Six-Armed Mahakala with Cinnabar & Sandalwood Thangka Pendant Necklace

Regong Six-armed Mahakala Cinnabar Sandalwood 108 Protection Chain: An In-Depth Cultural and Spiritual Analysis

I. Religious Symbolism & Core Meaning

• Six-armed Mahakala (Chagdrugpa) as the Ultimate Protector:
  The chain is consecrated to Six-armed Mahakala (Tibetan: ཆག་འདྲུག་པ; Sanskrit: Shadbhujakala), a wrathful dharmapala in Vajrayana Buddhism. Emanated from the mind of Avalokiteshvara, he embodies the ferocious aspect of compassion, crushing egoic delusions and protecting practitioners from spiritual and physical harm. Seated on a pile of corpses, he holds:
  • Upper hands: Damaru (drum) and kartrika (flaying knife)
  • Middle hands: Skull cup (kapala) and snake noose
  • Lower hands: Bell and pestle (vajra)
  • His three eyes symbolize insight into the past, present, and future.
• 108 Beads: Karmic Purification Matrix:
  The 108 beads represent the 108 kleshas (afflictive emotions) in Buddhist tradition. Each bead serves as a reminder to transform negative habits into virtuous actions, with the chain acting as a tangible tool for:
  • Counting mantras to purify obscurations
  • Channeling Mahakala’s protective energy
• Cinnabar & Sandalwood: Sacred Materials of Power:
  • Cinnabar (Mercury Sulfide): Revered for its vibrant red hue, symbolizing:
    • The blood of enlightenment that conquers ignorance
    • Protection against demonic forces (as mentioned in the Kanjur canon)
  • Sandalwood (Santalum album): Cooling and grounding, it:
    • Pleases deities with its divine aroma
    • Anchors the wearer in present-moment awareness

• Central Medallion Design:
  The hand-carved Mahakala medallion depicts:
  • Blue-black body (symbolizes emptiness of ego)
  • Hair tied with serpents (subdues elemental spirits)
  • Flanked by two consorts (Vajra Vetali and Shri Devi)
• Bead Symbolism:
  Alternating cinnabar and sandalwood beads represent:
  • Red cinnabar: Active protection against external threats
  • Brown sandalwood: Passive purification of internal obstacles
• Mantra Engravings:
  Key beads are inscribed with Mahakala’s core mantra:
  "Om Hrim Phat Mahakala Krodha Kara Hrim Phat"
  Chanting this invokes his wrathful compassion to dispel obstacles and awaken fearless wisdom.

II. Artistic Features & Technical Craftsmanship

• Masterful Carving Techniques: Following the Tantric Canons of Proportions, artisans:
  • Select cinnabar ore from Tibet’s Qiangtang Plateau for vibrant red saturation
  • Source 300+ year-old sandalwood roots from Mysore, India, for dense oil content
• Metallic Accents: Silver or copper spacers often feature:
  • Vajra (thunderbolt) motifs for unbreakable protection
  • Eight Auspicious Symbols (e.g., victory banner, endless knot)
  • Tibetan script blessings (e.g., "Om Ah Hung" for purification)
• Artisan Signatures: Authentic pieces bear the seal of Regong masters (e.g., Ngawang Dorje lineage), hand-stamped on the medallion or clasp.

• Ancient Regong Style: Rustic beads with uneven carvings, favored by tantric yogis for austerity practices.
• Monastic Ceremony Style: Polished beads with inlaid turquoise, resembling those used in Mahakala puja rituals.
• Vajrayana Ritual Version: Includes a "guru bead" with a three-dimensional Mahakala face, flanked by miniature damaru charms.

III. Ritual Practice & Spiritual Benefits

• Mantra Recitation & Protection Yoga:
  Hold the chain with the right hand, using the thumb to count mantras (avoiding the little finger, seen as impure). Traditional practices include:
  • 108 recitations at dawn to repel daily obstacles
  • 1,080 recitations during astrologically inauspicious periods
• Energetic Activation:
  Wearing the chain around the neck (close to the heart chakra) is said to:
  • Balance the wind energy (lung) to dispel anxiety and fear
  • Create a "protective cocoon" against psychic attacks
  • Awaken the wearer’s inner warrior (drala)
• Etiquette & Taboos:
  • Never expose the chain to sexual activity (considered a spiritual impurity)
  • Remove before entering places of great sadness or death
  • Clean quarterly with sandalwood oil and cinnabar powder (blessed by a lama)

• Physical Safety: Practitioners report avoidance of accidents, theft, and hostile environments.
• Psychic Defense: The chain is believed to ward off black magic, curses, and obsessive thoughts.
• Karmic Cleansing: Wearing it purifies negative karma from past lives that manifest as present obstacles.

