Mahākāla is a Sanskrit bahuvrihi of mahā (महत्; "great") and kāla (काल; "time/death"), which means "beyond time" or death. Mahakala is a category of Tantric Buddhist deity. His common function is as a protector (Dharmapala) and specifically the primary Wisdom protector of Himalayan and Tibetan Buddhism. He is however also a meditational deity (ishtadevata) in the highest Anuttarayoga Tantras.