'Myth and history meet and mingle in the Kalachakra, and many of the elements in this mixture are amenable to more than one interpretation. In other words, Buddhist proponents of the Kalachakra may accept a given portion of the following account as representing both an actual historical event occurring in the world, and as an allegory symbolizing a yogic process occuring within the practitioner of the Kalachakra.'
from A bref history of the Kalachakra by John R. Newman [14]

'The history of the Kalachakra Tantra' can be split into two separate histories: the historically (more or less) verifiable accounts of where the Kalachakra texts first appeared and the tradition was handed over in the various lineages, and the history as described in the Kalachakra texts itself. However, as mentioned above, these two cannot always be easily separated. This page tries to focus on the historic accounts of the tradition.

It is important to note here that the original extensive 'root' or 'Mula' tantra text written by Shambala king Suchandra never made it to us. As described in the History in the Kalachakra Tantra, only the abbreviated 'Sri Kalachakra', written by king Manjushrikirti, and the commentary 'Vimalaprabha' written by king Pundarika are known to us. This means that we simply do not know all the details of, for example, the symbolism of the Kalachakra mandala.

 

THE KALACHAKRA TANTRA IN HISTORICAL CONTEXT

The Kalachakra system refers to many different religious traditions, for example the following Hindu traditions; Saivite, Samkya, Vaishnava, the Vedas, Upanisads and Puranas traditions, and also Jainism. For example, the Kalachakra mandala includes deities which are equally recognised by Hindus, Jainas and Buddhists. Some more information on the Kalachakra in the historical context of other spiritual traditions can be found on the page Kalachakra in Context.

David Reigle suggests in [1], "Among the many traditional ideas which must be mastered to understand Kalachakra are several which are not found within Buddhism.... These include .... the Sankya system .... the Mandukya Upanisad .... and even the Jaina tradition."

Vesna Wallace writes in [10], "The Kalacakratantra contends that there is no distinction between the Buddhist and heterodox groups with regard to the manner in which conventional reality appears. ... Thus within the Kalacakra system, all the aspects of the natural world become legitimate fields of Buddhists' scientific investigation, and knowledge of the various scientific fields becomes a significant component of the Buddhist Dharma as the body of verifyable truths. ... provisional scientific knowledge is seen as an integral part of ultimate scientific knowledge."

Importantly however, as Vesna Wallace indicates in [10]; "in many instances the Kalachakra tantra uses terminology from other systems, but actually attributes them with new meaning to incorporate them into the unique Kalachakra model of conventional reality".

So, although terminology of other systems is often used, certainly not all concepts are simply copied.

It should be noted that there are some points of contention between the history of and in the Kalachakra. For example, when one calculates from the information in the Kalachakra Tantra, Shakyamuni Buddha lived in the 9th. Century BCE, instead of the more commonly accepted 6th. Century BCE. There is also some discussion on when Shakyamuni Buddha taught the Kalachakra during his lifetime. Because of specific time indications in the teachings, it could have been one year after he attained enlightenment, but others say it was one year before he passed away. According to His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, logic indicates that it must have been at the end of his life, because the Kalachakra tantra reflects so many of his lifelong accomplishments.

 

HISTORY OF THE KALACHAKRA TRADITION

The Kalachakra Tantra text made its first appearance during the 10th century, during the reign of the 12th. Rigdän King Surya of Shambhala.

'the great Indian Master Cilupa met a manifestation of Manjushri before arriving at Shambala. Manjushri initiated him [into the Kalachakra practice] and gave him teachings. A few years later, another Indian yogi-scholar Dushepa went to Shambala and returned with more complete teachings.' ...
Kalachakra the Younger introduced the Kalachakra teachings in the monastic university of Nalanda with difficulty. Despite the objections of some vajrayana masters, these new teachings appeared to have quickly caught the imagination of many Indian Buddhists.
Around 1020 AD, the Indian teacher Somanatha introduced Kalachakra in Tibet, followed by several others.
Early in the 13 th century, Turkish invasions of Magadha and Bengal resulted in the destruction of the great Buddhist monastic universities like Nalanda. With it, Buddhism as an organised religion was gradually destroyed in India, together with the Kalachakra tradition.
The encyclopaedic master Butön wrote the most expansive commentaries on the Kalachakra Tantra. ...
Lama Zongkhapa did a full meditational retreat on the six-facultied completion stage. At the successful conclusion of this retreat, he received a true vision of Kalachakra who, laying his hand on his head, prophesied that he would be like another King Suchandra for the propagation of these teachings.' [3]

There appeared several different lineages of the transmission of the Kalachakra lineage over the centuries, which show minor differences.

