Female Buddha Vajrayogin
"In her form as Vajravarahi, when she is known as 'the Vajra Sow' she is often pictured with a sow's head on the side of her own as an ornament and in one form has the head of a sow herself. Vajrayogini is often associated with triumph over ignorance, the pig being associated with ignorance in Buddhism. This sow head relates to the origins of Vajravarahi from the Hindu sow-faced goddess Varahi."
by Elizabeth English, "The Emergence of Vajrayogini". Vajrayogini : her visualizations, rituals, & forms. Wisdom Publications. pp. 47–9.
"Dorje Phagmo, or the "Diamond Sow," is an incarnation of Dolma or (Tara), the [[divine consort of Shenrezig (Chenrezig).
In days of old, before the time when the Buddha Gautama appeared, there was a hideous monster called Matrankaru, who spread ruin and terror over all the world. He was the chief of all the legions of demons, goblins, and other evil spirits; even the devils (raksha) of Ceylon had to become his subjects. He subdued to his rule not only this world, but the eight planets, the twenty-four constellations, the eight Nagas, and the gods. By his miraculous power he could lift Mount Ribab (Sumeru) on the end of his thumb.
Finally the Buddha and gods held council to compass about Matrankaru's destruction, and it was decided that Shenrezig should take the form of Tamdrin ("Horse-neck"), and his consort, Dolma, that of Dorje Phagmo ("the Diamond Sow").
When the two had assumed these forms they went to the summit of the Malaya mountains, and Tamdrin neighed three times, to fill the demon with terror, and Dorje Phagmo grunted five times, to strike terror into the heart of Matrankaru's wife, and soon both were lying prostrated at the feet of the two divinities.
But their lives were spared them, and Matrankaru became a devout follower of the Buddha, a defender of the faith (chos gyong), and was given the name of Mahakala.
In 1716, when the Jungar invaders of Tibet came to Nangartse, their chief sent word to Samding to the Dorjo Phagmo to appear before him, that he might see if she really had, as reported, a pig's head. A mild answer was returned to him; but, incensed at her refusing to obey his summons, he tore down the walls of the monastery of Samding, and broke into the sanctuary. He found it deserted, not a human being in it, only eighty pigs and as many sows grunting in the congregation hall under the lead of a big sow, and he dared not sack a place belonging to pigs. When the Jungars had given up all idea of sacking Samding, suddenly the pigs disappeared to become venerable-looking lamas and nuns, with the saintly Dorje Phagmo at their head. Filled with astonishment and veneration for the sacred character of the lady abbess, the chief made immense presents to her lamasery."
from "Lhasa and Central Tibet" by Sarat Chandra Das (1902), pp. 138-139.
The crown of five skulls symbolises Vajravarahi's power to transform the five negative afflictions Vajravarahi_Buddhist Art Tibetanor troubles [Skt. kleshas] into the Five Wisdoms [Skt. Pancha Jana.
The Sanskrit word klesha literally means 'defilement' or 'poison.' Normally obscured by greed, hatred, delusion, jealously & pride often called the five poisons.
The five wisdom levels are
1. Tathata Jana - the 'non-conceptualizing awareness' of Sunyata]].
2. Adarsa Jana - the 'Mirror-like Awareness', 'devoid of all dualistic thought & in union with its 'images' as a mirror [Skt. Adarsa] is with its reflections'.
3. Samata Jana - Awareness of Sameness, which perceives the sameness, the commonality of dharmas or phenomena,
4. Pratyaveksana Jana - 'Investigative Awareness'.
5. Krtyanusthana Jana - Accomplishing Activities, the awareness that spontaneously carries out all that has to be done for the welfare of beings. Each of these Wisdom Energies has a unique association with one of the Five Buddha Groups.
Her threatening Tarjani hand gesture [Skt. Mudra] also known as Karana mudra is made with a raised index & little finger & by folding the other fingers usually around an object represents her energy aimed at clarifying ignorance.
In this case she clasps a flaying knife [Skt. Kartika] symbolising her breaking the power of materialism. The word Kartika comes from the name of Shiva's Son.
Her right hand pours self regenerating uterine blood into her mouth from a skullcap [Skt. Kapala] representing her independence from the material world ...including men.
Vajravarahi is painted with a magical tantric staff [Skt. khatvanga] leaning against her shoulder & which has impaled three heads. The first blue head is a fresh severed, the second red head is in decay and the third a white skull.
Vajravarahi stands in [[satyalida ardapayanka] position with once leg held aloft & the other trampling on the deity Kalatri representing the ego.
She wears a necklace of fifty human heads [Skt. Kapalamala] as a symbol that she vanquishes the fifty negative emotions or 'forms' she has overcome. She is shown in a celestial dance [Skt. Apsara] position upon an orange sun disc associated with the feminine wisdom aspect & on a Lotus Throne representing Great Bliss, and her overall figure is surrounded by a circle of flames of immaculate consciousness.
The trees in the left foreground are the Ashoka Tree. The word Ashoka means without sorrow & is the tree linked to the Vedic God of love & sexual union Kamadeva. Apparently the tree blossoms when a virtuous lady touches it. She has boar head which shows an ancient link with the Hindu deity Vishnu. Varaha has a boar head & is one of Vishnu's eight incarnated forms [Skt. Avatars] In Hinduism his consort is Bhu Devi.