IV. Cultural Legacy & Collectible Value

• Origins in Tantric Tibet:
  Mahakala worship emerged in Tibet during the 11th century, with early protection chains found in the tombs of Tibetan lamas. Regong artisans began incorporating cinnabar and sandalwood in the 14th century.
• Regong’s Golden Age:
  During the Ming-Qing dynasties, Regong masters created imperial tribute chains for Tibetan aristocracy, with pieces featuring in the Potala Palace’s treasure collections.
• Modern Revival:
  Post-2015, global interest in spiritual artifacts has spurred a resurgence, with contemporary masters like Tsering Gyatso blending traditional motifs with sustainable sourcing.

• Vintage Regong chains (pre-1950) command $10,000–$40,000 at auction, while contemporary masterpieces start at $2,000.
• Rare pieces with ancient cinnabar beads have seen 35% annual value appreciation since 2023, driven by collectors seeking both art and metaphysical protection.

Conclusion

• Religious Core: Mahakala’s wrathful iconography and cinnabar-sandalwood synergy create a tangible armor against spiritual and physical threats.
• Artistic Mastery: Regong’s carving, material selection, and mantra engraving reflect 700+ years of Tibetan protective art traditions.
• Energetic Circuit: The 108 beads form a karmic purification cycle, while the Mahakala medallion anchors the wearer in fearless compassion.

More than just jewelry, at Zensymbols, we view it as a way of life; Accepting life's contrasts, nourishing one's spirit; Inspiring one's thoughts; revitalizing the body; Brightening your existence.

Our Founder

When I was young, I came across an article about Tibet, and that was the starting point for me to know about Tibet.

The fascinating the snow-covered plateau, the distressing poor Tibetan life, and the devout faith of Tibetans make myself yearn for the pure and full spiritual power of the plateau.

And so, the adventure begins

Over the past four years, I have traveled to my dream serendipity Tibet numerous times. During one spiritual journeys after another, not only did I see picturesque scenery, kind Tibetans, sacred temples, but also found my deepest self. By chance, an esteemed senior gave me a Tibetan name representing Lotus - Pema. I would like to introduce myself thereafter. My love for Tibet transcends the place where I was born and any city I live in.I poured my love for Tibet into an online website dedicated to supporting Tibetan artists and the poor in the region.

We appreciate that you are a part of this path of good karma.

Pedma

Founder

 

Our mission

• Our mission at Zensymbols is to make carefully chosen handmade items available to a worldwide audience while igniting dialogue about preserving traditional crafts.

• We provide authentic Dharma products of the highest caliber to encourage your spiritual practice and deliver spiritual jewelry to enhance your life. Tracing our humble roots to our extensive travel and spiritual experience with Tibetan cultures, we have seen how powerful spiritual jewelry and amulets can be.

• Buddha Stones is committed to preserving significant meaningful items that promote harmony, joy, and present-moment mindfulness. The symbols on the Buddha Stones are meant to represent faith, protection, and healing. They bring good luck to you and your loved ones since they have the power to draw in good energies and drive away bad ones.

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Our Design

• Zensymbols is happy to collaborate with creatives worldwide to produce goods that uplift and inspire. The craft traditions of locations like Tibet, Nepal, China, Thailand, and other parts of the world are the source of many of our creations. Every year, we visit places like Tibet, Nepal, etc., to build relationships with artisans and ensure our sustainable and environmentally responsible sourcing practices.

• We speak with the artists directly. Zensymbols continues to expand and fortify our network of regional artists with hard work in Tibet and Nepal. We want to create a network online that supports Tibetans, Nepalis, and others who need financial assistance for their trade-in addition to growing our client base.

 
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