Namo Kalachakraya !

Hail to Kalachakra

KALACHAKRA HISTORY

CONTENTS:
History of the Kalachakra tradition
Some Contemporary Masters
History as Described in the Kalachakra Tradition
Bibliography

HISTORY OF THE KALACHAKRA TRADITION

The Kalachakra system is clearly related to the ancient Vedic tradition in India which existed long before Buddhism appeared. Specifically, it is closely related to the 'Samkya' system of thought. Basic concepts of the Samkya system, like the 25 constituents and the 5 action-organs are used in the Kalachakra system, but not found elsewhere in Buddhism. Similarly, mentioning of Shaktis in Buddhism is only found in the Kalachakra system.
Samkya is said to be the oldest of the six classical systems of thought of the Hindu tradition. Its founder - Kapila - is called the "first knower" (adi-vidvan), i.e., the first person to put the revelations of the Vedas into a system of thought. There have been practically no followers of this system in India for centuries. Yet in ancient times it was taken for granted as the accepted world-view, as we learn from the Indian epics and puranas.
As David Reigle suggests (#1), 'Among the many traditional {Buddhist} ideas which must be mastered to understand Kalachakra are several which are not found within Buddhism.... These include .... the Sankya system .... the Mandukya Upanisad .... and even the Jaina tradition.'

The Kalachakra tantra puts the life of Shakyamuni Buddha in the 9th. century BCE, instead of the more commonly accepted 6th. century BCE. There is also some discussion on when Shakyamuni Buddha taught the Kalachakra during his life time. Because of specific time indications in the teachings, it could have been one year after he attained enlightenment, but others say it was one year before he passed away. According to His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, logic indicates that it must have been at the end of his life, because the Kalachakra tantra reflects so many of his lifelong accomplishments.

At the request of King Suchandra of Shambala (the first king of Shambala of any importance), Shakyamuni Buddha took on the form of the Kalachakra deity with the consort Vishvamata, and gave these highest of teachings to a great assembly of sages and gods in southern India, at the Stupa of Dhanyakataka. Legend has it that on request of people during a famine, the third Buddha of this aeon (the predecessor of Shakyamuni) let fall a shower of rice, which formed this stupa.
While teaching the tantra, Shakyamuni manifested the entire Kalachakra mandala in its full 3D form. Furthermore, a second mandala called the Glorious Constellation Mandala appeared on the ceiling which represented the cosmos with planets and comets. Interestingly (possibly to symbolise the relativity of time), the entire initiation took place within a finger-snap, whereas nowadays it takes three full days to complete.

King Suchandra, who is said to be a manifestation of Vajrapani (a Buddha-form who represents the power of all the Buddhas) came from his home north of Kashmir to receive the teachings, accompanied by 96 generals and chieftains of the 96 minor kingdoms within Shambala. After the teachings, he wrote them down and composed the 'Mula' or 'Root Text' of the Kalachakra tantra, comprising 12,000 verses. Suchandra was the first of a line of seven religious kings who taught the Kalachakra to the inhabitants of Shambala. On the request of Shakyamuni, he built a huge 3-dimensional Kalachakra mandala in the centre of the kingdom. 2 Years after he received the Kalachakra teachings he died and was followed by 6 Kings, each reigning 100 years over Shambala, "the Land Held by Shiva".
(The first names in the lineage lists below are from #9.)

These first 7 kings are called the 7 Dharma-Kings:

Nr. Sanskrit, Tibetan, (Life - BCE), English

1. Suchandra, Dawa Zangpo (878-876 BC?) "Good Moon" (Tibetan)
2. Devendra, Lhayi Wang (876-776) Fond of Sentient Beings, Fusion of the Supreme
3. Tejasvin,Taji  Ziji Chän (776-676) Bearer of the Dharma Wheel and the Auspicious conch.
4. Chandradatta/Somadatta,  Dawä Jin  (676-576) Lord of Speakers
5. Deveshvara/Sureshvara, Lhaji Wangchug  (576-476) Destroyer of the City of Delusion
6. Chitrarupa/Vishvamurti,  Natshog Zug  (476-376) Conquerer of False Leaders, Holding a lotus
7. Devesha/Sureshana,  Lhayi Wangdän (or Päldän?) (376-276) Cutter of Delusion, Uprooter of Karma and Klesha (Click for a thanka at Tibet Art)

