. They lose their sparkling reflections for
a sun-bleached white. They become a death’s head garland, a rosary of skulls. The
delicate white hand grows darker, its light changing from white to deep blue, like
an eclipse of the sun.

The powerful hand’s first and last fingers stab the air in a menacing gesture.
Around it roars a corona of flames. With a world-shaking cry the figure, now blue-
black, starts to its feet. The wish-fulfilling jewel transforms into a vajra-
chopper and a skull cup dripping with red nectar. The soft lotus transforms into a
trident with a death’s head.

From the huge, overpowering blue-black body another arm thrusts out, rattling a
skull drum. To the left a further first uncoils a noose. The giant figure pounds
forward, wild hair streaming upward, tied round with snakes. The massive body,
nearly naked, girt only with a tiger-skin, wears skulls – pretty, staring skulls –
as jewels. Snake-enwreathed, fang-mouthed, three eyes glaring bloodshot from an
awesome face, he marches onward bellowing challenge…”

Read on in Vessantara’s amazing book: A Guide to the Deities of the Tantra.

Symbolism of popular Six-Armed Black Mahakala

Black six-armed Mahakala is a manifestation of Chenrezig, the Buddha of Compassion.

Although he appears wrathful, this is a symbolic appearance that conveys his power
to overcome negativities, obstacles and provide conducive conditions for practice.
In brief, the complex attributes of six-armed Mahakala are symbolic of:

Midnight blue or black symbolizes changeless Dharmakaya (all colours absorb into
black.)

Three eyes convey that he sees the past, present and future.

The five-skull crown: transformation of the five poisons of anger, desire,

ignorance, jealousy and pride — into the five wisdoms.

Six arms represent the attainment of the six perfections: generosity, patience,
morality, diligence, meditation, and wisdom.

Rosary of skulls symbolize continuous activity on behalf of all sentient beings.

Damaru hand drum represents the sound of emptiness

The skullcup filled with blood symbolizes either/ both the subjugation of the maras
(evil), or the transformation to the pristine nectar of wisdom.

The kartika or curved ritual knife stands for “cutting attachments” and clinging to
“ego.”

The trident staff shows his power over the three kayas.

The lasso binds those who break their vows.

He stands on an elephant-headed deity, symbolizing the overcoming of obstacles

(elephants represent pride) and also overcoming obtacles subconscious thoughts

He stands on a sun disc, symbolizing illumination from ignorance.

The lotus throne represents purity and the Lotus Family (Chenrezig and Amitabha are
Lotus Family.)

The tiger skin represents the purification of desire.

The elephant skin stands for purification of pride.

Snakes represent the purification of anger.