The Grand Mahakala Puja

Generally, a few weeks before the Grand puja, many tormas are elaborately prepared and arranged in the appropriate manner on the shrine forming the Mandala of Mahakala including a huge Mahakala torma top with thread-crosses called "Nam Kha". The puja starts with the recitation of supplication, invocation and offerings prayers accompanied once in a while by the rumbling of the long horns dungchen, blaring of the shawms gyalings, haunting cries of the thighbone horns kanglings, rolling of drums and clashing of cymbals, while he Vajra Master plays the damaru and bell. The deities of veneration besides the 3 Jewels an 3 roots include the 2-armed Mahakala Bernagcen and Mahakali, the other forms of Mahakalas, Tsheringma and 4 sisters, Guardians of mantras, Guardians of the Pure Lands, the 5 entourage guardians of Karmapas, the oath-bound Dorje Legpa, King of Rakshas, Rahula, Yakshas, Northern King Vaishravana, Dzambalas and wealth deities, dakas, dakinis, devas, nagas and local deities of 24 holy places and 32 major countries, deities of the seasons, year, month, day, times and innumerable attendants who had vowed at one time or other to protect the Dharma. They are all invoked to reside in the Mahakala mandala. All kinds of offerings, outer, inner, secret and most secret either actual or visualised are offered to them.