The following 17 kings have the title "Kalki" ("Kulika" may be an incorrect spelling) or "Rigden"-kings; meaning "Holder of the Castes" or the Shambala's Knowledge Holders.
The long English names are from (#3).

Nr (Caste-) Sanskrit, Tibetan (Life time), English
     (Holder)
     (Nr.)

 8.   (1) Manju Yashas/Manjushrikirti/Manjughoshikirti (Skt), Jampäl Dragpa (Tib)(Jamyang Drag(Tib)) (276 - 176 BC) The Renowned and Glorious Gentle One (For a thanka on the web click Tibet Art )
 9.   (2) Pundarika, Päma Kar(po)  (176-76 BC) White Lotus, Cherished by the Lord of Potala (For a thanka on the web click here )
10.  (3) Bhadra, Zangpo   * One who Rules by the Thousand-spoked wheel
11.  (4) Vijaya, Namgyäl (#3:Nampar Gyäl) * Attractor of Wealth, Victorious in War
12.  (5) MitrabhadraSumitra, Shenyen Zangpo  (327-427) Integrator of Method and Wisdom, Victorious over Samsara
13.  (6) Ratnapani/Raktapani, Rinchen Chag  (427-527) Holder of the Blissful Vajra and Bell
14.  (7) Vishnugupta, Kyabjug Bäpa   (527-627) Smiling Holder of the Trident and Rosary
15.  (8) Suryakirti/Arkakirti, Nyima Drag(pa)  (627-727) Annihilator of Wild Demons
16.  (9) Subhadra, Shintu Zangpo  (727-827) Holder of the Sword and Shield
17. (10) Samudra Vijaya,  Gyatso Namgyäl  (827-927) Annihilator of all types of Devils
18. (11) Durjaya/Aja, Gyälka  (927-1027) Who binds with Unbreakable Iron Chains
19. (12) Surya/Suryapada, (Wonang) Nyima  (1027-1127) All-Pervading, Radiant Jewel Light
> Lineage comes to India

20. (13) Chitrarupa/Vishvarupa, Natshog Zug(chän)  (1127-1227) Holder of the Vajra Prod and Noose
21. (14) Chandraprabha, Dawäi Ö (1227-1327) Lord of Secret Mantras, Holder of the Wheel and Conch
22. (15) Ananta, Thayä (Nyen) (1327-1427) Holder of the Mallet that Crushes False Ideas,  and the Lotus
23. (16) Parthiva, Sakyang (#3: Sakyong) 1427-1527) (Holder of the Cleaver that Cuts the Bonds of Ignorance, and the Skullcup
24. (17) Shripala, Pälkyong (1527-1627) Annihilator of the Host of Demons
25. (18) Singha, Senge (1627 -1727) Who Stuns the Elephant with his Vajra
26. (19) Vikranta, Nampar Nön (1727 - 1827) Subduer of the Mass of Foes, the Inner and Outer Classes of Devils
27. (20) Mahabala, Tobpo Che (1827 - 1927) Who Tames all the False Leaders by Means of the Sound of  Mantra
28. (21) Anirodha/Aniruddha, Magag Pa  (1927 - 2027) Who Draws and Binds the  Entire Three Worlds - Current Ruler of Shambala
29. (22) Narasingha, Miyi Senge (2027-2127) Ruling by the Wheel, Holding the Conch
30. (23) Maheshvara, Wangchug Che (2127-2227) Victorious over the Armies of Demons
31. (24) Anantajaya, Thayä Namgyäl (2227-2327) Holder of the vajra and Bell
32. (25) Raudra Chakri/Rudra Chakrin, Dragpo Khorlo Chan or Rigden Dragpo   (2327 - 2427, defeat of barbarians in 2424) Wrathful One with the Wheel.

