page_title: Mahakala
hierarchical_section_title: Mahakala
caption_attribution_description: English: Central Tibet, Ngor Monastery, circa 1700 Paintings Mineral pigments on cotton cloth From the Nasli and Alice Heeramaneck Collection, Museum Associates Purchase (M.77.19.11) South and Southeast Asian Art
context_page_description: Mahākāla is a deity common to Hinduism, Buddhism and Sikhism.
  According to Hinduism, Mahākāla is a manifestation of Shiva and is the consort of the goddess Mahākālī; he most prominently appears in the Kalikula sect of Shaktism.
  Mahākāla also appears as a protector deity known as a dharmapala in Vajrayana Buddhism, particularly most Tibetan traditions as Citipati, and in Chinese Esoteric Buddhism and in Shingon Buddhism. He is known as Dàhēitiān and Daaih'hāktīn in Mandarin and Cantonese, Daeheukcheon in Korean, Đại Hắc Thiên in Vietnamese, and Daikokuten in Japanese.
  In Sikhism, Mahākāla is referred to as Kal, who is the governor of Maya.
context_section_description: Mahākāla is a deity common to Hinduism, Buddhism and Sikhism.
  According to Hinduism, Mahākāla is a manifestation of Shiva and is the consort of the goddess Mahākālī; he most prominently appears in the Kalikula sect of Shaktism.
  Mahākāla also appears as a protector deity known as a dharmapala in Vajrayana Buddhism, particularly most Tibetan traditions as Citipati, and in Chinese Esoteric Buddhism and in Shingon Buddhism. He is known as Dàhēitiān and  Daaih'hāktīn (大黑天) in Mandarin and Cantonese, Daeheukcheon (대흑천) in Korean, Đại Hắc Thiên in Vietnamese, and Daikokuten (大黒天) in Japanese.
  In Sikhism, Mahākāla is referred to as Kal, who is the governor of Maya.
caption: Mahākāla and companions
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