Thirteen Empowerments of the Protector

The Swift-acting Six-armed Awareness Protector

A series of empowerments for the various aspects of the "Swift-acting Six-armed Awareness Protector" commonly known as the Six-armed Mahakala, who is considered a wrathful emanation of the Great Compassionate One, Arya Avalokiteshvara. He is the special protector of the Shangpa Kagyu tradition and its practitioners to the present day. Included among the thirteen empowerments are the regular wrathful black form known as the "Dispeller of All Obstacles" and the peaceful white form known as "Wish-fulfilling Jewel," which are the two main aspects of the protector. There are also the yellow, red, green and maroon protector, and the protector with various configurations of retinues, with or without consorts etc. A special transmission of the Shangpa Kagyu tradition, originating with the Indian Mahasiddha Shavaripa, which was received by Khedrub Khyungpo Naljor, both in India and Tibet, from his teachers Maitripa and Rahula. Ever since the incomparable Tsongkhapa Lobsang Dragpa received these transmissions from Jagchen Jampa Pal, the Six-armed Protector is also one of the main protective deities of the Gelugpa school. There are also other lineages of Six-armed Mahakala practice, but they all go back to Khyungpo Naljor's original introduction of this cycle of empowerments, teachings and practices to Tibet. The sole exception is the Six-armed Mahakala treasure teaching revealed by Chokgyur Dechen Lingpa and included in his collected terma treasures, the Chokling Tersar. [TSD]