Below list of the Gelug lineage represents the lineage of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, but inaccuracies may well be present, as John Newman notes [8]:

"The first masters of the tradition disguised themselves with pseudonyms. As a result, the Indian oral traditions recorded by the Tibetans contain a mass of contradictions"

Below list may be somewhat confusing - we tried to reflect the logical sequence of the lineage, but this list has not been verified yet. This list starts with nr. 33, as it continues the lineage as described in the page History in the Kalachakra Tantra, which lists the numbers 1-32.

 

Gelug lineage [9]	Jonang Lineage [13]
33. Pandita Chilupa (Indian)
34. Kalachakrapada the Elder (dus zhabs chen po), Jamyang Dorje ('jam dbyangs rdo rje) (Indian) {Dü Zhab Chewa, Pindo, Kalki Sripala? see[8]}
35. Principe Nalandapa
36. Manjukirti
37. Samantashri
38. Ra Chörab (Ra-lineage)
39. Ra Yeshe Sengge
40. Ra Bum Seng
41. Jetsun Galo
42. Lama Sherab Sengge
43. Lama Dorje Gyeltsen
44. Kalachakrapada the Younger, Shribhadra (dus zhabs gnyis pa / chung ngu, shrI ba dza+ra), Dü Zhab Chungwa (Indian) {Nalandrapa, possibly Naropa, Bodhipa, see [8]}
	44-1. Nalendrapa, Bodhibhadra (nA len+dra pa, bo dhi ba dza+ra) (possibly the same as 44)
45. Panchen Dawa Gonpo, Somanatha (pan chen lza ba mgon po, so ma nA tha), Kashmiri Somanatha (Indian), Dawa Gönpo (Indian)
	45-1. Dro Lotsawa Sherab Drakpa ('bro ston lo tsA ba shes rab grags pa) DRO-lineage
46. Lhaye Gompa Könchog Sung, Lhaje Gompa (lha rje sgom pa), Könchog Sungwa
47. Drotön Namlatseg, Droton Namseg (sgro ston gnam brtsegs), Drotön
48. Yumo Mikyö Dorje
49. Dharmeshvara (d+har+me shwa ra), Se Dharmeshvara
50. Namkha Odzer (nam mkha' 'od zer), Drubtob Namkha Ö
	50-1. Machig Tulku Jobum (ma cig sprul sku jo 'bum)
51. Drubtob Semo Che Namkha Gyeltsen, Namkhor Gyeltsen, Sechen Namkha Gyaltsen (se chen nam mkha' rgyal mtshan)
52. Jamser Sherab Özer, Jamyang Sarma ('jam dbyangs gsar ma)
53. Choku Odzer (chos sku 'od zer), Chöku Özer, Chökuwa,
54. Kunpang Thukje Tsondru (kun spangs thugs rje brtson 'grus), Tsonchü Phagpa
	54-1. Changsem Gyalwa Yeshe (byang sems rgyal ba ye shes)
55. Pagö Yönten Gyatso, Yontan Gyatso (yon tan rgya mtsho)
56. Butön Rinchen Drub, Künkyen Butön Kache, Butön Tamche Khyenpa	Dolpopa Sherab Gyaltsen (dol po pa shes rab rgyal mtshan)
57. Lama Chökyi Pelsangpo, Chökyi Pälwa	Chogle Namgyal (phyogs las rnam rgyal)
58. Chöje Sönam Gyeltsen	Nyawon Kunga Pal (nya dbon kun dga' dpal)
59. Künkyen Sherab Pelsangpo	Kunga Lodro (kun dga' blo gros)
60. Lama Tsong Khapa (Lozang Dragpa)	Jamyang Konchog Zangpo ('jam dbyangs dkon mchog bzang po)
61. Khedrub Gheleg Pälsang	Namkhai Tsenchan (nam mkha'i mtshan can)
62. Baso Chökyi Gyeltsen (Basowa)	Namkha Palzang (nam mkha' dpal bzang)
63. Ketsun Yönten Gyatso (Lhariwa)	Lochen Ratnabhadra, Rinchen Dorje (lo chen rat+na ba dz+ra, rin chen rdo rje)
64. Lobsang Evampa	Jamgon Drupay Pawo ('jam mgon grub pa'i dpa' bo)
65. Chöje Päljor Gyatso	Kunga Dolchog (kun dga' grol mchog)
66. Gomde Namkha Gyeltsen	Gyatso Deje (rgya mtsho bde dgyes)
67. Panchen Lobsang Chögyen	Khadrup Namtsol (mkhas grub rnam tsho)
68. Lobpön Ghendun Döndrub	Taranatha, Kunga Nyingpo (tA ra nA tha, kun dga' snying po)
69. Lobpön Damtsig Dorje	Gyaltsen Palzang (rgyal mtshan dpal bzang)
70. Dorje-tsin Könchog Gyeltsen	Drolway Gonpo (sgrol ba'i mgon po)
71. Dukorwa Lobsang Rigdröl	Ngonjang Rinchen Gyatso (sngon sbyangs rin chen rgya mtsho)
72. Yöntän Dargye	Lodro Namgyal (blo gros rnam rgyal)
73. Phüntshog Jampa	Ngawang Thinley (ngag dbang phrin las)
74. Dorje Chang Ngawang Chogdän (studied Kalachakra on Kelsang Gyatso's request)	Ngawang Tenzin Namgyal (ngag dbang bstan 'dzin rnam rgyal)
75. Künzig Dorje Chang Lobsang Kelsang Gyatso (7th. Dalai Lama) Introduced Kalachakra into the Namgyäl monastery	Ngawang Khatsun Dargyay (ngag dbang mkhas btsun dar rgyas)
76. Dangpo Sangye Lobsang Pälden Yeshe	Kunzang Thinley Namgyal (kun bzang 'phrin las rnam rgyal)
77. Gyelse Kelsang Tubten Jigme Tenpe Gyeltsen (Gyälwa Se)	Nudan Lhundrup Gyatso (nus ldan lhun grub rgya mtsho)
78. Dorje Chang Yeshe Gyeltsen	Konchog Jigmed Namgyal (dkon mchog 'jigs med rnam rgyal)
79. Tamche Kyenpa Lobsang Jampel Gyatso (8th. Dalai Lama)	Ngawang Chopel Gyatso (ngag dbang chos 'phel rgya mtsho)
80. Trichen Jampel Tsültrim	Ngawang Chokyi Phakpa (ngag dbang chos kyi 'phags pa)
81. Trichen Lobsang Kyenrab Wangchug	Ngawang Chozin Gyatso (ngag dbang chos 'dzin rgya mtsho)
82. Yongtsin Lobsang Tsültrim Jampa Gyatso (Purchog Rinpoche)	Ngawang Chokyi Naljor (ngag dbang chos kyi rnal 'byor)
83. Serkong Nawang Tsültrim Dönden (Serkong Dorje Chang)	Ngawang Kunga Palden (ngag dbang kun dga' dpal ldan)
84. Jetsun Nawang Tubten Chökyi Wangchug	Kunga Khadrup Wangchuk (kun dga' mkhas grub dbang phyug)
85. Yongtsin Dorje Chang Tubten Lungtog Namgyel (Ling Rinpoche)	Kunga Tenpa Salje (kun dga' bstan pa gsal byed)
86. Tamche Kyenpa Tenzin Gyatso (14th. Dalai Lama)	Ngawang Dorje Zangpo (ngag dbang rdo rje bzang po)
	Ngawang Konchok Dargyay (ngag dbang dkon mchog dar rgyas)
	Ngawang Lodro Drakpa (ngag dbang blo gros grags pa)
	Ngawang Yontan Zangpo (ngag dbang yon tan bzang po)
	Present day lineage masters

