大黑天

Mahākāla [lang id =1028]摩訶迦 (or [lang id =1028]謌) [lang id =1028]羅 the great black (sa) deva [lang id =1028]大黑神. Two interpretations are given. The esoteric cult describes the (sa) deva as the masculine form of Kālī, i.e. Durgā, the wife of Śiva; with one face and eight arms, or three faces and six arms, a necklace of skulls, etc. He is worshipped as giving warlike power, and fierceness; said also to be an incarnation of Vairocana for the purpose of destroying the demons; and is described as [lang id =1028]大時 the "great time"　(-keeper) which seems to indicate Vairocana, the sun. The exoteric cult interprets him as a beneficent (sa) deva, a Pluto, or god of wealth. Consequently he is represented in two forms, by the one school as a fierce (sa) deva, by the other as a kindly happy (sa) deva. He is shown as one of the eight fierce guardians with trident, generally blue-black but sometimes white; he may have two elephants underfoot. Six arms and hands hold jewel, skull cup, chopper, drum, trident, elephant-goad. He is the tutelary god of Mongolian Buddhism. Six forms of Mahākāla are noted:

(1) [lang id =1028]比丘大黑 A black-faced disciple of the Buddha, said to be the Buddha as Mahādeva in a previous incarnation, now guardian of the refectory.

(2) [lang id =1028]摩訶迦羅大黑女 Kālī, the wife of Śiva.

(3) [lang id =1028]王子迦羅大黑 The son of Śiva.

(4) [lang id =1028]真陀大黑 Cintāmaṇi, with the talismanic pearl, symbol of bestowing fortune.

(5) [lang id =1028]夜叉大黑 Subduer of demons.

(6) [lang id =1028]摩迦羅大黑 Mahākāla, who carries a bag on his back and holds a hammer in his right hand. J., Daikoku; M., Yeke-gara; T., Nag-po c'en-po.