Kālacakra
Kālacakra · kāla-cakra, “the wheel of time”
Grammar: neuter noun, a compound of kāla (time) and cakra (wheel): “the wheel of time”.
Meaning: time pictured as a turning wheel, always moving.
In the scriptures: the Sarva-pāpa-mocana stava, the stotra that frees one from every pāpa, was made known by Maheśvara himself at Vārāṇasī. In it Tripurāntaka speaks to Vishṇu and bows to him with joined palms as Purushottama, who is also Bhavānīśvara and Mahākāleśvara, “the form of the Kālacakra with twelve spokes, six axles, three vyūhas and two yokes”. The one who reads this stava with śraddhā is freed from pāpa, attains śānti, and becomes worthy of honour even from the devas (Vāmana Purāṇa, Chapter 60).
Related terms: Kāla · Cakra · Mahākāla · Kālarūpī · Saṃvatsara
Sources
- Vāmana Purāṇa, Chapter 60