Do you know who Kache Marpo is? See the latest article explaining this loyal attendant of Shugden:
http://dorjeshugden.com/wp/?p=10248Who is He?
Kache Marpo is the main attendant to Dorje Shugden alongside Namkar Barzin. He is said to be the direct emanation of Hayagriva. Although Kache Marpo takes the appearance of a wordly form, he is fully enlightened.
Hayagriva is the wrathful form of Avalokiteshvara. His compassion transforms itself as a fierce and strong energy. He manifests his compassion through wrath to force us to overcome both our inner and outer worldly obstacles, in order for us to practice Dharma smoothly.
Therefore, Kache Marpo being an emanation of a Buddha is an Enlightened Protector. He has his own Pujas, Offerings and Rituals separate from Dorje Shugden’s prayers, because he can be practiced as a Dharma Protector on his own.
It is said that Kache Marpo waits on his horse outside of the mansion in Dorje Shugden’s mandala to carry messages and lead a wrathful army to conquer our obstacles.
Kache Marpo usually takes trance peacefully through an oracle to give instructions and advice. He will check all advice with Dorje Shugden before giving it out to practitioners. Having great respect for Dorje Shugden, Kache Marpo always refers to him as the ‘Great King’.
Kache Marpo takes trance of the current Panglung Kuten (Kuten is oracle in Tibetan) who resides in Taiwan. He also takes trance of the Gameng Kuten in the USA. In Tibet, the previous Panglung Kuten was very famous and many people including the 14th Dalai Lama, Trijang Rinpoche, dignitaries and high officials would always consult him. The Panglung Kuten lived in Panglung Retreat near Sera Monastery in Lhasa.
When Kache Marpo takes trance of the qualified oracles he may give prophecies, advice, blessings and healing of diseases depending what is necessary. He is very patient and very helpful to those who practice Dharma sincerely.
When Kache Marpo takes trance, he may appear wrathful or peaceful depending on the location he is in. If the people in a certain area are aggressive, full of anger and stubborn, Kache Marpo would take on a wrathful form. On the contrary, if the people are compassionate, loving and patient, Kache Marpo would take on a calm and peaceful form.
At times when Dorje Shugden and Kache Marpo knows that the people in a certain area will not adhere to their instructions, they will not stay for long during trance nor accept the offerings from the people. This is so that the people will not accumulate more negative karma by disobeying the instructions given.
Iconography
Kache Marpo’s residence is described to be: A brilliant, splendid brown palace made of leather which is surrounded by a red ocean formed by the blood of horses and men.
The colour of his body is similar to that produced when the sun shines on a huge mountain of coral. He has the shape of a “son of devas”, with one face and two hands. In his right hand he brandishes a red, sharp lance, with which he pierces the heart of an oath-breaker. His left hand, holding a snare of the spirit which is wound around the neck of an obstacle-creating demon, rests in front of his breast.
He wears a leathern cuirass and a leathern helmet adorned with a “banner of victory” with pendants of silk in nine colours. His facial expression is very fierce and he gnaws his lower lip.
His eyes have red-gleaming veins, and they stare full of hatred at the evil vighnas. He sits on a very fierce horse, which has spots white like felt and possesses magic qualities – it is mounted with a priceless saddle and carries a front – belt and other horse trimmings.
Nero Stallion
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Four Faced MahakalaRead here the latest article on the close relationship between Four Faced Mahakala and Dorje Shugden:
http://dorjeshugden.com/wp/?p=10262Who is He?
Known as the ‘Great Black One’ in Sanskrit or Chaturmukha, Four Faced Mahakala is an emanation of the Buddha of Wisdom, Manjushri. He is popularly known to be able to quash our obstacles arising from ignorance and anger.
Being an enlightened Dharma Protector, he has been propitiated by many great masters including Lama Tsongkhapa, Nagarjuna and Tulku Drakpa Gyeltsen. Four Faced Mahakala is also very well known to be one of the principle protectors of the Sakya tradition. He is also the main protector of Drepung Loseling Monastery and various Khangtsens in Ganden.
A Short History of Chaturmukha or Four Faced Mahakala
Four Faced Mahakala is the Protector of the Guhyasamaja and Chakrasamavara Tantras. There was once a great Tibetan translator by the name of Nyen Lotsawa. When he received the tantric practice of Guhyasamaja of the Jnanapada Lineage from Risula (a dakini), she also bestowed on him the initiation of Four Faced Mahakala.
At this time, she gave him as a servant a dark skinned Brahman. When Nyen Lotsawa and the Brahman reached Nepal, the servant changed appearance and took on the form of a monk, an appearance more conducive for travelling in Tibet.
After the passing of Nyen Lotsawa, the monk remained with Lama Nam Ka’upa and then later with Sachen Kunga Nyingpo. This dark skinned monk is considered by many to be the emanation of Mahakala himself.
In later times, the Gelug School of Lama Tsongkapa adopted the Guhyasamaja practices and Four Faced Mahakala. Many more paintings and depictions of the four faced deity were made and he became a popular Protector. The vast majority of Tibetan and Mongolian paintings of Four Faced Mahakala are of the Gelug lineage.
How is Four Faced Mahakala connected to Dorje Shugden?
Both Four Faced Mahakala and Dorje Shugden are emanations of the Buddha of Wisdom, Manjushri hence they share similar natures.
Besides that, they are both connected through Dorje Shugden’s previous life, Tulku Drakpa Gyeltsen. Four Faced Mahakala was one of the heart practices of Tulku Drakpa Gyeltsen for all his life. It is because of this reason that Dorje Shugden has a very intimate relationship with Four Faced Mahakala.
Iconography
This form of Mahakala has four faces and four arms indicating that he has realized the four noble truths. His central face and body is dark blue in color, while his right face is white, his left face is red and his top face is black. The main hands of Four Faced Mahakala holds a curved knife and a skull cup. The curved knife and the skull cup are iconic implements of Mahakala that symbolizes his enlightened nature in Tantric imagery.
The second pair of hands holds a raised sword in the right and a spear in the left. The right leg is bent and the left straight standing atop a prone corpse-like figure. His three eyes stare at our negative karma and obstacles wrathfully with a vision of past, present and future simultaneously.
Nero Stallion
