The Story of Monk Mahakala
Chapter 1: Twin Verses • Verse 7
Just as a storm throws down a weak tree, so does Mara overpower the man who lives for the pursuit of pleasures, who is uncontrolled in his senses, immoderate in eating, indolent, and dissipated.
While residing near the town of Setavya, the Buddha uttered these verses with reference to Mahakala and his brothers, Culakala and Majjhima Kala. The three were householders living in Setavya. Culakala, the eldest, and Mahakala, the youngest, traveled with a caravan of five hundred carts to trade goods, while Majjhima Kala sold the goods they brought home.
On one occasion, the two brothers set out for Savatthi with their caravan and halted between Savatthi and Jetavana. That evening, Mahakala saw noble disciples carrying garlands and perfumes on their way to hear the Dhamma. Curious, he asked where they were going. When told they were going to hear the teaching, he decided to go as well, asking his brother to watch the carts.
Mahakala paid respect to the Buddha and sat among the audience. That day, the Buddha taught in a gradual and skillful manner, speaking about suffering and the dangers and impurities of sensual pleasures. Deeply moved by the discourse, Mahakala became a monk. Culakala also became a monk, though he secretly thought he would later return to lay life and take his brother with him.
In time, Mahakala received full ordination and asked the Buddha about the duties in the religion. The Buddha explained there were two: the Duty of Study and the Duty of Contemplation. Because he had become a monk in old age, Mahakala chose the Duty of Contemplation. The Buddha instructed him in cemetery meditation, a practice leading to arahantship.
Each night, after others had gone to sleep, Mahakala went to the cemetery to meditate, returning before dawn. One evening, a young woman of high status suddenly died from illness and was brought to the cremation ground. After her relatives departed, the keeper of the cremation ground noticed the woman’s beautiful golden-hued body and thought it would be a suitable meditation subject for the Venerable.
She invited Mahakala to observe the body. He examined it carefully and instructed her to place it on the funeral pyre and inform him when the flames had taken hold. When the fire burned the body, its beauty quickly faded. The flesh darkened, the limbs stiffened, and the skin was destroyed.
Reflecting on the swift decay of what had once seemed so beautiful, Mahakala deeply contemplated impermanence, decay, and death. Through this meditation, he developed profound insight and attained arahantship, along with supernatural powers.
Later, the Buddha arrived at Setavya and stayed in the Simsapa forest. Hearing of his arrival, Culakala’s wives hoped to win back their husband from monastic life. When Culakala went ahead to prepare for almsgiving, they forcibly removed his robes, and he returned to lay life.
Mahakala’s eight former wives also planned to make him abandon the robe. They invited the Buddha and the monks for alms and requested that Mahakala remain behind to give the thanksgiving after the meal. The Buddha agreed and left him there.
Some monks questioned why the Buddha had allowed this, remembering how Culakala had left the Order. The Buddha, knowing Mahakala’s attainment, sent him back. Mahakala’s wives tried to persuade him to return to lay life, but as an arahant, he rose into the air through his psychic powers and appeared before the Buddha.
Mahakala paid homage to the Buddha. The Buddha then told the monks that they were mistaken to compare Mahakala with Culakala, for Mahakala was an arahant, firm and unshakable in his liberation.