Shambhala: hidden kingdom of the north
Shambhala: hidden kingdom of the north, Buddhist pureland, realm of the Kulika Kings - guardians of the Kalachakra cycle of Tantras.
Shaped like a white eight petalled lotus surrounded by impenetrable snow mountains, in the center on a raised plateau, is the capital city of Kalapa. In the middle sits King Manjukirti, emanation of Manjushri, lineal descendant of King Suchandra who received the Shri Kalachakra tantra and initiation directly from the buddha Shakyamuni. Attended by wives and courtiers he dwells in an ornate palace surrounded by green hills, pavilions and pleasure gardens. Immediately in front atop a double vajra is the temple of the Kalachakra mandala wreathed by a dome of wisdom fire. A circle of white snow mountains ring the capital city. The outer area is divided into eight regions radiating like the petals of a lotus. The regions, divided by rivers and snow mountains, each contain twelve districts making a total of ninety-six in all.
At the top center is lama Tsongkapa (1357-1419) with the hands in the teaching mudra holding the stems of two lotus blossoms supporting a sword and book, attired in the robes of a monk and wearing a yellow pandita hat. At the left and right are the two main students, Gyaltsap Dharma Rinchen (1364-1432) and Kedrup Geleg Pal Zangpo (1385-1438). Both wear monastic robes and yellow hats. Each hold a book and bowl respectively in the left hand while the right hands perform the mudras of the explication of the teachings.
At the bottom, several hundred years in the future, a great battle depicts the struggle between good and evil. The armies of Shambhala acting in response to aggression, led by the 25th King Rudra Chakra, attack the barbarians of the South, assisted by worldly gods who combat the forces of daemonic darkness. Upon victory a new golden age of Buddhism dawns in the world.
The Seven Dharma Kings of Shambhala and the Twenty-five Vidyadharas (the Thirty-two)
by Katog Tsewang Norbu (1698-1755)
The Seven Dharma Kings of Shambhala
1. Chandrabhadra, holding a vajra and bell, an emanation of Vajrapani.
2. Lhawang Chogyal(Sureshvara), hook and lasso, an emanation of Kshitigarbha.
3. the third Dharma King, Zijichen(Teji), a conch shell with both hands, an emanation of Yamantaka.
4. the fourth Dharma King, Chandradatta(Somadatta), staff and chain lasso, emanation of Nivarana-Vishkhambhin.
5. the fifth Dharma King, Devishvara(Sureshvara), arrow and bow, an emanation of Prajnantaka.
6. the sixth Dharma King, Vishvarupa(Vishvamurti), hammer and book, an emanation of Padmantaka.
7. the seventh Dharma King, Sureshana, sword and shield , an emanation of Akashagarbha.
The Twenty-five Vidyadharas
1. the powerful vidyadhara, Manjukirti (Yashas), sword and book, an emanation of Manjushri.
2. the second vidyadhara, Pundarika, two lotuses, an emanation of Avalokita.
3. the third vidyadhara, Bhadra, wheel and conch, an emanation of Yamari.
4. the fourth vidyadhara, Vijaya, hook and lasso, an emanation of Samantabhadra.
5. the fifth vidyadhara, Mitrabhadra(Sumitra), arrow in the right & bow & flower in the left, an emanation of Lodro Mizapa.
6. the sixth vidyadhara, Raktapani, vajra and bell, an emanation of Ushnisha Chakravartin.
7. the seventh vidyadhara, Kyabjug Bepa (Vishnugupta), trident and mala, an emanation of Akasha Dzo.
8. the eighth vidyadhara, Rasmikirti (Arkakirti), curved knife and skullcup, an emanation of Vighnantaka.
9. the ninth vidyadhara, Shintu Zang (Subhadra), sword and shield, an emanation of of Vajrapani.
10. the tenth vidyadhara, Samudra Vijaya, axe and head, an emanation of Mati Sagara.
11. the eleventh vidyadhara, Gyal Ka (Raja), staff and chain, an emanation of Prajnantaka.
12. the twelfth vidyadhara, Surya, hand drum and jewel, an emanation of Vajragarbha.
13. the thirteenth vidyadhara, Vishvarupa, hook and lasso, an emanation of Padmantaka.
14. the fourteenth vidyadhara, Chandraprabha (Shashiprabha), wheel and conch, an emanation of Maitreya.
15. the fifteenth vidyadhara, Ananta, hammer and flower, an emanation of Tuchen.
16. the sixteenth vidyadhara, Sakyong (Mahipala), curved knife and skullcup, an emanation of Mahabala.
17. the seventeenth vidyadhara, Paljor (Shripala), sword and trident, an emanation of Chandraprabha.
18. the eighteenth vidyadhara, Simha (Hari), vajra and bell, an emanation of Jalandhara.
19. the nineteenth vidyadhara, Namnon (Vikrama), staff and chain, an emanation of Achala.
20. the twentieth vidyadhara, Mahabala, hand drum and jewels, an emanation of Amitabha.
21. the twenty-first vidyadhara, Magagpa (Aniruddha), hook and lasso, an emanation of Takkiraja.
22. the twenty-second vidyadhara, Narasimha, wheel and conch, an emanation of Pobpa Tseg.
23. the twenty-third vidyadhara, Maheshvara, sword and shield, an emanation of Nila Ishvara.
24. the twenty-fourth vidyadhara, Ananta Vijaya, vajra and bell, an emanation of Nudze Gyalpo.
25. the twenty-fifth vidyadhara, Dragpo Korlochen (Rudrachakri), spear and shield, an emanation of Manjushri.
Mangalam!
(From the miscellaneous works of Katog Tsewang Norbu, pages 232-233. Translated by Jeff Watt, July 17th 2009, draft version. And Kalachakra website of Edward Henning).
