Iconography
The idea of Kalachakra revolves around the concept of time [Skt. Kala] and the cycles [Skt. Chakra's] of existence. Everything from the cycles of a clock, the cycles of habit, the cycles of the planets through to the cycles of human breathing. Everything is the world is governed by cycles of time & the clearer we understand cyclical patterns the more we can work with them & liberate navigate towards a more enlightened state.Kalachakra is atemporally conjoined with his consort yellow Kalachakri in an embrace called Yab-Yum. Kalachakra has four heads, 24 arms & 2 legs. A principle head is blue, with a blue upper body & four blue left & four right arms. His two principle arms embrace Kalachakri. Additionaly a left red head, four red left, four right arms & a red left leg; a white right facing head, four white right arms & a white right leg. Kalachakra is an emanation of blue Akshobhya [Skt.] [Eng. unshakable which is why Kalachakra is predominately blue. The two other original transcendent Buddha Families (Meditation [Skt. Dhyana] Buddhas) depicted are red Amitabha [Skt.] meaning bearer of love who can greed into love & white Vairochana [Skt.] meaning illuminator who can snuff out delusion into realised wisdom. The wisdom energies of ddhist ArtAmitabha, Akshobhya & Vairochana respectively transmute greed, hatred & delusion tuning the Wheel of Life. His crossed two principle blue arms are in Victory over the Three Realms gesture [Skt. Triolyavijaya Mudra], also called the Humkara Mudra with reference to the syllable 'Hum'. The three realms form the Trikaya Principle of Nirmanakaya, Sambhogakaya & Dharmakaya. The right hand holds a vajra topped bell [Skt. Ghanta] (barely visible) symbolising female wisdom & a diamond [Skt. Vajra] sceptre which symbolises method or compassion. He wears a special necklace of interlocking Diamond Sceptres [Skt. Vajramala] & a second made of skulls [Skt Kapalamala]. He wears a tiger skin dhoti representing his power over hatred. He stands & subdues two four armed demons. One of his left hands holds a blue wooden club [Skt. Danda] representing the crushing of the veils of ignorance. The top left red hand holds a hammer [Skt. Mudgara] representing the destruction of greed. The head of the hammer is bell-shaped symbolising the female wisdom quality, the vajra-shaped back part representing the male method quality & surmounted by a jewel representing conviction. The third red left hand holds an iron hook [elephant goad] with a vajra pommel [Skt. Vajrankush] which represents subjugating negative afflictions. The fourth red hand holds three unkindled firebrands [Skt. Agnidanda or Jvaladanda] often shown as three fire arrows [Skt. Agnibana] representing the power of subjugating the three original Kleshas being greed, hatred & delusion which form the centre of the Wheel of Life.



The top right white hand holds the Four Heads of Brahma [Skt. Brahmashiras] representing the severance of all conceptualisations & development of the four measureless states being loving kindness [Skt. Metta], sympathetic joy [Skt. Mudita], equanimity [Skt. Upekka] & lastly compassion [Skt. Karuna] which themselves know no bounds. The Four abodes are also known as the Temples of Brahma. The third white hand holds a sun disc [Skt Suryachakra] representing absolute truth with the third blue hand holding a moon disc representing awoken realisation of relative truth. His fourth right white hand holds the right turning conch shell [Skt. Dakshinavarta Sangha] representing sound & the seed [Skt. bija] syllables, Buddhism according to the Dharmas. Descriptions the other shown hand-held attributes are found in Robert Beer's book The Handbook of Tibetan Symbols. The triangular diamond rock formation in the foreground represents the Source of Reality [Skt. Dharmadaya] within which the deities manifest & the principle of Trikaya arises. This is generated from emptiness by the syllable E which in Indian language is a Triangular shaped letter D.

Commentary
Yab-Yum is a Tibetan word meaning father-mother which describes Kalachakra in sexual union with his female consort Kalachakri. Yab-yum is generally understood to represent the primordial union of wisdom & compassion. In Buddhism the masculine form is active, representing either skilful means or compassion [Skt. Upaya] that should be developed for enlightenment. The feminine form is passive representing wisdom [Skt. Prajna]. United, the figures symbolize the union necessary to overcome the veils of Maya, the false duality of object & subject. Kalachakra is also a tutelary meditation[Skt. Ishtadevata; Tib. Yidam] deity.

Mantra of Kalachakra

Each syllable of the mantra represents a specific quality:

"Om" represents the pure exalted body, speech, and mind of enlightened beings.
"Mani" symbolizes the jewel, which stands for the altruistic intention to attain enlightenment.
"Padme" means lotus and represents wisdom.
"Hum" signifies indivisibility and unity.
When reciting or meditating upon this mantra, practitioners aim to cultivate compassion, wisdom, and a deep understanding of the interconnectedness of all beings. It is believed to have the power to purify negative emotions, liberate from suffering, and lead toward enlightenment.

The mantra is often chanted, written, or inscribed on prayer flags, wheels, and stones. Its resonance and repetition are said to create positive vibrations that benefit both the practitioner and the surrounding environment.