Kalacakra (pronounced "kalachakra") (tib.
Dukor) is one of the most important deities that make up the Yidam, a collection of
gods whose purpose is to protect practitioners or specific purposes. Kalacakra is
the most complex of these tantric deities, and often times called the wheel of time.
He, and his mandala that is often seen depicted represents among other ideals, the
complete history of the world. Both he and his consort Vishwamati are worshipped by
Tibetan and Newari Buddhists alike, and as a wrathful deity, is looked up to for
protection and inspiration.
An extremely complicated wrathful tantric deity,
Kalacakra is most often times depicted in yabyum with his consort Vishwamati.
Kalacakra, blue in color, has twenty-four arms, four faces, twelve eyes, and two
legs. Embracing Vishwamati, he dances in pratayalidha asana position, leaning to his
left with his right leg straight and his left bent. His waist is wrapped in a tiger
skin, while the rest of his body is decorated with many ornaments such as vadjras
(dorjes), earrings, necklaces, etc. In each of his twenty-four hands he holds a
symbolic tantric item such as: a vadjra (dorje), a sword, a trishlua (trident), a kartari
(knife), fire, an arrow, an ankusha (gourd), a discus, an axe, a bell, a skull cup, a bow,
a mirror, severed heads, etc. As he dances in embrace with vishwamati, he stands
upon two Hindu deities, Ananga and Rudra who lie on their backs.
Vishwamati, golden in color, has eight arms, four
faces, and two legs. In her principle hands she holds a vadjra (dorje) and a bell.
They dance together on four discs that symbolize the astrological planets: Sun,
Moon, Rahu, and Kalagni. Together in yabyum, Kalacakra and Vishwamati symbolize the
unity that starts time and eventually sees to the eventual end of suffering for all
sentient beings.