 

Another lineage is the Tsami tradition. "This lineage stemmed from Tsami Sanggye Trakpa, siddha Ugyenpa, Karmapa Rangjung Dorje (Karmapa III), and others. It passed through the Kargyu, the lineage of ultimate realization, down to Chokyi Jungne (Situ VIII) and Jamgon Lodro Thaye." [11]

 

BIBLIOGRAPHY

[1]: Kalacakra Sadhana and Social Responsibility, David Reigle, Spirit of the Sun Publications 1996.
[2]: An Introduction to the Kalachakra, Geshe Wangdrak (losang Tenzin) Part of paper printed for the 1994 Kalachakra initiation by HHDL in Lahaul, Spiti.
[3]: Kalachakra Initiation, Madison 1981
[4]: The Way to Shambala by Eric Bernbaum
[5]: Path of the Bodhisattva Warrior by Glenn H. Mullin
[6]: Introduction to Kalachakra, commentary by Dr. Alex Berzin June 28 - 30, 1985 at Institut Vajrayogini, France
[7]: The Wheel of Time Sand Mandala, by Barry Bryant, Harper Collins 1995, ISBN 0-06-250088-0
[8]: The Outer Wheel of Time; Vajrayana Buddhist cosmology in the Kalacakra tantra, by John Ronald Newman, Univ. of Wisconsin 1987 (order number 8723348)
[9]: Kalachakra, by Namgyal Monastery, Tibet Domani, Italy1996
[10]: The Inner Kalacakratantra, A Buddhist Tantric View of the Individual, by Vesna A. Wallace (Oxford University press, 2001)
[11]: A Summary of How the Abhisheka and Practice of Shri Kalachakra Was Propagated in India and brought to Tibet. From a booklet distributed during the Kalachakra initiation by His Eminence Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche in August 1990, Toronto.
[12]: The Practice of Kalachakra by Glen H. Mullin (Snow Lion 1991)
[13]: Jonang Foundation website (Michael Sheehy)
[14]: A Brief history of the Kalachakra by John R. Newman

LINKS

StudyBuddhism.com by Alex Berzin