Karmapa – The Official Website of the 17th Karmapa Karmapa – The Official Website of the 17th Karmapa Karmapa – The Official Website of the 17th Karmapa Karmapa – The Official Website of the 17th Karmapa
  • The Karmapa
    • A Short Biography
    • The Lineage of Karmapas
    • Activities & Projects
  • Teachings
    • Video Library
    • Podcast
  • News
  • Schedule
  • Buddhism
    • Shakyamuni Buddha
    • Buddhism in India
    • Buddhism in Tibet
    • Kagyu Lineage
    • The Golden Rosary
  • Centers
    • North America
    • Europe
    • Asia
    • Oceania
    • Africa
    • South America
  • Office
    • Media
    • Contact
Karmapa – The Official Website of the 17th Karmapa Karmapa – The Official Website of the 17th Karmapa
  • The Karmapa
    • A Short Biography
    • The Lineage of Karmapas
    • Activities & Projects
  • Teachings
    • Video Library
    • Podcast
  • News
  • Schedule
  • Buddhism
    • Shakyamuni Buddha
    • Buddhism in India
    • Buddhism in Tibet
    • Kagyu Lineage
    • The Golden Rosary
  • Centers
    • North America
    • Europe
    • Asia
    • Oceania
    • Africa
    • South America
  • Office
    • Media
    • Contact
  • English
  • France
  • Germany
  • Spain
  • Italy
  • Canada
  • United Kingdom
  • Australia
  • Poland
Feb 11

Mahakala Puja: Burning the Tor-Gya

2016.02.07
7 February, 2016 -Monlam Pavillion, Bodhgaya
The Gutor Chenmo concluded on the twenty-ninth day of the twelfth Tibetan month, the penultimate day of the Tibetan year, and the day in each Tibetan month which is allocated for Dharmapala practice.

The morning followed the usual pattern of Chakrasamvara self-visualisation followed by torma offerings to Four-armed Mahakala. After lunch everyone gathered back in the pavillion for the concluding rituals of the Gutor. A murmur of surprised delight ran through the auditorium when people spotted that nine-year-old Bokar Rinpoche Yangsi had arrived and taken his seat on stage in the front row. (Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche and Gyaltsab Rinpoche were not present because they were leading the lama retreat for the accomplishment of the Practice of Amitayus the Three Roots Combined, in preparation for the long-life offerings at Losar.)

First came a final session of offerings. In accordance with the traditions of the Gutor Chenmo, the Vajra Master, dressed as the Black Hat Lama, was escorted onto the stage to make the Golden Libation offering to the tor-gya.

Then came the expulsion ritual of the great torma which would be the ultimate offering. His Holiness dressed in his red pandit’s hat stood in front of the throne and led the chanting, assisted by Drupon Dechen Rinpoche who held up the text for him.

With great ceremony the tor-gya was lifted on its base and escorted in procession out of the pavillion to a field near the north gate of the pavillion to be burnt. The procession was led by two pairs of monks playing dungchen – long, Tibetan horns. Laymen dressed in chubas, red fringed hats and boots supported the weight of the horns on wooden yokes. They were followed by monks playing Tibetan trumpets and thigh bone trumpets, and monks beating hand-held drums in a steady rhythm.

Meanwhile, from the stage, monks holding cymbals descended into the central aisle. Turning first to the right, then to the left, they clashed their cymbals, making their way along the red carpet in a measured pace, as if in a slow dance. Strips of colourful brocade attached to the backs of their dhagams swayed as they moved. Behind them came more musicians holding aloft green-skinned drums and monks holding texts to be recited during the ritual burning. Then came the tor-gya, swaying slightly as it was carried along by ten monks. These wore stylised maroon velvet caps rather like Nehru hats and had khatags bound across their mouths to prevent their breath falling on the sacred tor-gya.

Behind the tor-gya came the victory banner of Mahakala and then the Black Hat Lama.

Finally, an incense bearer, followed by monks playing gyalin, marked the approach of His Holiness the 17th Karmapa, walking slowly, shadowed by the great golden umbrella which signifies both his kingship and the sheltering power of the Dharma.

They left the Monlam Pavillion and processed down the road to a walled-in field by the north gate of the Monlam site, making offerings along the route in order to ensure the removal of any obstacles along the way.

In the far right corner of this field, a fifteen-foot triangular structure containing straw and dried leaves had been built, with a wide opening to receive the torma.

Facing the torma, the Karmapa and the Vajra Master recited the concluding prayers, the culmination of the previous three days’ rituals: all possible negativities and anything that might harm the teachings or living beings were summoned and dissolved into the torma. The fire was lit, immediately spreading up and down the frame, consuming the dried palm fronds at the top, the loose straw at the bottom, and the torma inside. The Karmapa watched as the flames danced skywards, devouring the structure and the torma, destroying any hindrances and negativities accumulated during the year, and creating an auspicious beginning for the Year of the Fire Monkey.

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • E-Mail

[ long read ]

MIND TRAINING TEACHING
The Gyalwang Karmapa gave an extensive teaching on the 8 Verses of Training the Mind

[ video series ]

THE PRAJNAPARAMITA
Taught over six sessions, this is a direct explanation of the Buddhist view of emptiness

[ long read ]

THE CHENREZIK PRACTICE
The Gyalwang Karmapa taught on how to practice Chenrezik and recite his mantra

[ video series ]

100 SHORT INSTRUCTIONS
Taught over nine sessions, this text by the 8th Karmapa was taught in great depth by the present Karmapa.

[ long read ]

THREE PRINCIPLE ASPECTS
A comprehensive teaching that condenses the entire Buddhist path by Tsongkhapa

 

Recent Updates

  • Kagyu Gunchoe Teachings Live Webcast – The Four Dharmas of Gampopa
  • His Holiness the Gyalwang Karmapa’s Greetings to His Holiness the Dalai Lama on the Occasion of His Eighty-Fifth Birthday
  • A Message for the Gyalwang Karmapa’s 35th Birthday
  • Karmapa Recites Mantras and Makes Concluding Aspirations for the World: Day Seven
  • Gyalwang Karmapa Chants the Aspiration for Rebirth in Sukhavati: Day Six
  • Karmapa Recites Prayers to Guru Rinpoche for the Pandemic to Subside: Day Five
  • Gyalwang Karmapa Recites Tara Prayers for the Pandemic to Subside: Day Four

Kagyu Office Around the World

中文 // Français // Polski // Español
The Karmapa’s website is carbon neutral. //

About the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa

His Holiness the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa, Ogyen Trinley Dorje, is the head of the 900 year old Karma Kagyu Lineage and guide to millions of Buddhists around the world.

Born in 1985, the Karmapa resides in his temporary home at Gyuto Monastery in India after making a dramatic escape from Tibet in the year 2000.

Traveling the world, the Karmapa skillfully teaches traditional Tibetan Buddhist Dharma while also advocating topics such as environmental conservation, feminism, digitization of the Dharma, and much more.

Please use the icons below to find the Karmapa on social media maintained by his office of administration.

// // // //

This site uses cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience. Please click "Okay" to accept the recommended cookies before continuing. Okay