“瑪哈嘎拉”是梵語，瑪哈意識是“大”，嘎啦是“黑夜”。瑪哈噶啦原來為印度神話中的諸神之一，是掌管黑夜眾魔、死亡毀滅之神，後來為佛法所伏，成為佛法的護法神。瑪哈噶啦是佛教三根本的化身。為調伏剛強眾生而呈現忿怒相，本尊及眷屬護法眾除護持佛法外，依緣起多示現為兩臂、四臂、六臂黑，白等形象，為藏傳佛教諸宗共同推崇的智慧護法；二臂瑪哈噶啦是普賢王如來及金剛持佛之忿怒化身，四臂瑪哈噶拉是勝樂金剛所化現，總攝諸佛之身、口、意、功德、事業，為主修勝樂金剛的密乘行者之護法神，六臂大黑天乃是千手千眼、十一面觀音的化身，因菩薩思惟眾身難度之因，皆由魔所纏繞，於是化身瑪哈噶拉伏魔本尊，內懷撤骨之大悲，外現無比之威猛相。凡藏密行人者，每日修供瑪哈噶拉於持念其心咒，可驅除修法之魔障，成就完滿之事業。
Mahakala, a protector the wrathful manifestation of Avalokiteshvara, the Buddha of Compassion. Mahakala is a Dharma Protector of enormous strength and power, who has promised to help practitioners by dispelling obstacles on the path. Mahakala puja is performed to help removed all kinds of obstacles in both our practice and daily life such as obstacles in environment. Tradtionally Mahakala puja is performed during the New Year to ensure prosperity for the year ahead for all.