*: Bhadra and Vijaya will reign a total of 403 yrs (#5)

The 8th king, Manjushrikirti was an incarnation of Manjushri and he put the Kalachakra teachings in a condensed and simplified form, called the "Sri Kalachakra". He founded a second line of 25 Kings.  He also converted a group of non-Buddhist Brahman priests of Shambala to Buddhism and gave them the Kalachakra initiation to unite all inhabitants into one "vajra family" - or family of tantric practitioners.
The 9th king, Pundarika or "White Lotus" was an incarnation of Avalokiteshvara, and he wrote a commentary called "Vimalaprabha" (Skt.) or "Stainless Light". The Sri Kalachakra and the Vimalaprabha together comprise all the source texts of the Kalachakra system. All other available texts are commentaries to these root texts.

Below list represents the lineage of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, but inaccuracies may well be present, as John Newman notes (#8):

"The first masters of the tradition disguised themselves with pseudonyms. As a result, the Indian oral traditions recorded by the Tibetans contain a mass of contradictions"

Note that below list may be somewhat confusing - from #9:
the first Lineage Guru Nr. 33 below, actually follows after the Kulika King Surya (19) above. 'Furthermore, Nalandapa (35) is also listed under 44 as Younger Kalachakrapada, to indicate the origins of both the Ra and Dro lineage, respectively. Similarly, Choje Sonam Gyaltsen (58) and Kunkhyen Sherab Pal Sangpo (59) were not lineage predecessors of Je Tsong Khapa (60), but were successors of Lama Choekyi Pal Sangpo (57), who gave the transmission to Je Tsong Khapa (60) and to predecessors of Khedrup Geleg Palsang (61), Je Tsong Khapa's successor. Since Khedrup is regarded as the most important authority after Butön (56) in this tradition, both lineages that came to him from Buton are noted here.'

In below table I hoped to reflect the logical sequence of the lineage, but this has not been verified yet.

Lineage in #9	Name	Lineage in #9	Name
33	Pandita Chilupa	36	Manjukirti
34	Older Kalachakrapada (Indian) {Dü Zhab Chewa, Pindo, Kalki Sripala? see #8}	37	Samantashri
		38	Ra Chörab
		39	Ra Yeshe Sengge
		40	Ra Bum Seng
		41	Jetsun Galo
		42	Lama Sherab Sengge
		43	Lama Dorje Gyeltsen
35 and 44	Younger Kalachakrapada, Dü Zhab Chungwa (Indian) {Nalandrapa, possibly Naropa, Bodhipa, see #8}
45	Kashmiri Somanatha (Indian), Dawa Gönpo (Indian) - went in 1604 to Tibet
46	Gompa Könchog Sung, Könchog Sungwa
47	Drotön Nam-la-tseg, Drotön (Bro Shes rab grags) the translator
48	Yumo Mirkö Dorje, Mikyö Dorje
49	Se Dharmeshvara
50	Drubtob Namkha Ö
51	Drubtob Semo Che Namkha Gyeltsen, Namkhor Gyeltsen
52	Jamser Sherab Özer, Jamyang Sarma
53	Lama Chöku Özer, Chökuwa
54	Khünpang Tugje Tsöndrü, Tsonchü Phagpa
55	Pagö Yönten Gyatso
56	Künkyen Butön Kache, Butön Rinchen Drub,  Butön Tamche Khyenpa
57	Lama Chökyi Pelsangpo, Chökyi Pälwa	58	Chöje Sönam Gyeltsen
60	Jamgön Lama Tsong Khapa (Lozang Dragpa)	59	Künkyen Sherab Pelsangpo
61	Khedrub Gheleg Pälsang
62	Baso Chökyi Gyeltsen (Basowa)
63	Ketsun Yönten Gyatso (Lhariwa)
64	Lobsang Evampa
65	Chöje Päljor Gyatso
66	Gomde Namkha Gyeltsen
67	Panchen Lobsang Chögyen
68	Lobpön Ghendun Döndrub
69	Lobpön Damtsig Dorje
70	Dorje-tsin Könchog Gyeltsen
71	Dukorwa Lobsang Rigdröl
72	Yöntän Dargye
73	Phüntshog Jampa
74	Dorje Chang Ngawang Chogdän; studied Kalachakra on Kalsang Gyatso's request
75	Künzig Dorje Chang Lobsang Kelsang Gyatso (7th. Dalai Lama) Introduced Kalachakra into the Namgyäl monastery
76	Dangpo Sangye Lobsang Pälden Yeshe
77	Gyelse Kelsang Tubten Jigme Tenpe Gyeltsen (Gyälwa Se)
78	Dorje Chang Yeshe Gyeltsen
79	Tamche Kyenpa Lobsang Jampel Gyatso (8th. Dalai Lama)
80	Trichen Jampel Tsültrim
81	Trichen Lobsang Kyenrab Wangchug
82	Yongtsin Lobsang Tsültrim Jampa Gyatso (Purchog Rinpoche)
83	Serkong Nawang Tsültrim Dönden (Serkong Dorje Chang)
84	Jetsun Nawang Tubten Chökyi Wangchug
85	Yongtsin Dorje Chang Tubten Lungtog Namgyel (Ling Rinpoche)
86	Tamche Kyenpa Tenzin Gyatso  (14th. Dalai Lama)

