Namo Shri Kalachakraya
Hail to Lord Kalachakra
THE DEITIES OF THE BODY MANDALA
THE BODY MANDALA
The Body Mandala forms the ground-level basis of the 5-storey mandala. In elaborate visualisations, it comes on the center of a huge lotus which is on top of Mount Meru, which in turn is placed on a series of huge elemental disks. Around the mandala is also a very large 'Vajra Tent'.
Unlike most other mandalas, the Kalachakra mandala is not placed over a large double vajra.
The Body Mandala contains a total of 536 deities, of which 108 are located in the 'cemetery grounds' outside the walls.
360 DEITIES OF THE DAYS
On the ledge inside the walls, we find 360 deities located on lotuses covering twelve animals, symbolising the 360 days of the year fitted into 12 months, as in the table below.
Month Month Name Animal in Mandala Location in Mandala Central Deity Consort Deities
on Lotus petals (clockwise) Corresponding
Western
Sign of Zodiac
1 Caitra Hungry Ghost ESE Yaksha Yakshi Nya-Vajri, Nyi-Vajri etc. Aries
2 Vaishakha Deer SE Vayudeva Prachandi Cha-ajri, Chi-Vajri etc. Taurus
3 Jyeshtha Sheep SSW Agni Varuni Na-Vajri, Ni-Vajri etc. Gemini
4 Purvashadha Peacock SW Skandhakumara Shri Ta-Vajri, Ti-Vajri etc. Cancer
5 (Shr)Avana Sea Monster NNE Varuna Varahi Ma-Vajri, Mi-Vajri etc. Leo
6 (Purva)Bhadrapada Mouse NE Ganapati Kumari Pa-Vajri, Pi-Vajri etc. Virgo
7 Ashvini Elephant WSW Indra Vayudevi Na-Vajri, Ni-Vajri etc. Libra
8 Kartika Goose NW Brahma Vidyuti Ta-Vajri, Ti-Vajri etc. Scorpio
9 Mrigashira Bull NNW Rudra Gauri Xa-Vajri, Xi-Vajri etc. Sagittarius
10 Tishya (Pusha) Elephant WNW Kuvera Lakshmi
(Dhanendira) Sa-Vajri, Si-Vajri etc. Capricorn
11 Magha Garuda ENE Vishnu Shri Nga-Vajri, Ngi-Vajri etc. Aquarius
12 Phalguna Water Buffalo SSE Yama Yami Ka-Vajri, Ki-Vajri etc. Pisces
These 360 deities also correspond to the development of the embryo during the 8th month.
From the book 'Kalachakra' by Tibet Domani (image slightly edited):
'Bull (eleventh month) to the left of the northern door, on the back of the bull, is a red twenty-eight-petalled lotus, in the centre of which is seated white Rudra (Wrathful one) with one face and four arms. In his right hands he holds a trident and an arrow. In his left hands he hold kathvanga encoiled by a snake and a bow. He is embraced by red Gauri with one face and four arms. In her right ands she holds a staff and a sword. In her left hands she holds a chain and a noose. Standing on the petals are twenty-eight white female deities, each with one face and four arms. In their right hands they hold a trident and an arrow. In their left hands they hold a khatvanga encoiled by a snake and a bow.'
PROTECTORS OF THE BODY MANDALA
Inside the entrance gates, located on chariots pulled by seven animals each, are a total of 4 pairs of Protector deities, and also above and below the mandala are protectors.
Location Protector Consort Chariot pulled by
Eastern Gate Niladanda Prabhavati 7 boars
Southern Gate Takkiraja Chunda 7 horses
Northern Gate Achala Bhrikuti 7 (snow) lions
Western Gate Mahabala Vajrashrinkali 7 elephants
Above Mandala Ushnishacakravarti Atishnila (7?) garuda(s)
Below Mandala Sumbharaja Rohini (7?) (snow) lion(s)
The total of 32 Protector deities (probably: 8 in entrance gates, 20 in the cemeteries, 2 above and 2 below) correspond to the 32 channels at the secret chakra.
OFFERING GODDESSES
On the white ledge just outside the walls are 36 Detachment (Offering) Goddesses, usually represented by Sanskrit seed syllables.
The combined Offering Goddesses of the Body, Speech and Mind mandala correspond to the 10th and last month in the development of an embryo.
ELEMENTAL DEITIES
The same outer white ledge contains shapes representing the elements (yellow squares for earth, white circles for water, red triangles for fire, black crescents for air, green circle for space and blue circle for mind), on which a total of 20 Elemental Deities are located.
The White Outer Ledge further holds lamps in the corners behind the gates, shaped like a white moon crescent and a double vajra on top.
The cemetery area covers the fire and air ring around the mandala and contains a total of 88 Sanskrit syllables, which symbolise 88 deities of the main elemental spirits.
WHEEL DEITIES
The 10 wheels in the cemetery area each contain a deity pair: a fierce female deity (Prachanda), embraced by a naga-king in the center:
Location Name of cemetery Animal
(often not shown in Mandala) Central Deity Consort
E Shikharavindhya Rhino Svamukhi Takshaka
SE Avasheshabhogsa Berunda Kakamukhi Mahapadma
S Vetajvala Bear Shukaramukhi Kulika
SW Asahayuda Crane Gridhramukhi Ananta
N Rulbcas (Tib.) female yak Vyaghramukhi Vasuki
NE Balamrtyu Hyena Ulukamukhi Shankhapala
W Puyagandha Lion Jambukamukhi Karkotaka
NW Sarpabhoga Rabbit Garudamukhi Padma
Above Garuda Anila Shyamani Vijaya
Below 8-Legged Lion Vajrakshi Jaya
The deities in the cemeteries and the wheels refer to the development in the 9th month of an embryo.
