Raudra Chakrin: The 25th King of Shambhala
King Raudra Chakrin (Main figure)
(Top to bottom): Shambhala (abode), His Holiness the 10th Panchen Lama, Two-Armed Kalachakra, Raudra Chakrin, Manjushri and Dorje Shugden.
Deity: King Raudra Chakrin (Sanskrit)
Alternative name: Rigden Dragpo (Tibetan)
Raudra Chakrin’s name literally means ‘Forceful Wheel Holder’. The final king prophesied in the Kalachakra Tantra, Raudra Chakrin is foretold to reign over the kingdom of Shambala in the year 2424 CE and will emerge from his hidden kingdom to establish a planet-wide Golden Age following his defeat of degenerate world rulers who will try to invade his paradise-like kingdom. At that time, the world will be devoid of true Dharma and signs of spiritual degeneration will be very strong.
Abode: Shambhala
Shambhala is a physical place associated with the Kalachakra Tantra. One can enter the kingdom with one’s physical body but it exists on a slightly different plane. Spiritually-attained beings are able to visit Shambhala using their astral bodies. His Holiness the Panchen Lama and his line of incarnations are masters of the Kalachakra Tantra and are said to have travelled to this realm. The 6th Panchen Lama Lobsang Palden Yeshe recorded the way to get to Shambhala as well as what exists there in detail in his text known as Shambhala Lam Yig or “The Way to Shambhala”. The kingdom, which takes the shape of an eight-petal lotus, is ruled by great rulers who are emanations of various enlightened beings. They preserve the Kalachakra Tantra and proliferate its practice.
Lama: His Holiness the 10th Panchen Lama (Tibetan)
The Panchen Lama line of incarnations are believed to be emanations of the kings of Shambhala. His Holiness the 10th Panchen Lama was no different. He was a lineage master of the Kalachakra Tantra and promoted the practice heavily. He was born in 1938 in what is today’s Qinghai Province. He was enthroned and given the name ‘Choekyi Gyaltsen’ at Kumbum Monastery in 1949. He led an illustrious life and entered clear light in Shigatse at the age of 51 in 1989.
Deity: Kalachakra (Sanskrit)
Alternative name: Dukyi Korlo (Tibetan)
Kalachakra means ‘Wheel of Time’ or “time-cycles” and is the name of a tantric deity of Vajrayana Buddhism. The meditations contained in this tantric system has the great ability to bring one to complete enlightenment. According to the Kalachakra Tantra, Buddha Shakyamuni taught the Kalachakra Root Tantra in Dharanikota (near modern-day Amaravathi) in south-eastern India to the first King of Shambhala. This king brought the Tantra back to Shambhala where it is the main practice of this mystical land. All the Kings of Shambhala are the lineage holders of this Kalachakra Tantra.
Deity: Manjushri (Sanskrit)
Alternative name: Jampel Yang (Tibetan)
Manjushri, or Jampal Yang in Tibetan, literally means “Gentle-voiced” and he has the appearance of a youthful 16-year-old prince. He is one of the most popular Bodhisattvas in the Buddhist pantheon and his earthly abode is in Wutai Shan (Five-Peak Mountains) of China. He is widely known to be the patron Bodhisattva of Wisdom.
Deity: Dorje Shugden (Tibetan)
Alternative name: Vajra Rudra (Sanskrit)
Dorje Shugden is an emanation of the Buddha of Wisdom, Manjushri. He took the form of a Dharma Protector in order to safeguard the Buddha’s teachings, especially the important teachings on the Middle Way View. Reminiscent of Manjushri’s form, Dorje Shugden carries a meandering sword and rides a snowlion that represents the fearlessness of a fully enlightened Buddha. Thus, he has great strength to overcome obstacles of the body, speech and mind, and create suitable conditions for our spiritual practice to flourish. Furthermore, he carries a jewel-spitting mongoose and a vajra hook to symbolise that he has the tremendous ability to bestow wealth and resources.
Dorje Shugden, in his previous lifetimes as great translators and lineage-holders, was responsible for the dissemination and preservation of the Kalachakra Tantra in Tibet. One of the places Dorje Shugden abides is Shambhala. According to the long Fulfilment Puja (kangsol) text, Dorje Shugden at the beginning of the puja is called forth from this mystical land, the last great stronghold of the Kalachakra lineage on earth.
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It is said that Guru Padmasambhava will manifest at the last king, Raudra Chakrin. (The documentary from Return of the Lotus Born Master)
Rudra Chakrin, the 25th and last Kalki king of Shambhala as mentioned in legend. Depicted in this beautiful thangka with Shambhala (abode), His Holiness the 10th Panchen Lama, Two-Armed Kalachakra, Manjushri and Dorje Shugden . In Hinduism and Tibetan Buddhist tradition, Shambhala is a mythical kingdom. Recording historical facts, Shambhala came to be seen as a Buddhist pure land, a fabulous spiritual kingdom.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this beautiful rime thangka and the explanation of it.