The Kalachakra Tantra text made its first appearance during the 10th century, during the reign of the 12th. Rigdän King Surya
(#3) 'the great Indian Master Cilupa met a manifestation of Manjushri before arriving at Shambala. Manjushri initiated him [into the Kalachakra practice] and gave him teachings. A few years later, another Indian yogi-scholar Dushepa went to Shambala and returned with more complete teachings.'
Kalacakra the Younger introduced the Kalachakra teachings in the monastic university of Nalanda with difficulty. Despite the objections of some vajrayana masters, these new teachings appeared to have quickly caught the imagination of many Indian Buddhists.
Around 1020 AD, the Indian teacher Somanatha introduced Kalachakra in Tibet, followed by several others.
Early in the 13 th century, Turkish invasions of Magadha and Bengal resulted in the destruction of the great Buddhist monastic universities like Nalanda. With it, Buddhism as an organised religion was gradually destroyed in India, together with the Kalachakra tradition.
(#3) The encyclopaedic master Butön wrote the most expansive commentaries on the Kalachakra Tantra.
(#3) Lama Zongkhapa did a full meditational retreat on the six-facultied completion stage. At the successful conclusion of this retreat, he received a true vision of Kalachakra who, laying his hand on his head, prophesied that he would be like another King Suchandra for the propagation of these teachings.

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SOME CONTEMPORARY KALACHAKRA MASTERS

In the present day, a number of prominent teachers have been spreading the Kalachakra teachings, for example:
- His Holiness the Dalai Lama, who has given numerous huge Kalachakra initiations all over the world.
- Sakya Trizin Rinpoche, present head of the Sakya lineage
- Ven.Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche (1910-1991)
- Ven. Kalu Rinpoche (1905-1990)
- Ven. Khalkha Jetsun Dhampa (scroll down the page)
- Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche (1954-1992)

- Ven. Kirti Tsenshab Rinpoche (born1926) was the only qualified lineage holder of the very important 'Stainless Light Commentary' after the Chinese invasion, and has given various Kalachakra teachings in the West.

- Khamtrul Rinpoche, who had a vision of Shambala (see his account on Kalachakra.com, look for Shambala and Vision.)

