The ritual was led by Khen Rinpoche Namgyal and three other members of the Sangha. In the promotional brochure, White Mahakala was introduced as a special wealth deity who removes obstacles and grants protection to dedicated Dharma practitioners. He is also said to help accumulate merit and provide Dharma practitioners with the necessary wealth to support their spiritual practice.

To symbolize the abundance of wealth, the shrine was decked with large amount of food, fruits as well as flowers and incense. Devotees also made offerings in the likes of lighting oil lamps and bringing White Mahakala vases for blessings.



During a short pause in one of the rituals, Khen Rinpoche Namgyal advised the devotees to treat each ritual not as a "normal activity" but as a powerful empowerment that enables their aspirations to manifest.




About White Mahakala

White Mahakala (Skt: Śvetamahākāla, Tib: གོང་པོ་དཀར་པོ་) is a protector deity primarily practiced in the Sakya tradition of Tibetan Buddhism, though the practice exists in other schools as well.

Some basic aspects of White Mahakala:
- He is considered a wealth-bestowing aspect of Avalokiteshvara.
- He is depicted as white in color, with six arms.
- He is associated with removing poverty and generating prosperity for dharmic purposes.
- His practice is meant to benefit sentient beings by creating conditions favorable for Dharma practice.


The Meaning of Mahakala

Mahakala (Sanskrit: महाकाल, Tibetan: Nagpo Chenpo) can be broken down etymologically:

Maha = Great
Kala = Black/Time/Death

Thus, Mahakala literally means "Great Time" or "Great Black One."

In a Buddhist context, Mahakala is a dharmapala (Dharma protector) and is considered a wrathful manifestation of Avalokiteshvara, the bodhisattva of compassion. His fierce appearance represents the transformation of anger into enlightened wisdom.

Key Aspects of Mahakala's Symbolism:

1. The Black Color Represents:
- The ultimate nature of reality (dharmakaya)
- The absence of inherent existence
- The dissolution of all conceptual constructs

2. The "Time" Aspect Represents:
- The impermanence of all phenomena
- The immediacy of enlightened activity
- The timeless nature of the awakened mind

In traditional texts, Mahakala appears in several forms:
- Two-armed
- Four-armed
- Six-armed
- Sixteen-armed

Each form has specific attributes and functions related to Dharma protection. However, the detailed aspects of these forms and their practices require proper empowerment and guidance from qualified teachers.

The essential point is that Mahakala’s fierce appearance is an expression of enlightened compassion, working to remove obstacles to practitioners’ spiritual development.