039 Regarding Offering Wine

Why does Mahakala require wine offerings?

Disciple asks: Venerable Master, why does Mahakala require wine offerings?

Venerable Master replies:

All Dharma protectors appreciate offerings of wine. Wine has many drawbacks, but it can also have many merits. Tibetan monasteries generally do not allow wine inside, but it can be used in the Dharma protector shrine as an offering to the protectors; it is not for human consumption and should not be drunk.

Whether it’s a tea offering or a wine offering, there isn’t much difference. Generally, offerings, festivals, and rituals are related to the vows of the deity, such as the day of enlightenment, birthday, etc.

A birthday generally refers to the day of receiving the Bodhisattva precepts and making vows. At this time, each Buddha and Bodhisattva also makes special vows, especially worldly Dharma protectors often make vows such as, “If someone does a certain thing, I will help or punish them.” For example, the origin of the water offering to the God of Wealth comes from the vow the God of Wealth made in his previous life: “If someone pours water on me to alleviate the pain on my head, they will obtain what they desire and wealth.”

After enlightenment, these things are no longer necessary, but our doing so has the effect of urging them to fulfill their vows. Therefore, both tea and wine offerings have similar stories.

There are many forms of Mahakala, one of which was once a god of war, who made the vow, “If someone offers me wine, I will fulfill their wishes.” Whether this is the vow of all Mahakalas remains to be verified, but because of this custom, wine is offered to Mahakala, and there are also rituals for offering wine to Mahakala.

Part of the reason is also using what is readily available! Tibet is relatively cold, and people drink rice wine to keep warm, so it is easily obtained, and thus used as an offering. However, wine offerings are also made in hot India and Nepal. We will explore the ultimate reason later.