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HISTORY AS DESCRIBED IN THE KALACHAKRA TRADITION

Several of the prophecies in the Kalachakra tradition are now in the past, for example:

- The 8th king of Shambala, Manjushrikirti (living in the second century BCE) predicted the coming of the "barbarian Dharma" after 800 years (about 600 CE). (Many Tibetans, seeing the devastating results of the Islamic invasion of North India to Buddhsism, tend to consider the Islam as the 'Barbarian Dharma' as mentioned in the Kalachakra.)
- The prophecy says that during the reign of the 21st. king, Aniruddha (1927-2027), Buddhism and the Kalachakra will have nearly come to an end in Tibet, Mongolia, China and much of Asia. This could certainly be said to be accurate! For example, after the Chinese invasion in Tibet in 1959 and the destruction of nearly all monasteries afterwards, the master Ven. Kirti Tsenshab Rinpoche was the only remaining Tibetan master holding the lineage of the Vimalaprabha (the 'Stainless Light' commentary); which is one of the only two main Kalachakra texts.
- This trend of degeneration is said to continue until the incarnation of Manjushri, Rudra Chakrin, comes to the throne in 2327 (or 2424, #5), and who will defeat the 'barbarians'. He will establish the golden age throughout the world at the end of the current 'Time of Strife'.  He is said to be a reincarnation of Manjushri and of the Panchen Lama. The texts describe that he will come with 'flying ships' (obvious in our age, but certainly not when these prophecies were written) to help us out of spiritual darkness, and afterwards the teachings of the Buddha will survive for another 1,800 (#4) or 1,000 (#7) years.

To quote Alex Berzin (from #6):

'In the Kalachakra teachings you find a whole discussion of history, in which you have at various periods invasions. There are various, what are described as "savage hoards", who come and try to destroy civilisation and all opportunities for people to follow spiritual paths. Some examples are the invasions from central Asia to India, wiping out the possibilities for practising Hinduism and Buddhism; the Mongols and the Muslims etc. There is a prediction in the Kalachakra that there will be likewise a great invasion and a great war in the future. This war will take place in 2424. This is not the type of war that will destroy the planet, but it will probably be a pretty bad war. But at that time, the King of Shambala will come as the good guy; the bad guys lose and the so called Golden Age is established.
Now one of the very interesting things in the Kalachakra teachings is a great deal of social comment about what to do at the time of the invasion; how to prevent it and what are the causes. For example: we should look at our customs and also at the customs of those who want to destroy our civilisation If they act very similar, then our children will see little difference between the parents and the invaders, and they will accept their ways easily. If our first reaction to a threat is war and violence, the invaders will do the same. Also the Kalachakra warns for what happens if the astronomy is very much in the hands of "experts" and nobody else understands it anymore: then the invaders can change the tables etc., and nobody would notice it. This can also be very relevant to our own time of computers. The younger generation depends so much on calculators and computers, they don't even know how to multiply and divide...'

In order to be reborn in Shambala, many Tibetans make prayers, like the one by the 6th. Panchen Lama, which can be found here on the web (look under Shambala).

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BIBLIOGRAPHY

#1: Kalacakra Sadhana and Social Responsibility, David Reigle, Spirit of the Sun Publications 1996.
#2: An Introduction to the Kalachakra, Geshe Wangdrak (losang Tenzin) Part of paper printed for the 1994 Kalachakra initiation by HHDL in Lahaul, Spiti.
#3: Kalachakra Initiation, Madison 1981
#4: The Way to Shambala by Eric Bernbaum
#5: Path of the Bodhisattva Warrior by Glenn H. Mullin
#6: Introduction to Kalachakra, commentary by Dr. Alex Berzin June 28 - 30, 1985 at Institut Vajrayogini, France
#7: The Wheel of Time Sand Mandala by Barry Bryant, Harper Collins 1995
#8: The Outer Wheel of Time; Vajrayana Buddhist cosmology in the Kalacakra tantra, by John Ronald Newman, Univ. of Wisconsin 1987 (order number 8723348)
#9: Kalachakra by Namgyal Monastery, Tibet Domani, Italy1996

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Last updated: April 4, 2001

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