She wears three flayed animal skins which relate to the original three poisons traditionally painted in the centre of the Wheel of Life [Skt. Bhavachakra] sometimes known as the Jivan Chakra. Chakra is a Sanskrit word meaning 'wheel'. The flayed human skin represents her power over greed, the tiger skin represents her power over hatred and the elephant skin represents her immolation of Ignorance.
Demon Killing Goddess Tibetan/Indian
In days of old, before the time when the Buddha Gautama appeared, there was a hideous monster called Matrankaru, who spread ruin and terror over all the world. He was the chief of all the legions of demons, goblins, and other evil spirits; even the devils (raksha) of Ceylon had to become his subjects. He subdued to his rule not only this world, but the eight planets, the twenty-four
Finally the Buddha and gods held council to compass about Matrankaru’s destruction, and it was decided that Shenrezig should take the form of Tamdrin (“Horse-neck”), and his consort, Dolma, that of Dorje Phagmo (“the Diamond Sow”).
When the two had assumed these forms they went to the summit of the Malaya mountains, and Tamdrin neighed three times, to fill the demon with terror, and Dorje Phagmo grunted five times, to strike terror into the heart of Matrankaru’s wife, and soon both were lying prostrated at the feet of the two divinities.But their lives were spared them, and Matrankaru became a devout follower of the Buddha, a defender of the faith (chos gyong), and was given the name of Mahakala.
As a goddess, Durga’s feminine power contains the energies of the gods. Each of her weapons was given to her by various gods: Rudra’s trident, Vishnu’s discus, Indra’s thunderbolt, Brahma’s kamandalu, Kuber’s Ratnahar, etc.
According to a narrative in the Devi Mahatmya story of the Markandeya Purana text, Durga was created as a warrior goddess to fight an asura (an inhuman force/demon) named Mahishasura. He had unleashed a reign of terror on earth, heaven and the nether worlds, and he could not be defeated by any man or god, anywhere. The gods went to Brahma, who had given Mahishasura the power not to be defeated by a man. Brahma could do nothing.
They made Brahma their leader and went to Vaikuntha — the place where Vishnu lay on Ananta Naag. They found both Vishnu and Shiva, and Brahma eloquently related the reign of terror Mahishasur had unleashed on the three worlds. Hearing this Vishnu, Shiva and all of the gods became very angry and beams of fierce light emerged from their bodies. The blinding sea of light met at the Ashram of a priest named Katyan.
The goddess Durga took the name Katyaayani from the priest and emerged from the sea of light. She introduced herself in the language of the Rig-Veda, saying she was the form of the supreme Brahman who had created all the gods. Now she had come to fight the demon to save the gods. They did not create her; it was her lila that she emerged from their combined energy. The gods were blessed with her compassion.
It is said that upon initially encountering Durga, Mahishasura underestimated her, thinking: “How can a woman kill me, Mahishasur — the one who has defeated the trinity of gods?”[citation needed] However, Durga roared with laughter, which caused an earthquake which made Mahishasur aware of her powers.
And the terrible Mahishasur rampaged against her, changing forms many times. First he was a buffalo demon, and she defeated him with her sword. Then he changed forms and became an elephant that tied up the goddess’s lion and began to pull it towards him. The goddess cut off his trunk with her sword. The demon Mahishasur continued his terrorizing, taking the form of a lion, and then the form of a man, but both of them were gracefully slain by Durga.
Then Mahishasur began attacking once more, starting to take the form of a buffalo again. The patient goddess became very angry, and as she sipped divine wine from a cup she smiled and proclaimed to Mahishasur in a colorful tone — “Roar with delight while you still can, O illiterate demon, because when I will kill you after drinking this, the gods themselves will roar with delight”.[cite this quote] When Mahashaur had half emerged into his buffalo form, he was paralyzed by the extreme light emitting from the goddess’s body. The goddess then resounded with laughter before cutting Mahishasur’s head down with her sword.
Thus Durga slew Mahishasur, thus is the power of the fierce compassion of Durga.
Hence, Mata Durga is also known as Mahishasurmardhini — the slayer of Mahishasur. According to one legend, the goddess Durga created an army to fight against the forces of the demon-king Mahishasur, who was terrorizing Heaven and Earth.
After ten days of fighting, Durga and her army defeated Mahishasur and killed him. As a reward for their service, Durga bestowed upon her army the knowledge of jewelry-making. Ever since, the Sonara community has been involved in the jewelry profession [3].
The goddess as Mahisasuramardhini appears quite early in Indian art. The Archaeological Museum in Matura has several statues on display including a 6-armed Kushana period Mahisasuramardhini that depicts her pressing down the buffalo with her lower hands [4].
A Nagar plaque from the first century BC – first century AD depicts a 4-armed Mahisamardhini accompanied by a lion. But it is in the Gupta period that we see the finest representations of Mahisasuramardhini (2-, 4-, 6-, and at Udayagiri, 12-armed).
The spear and trident are her most common weapons. a Mamallapuram relief shows the goddess with 8 arms riding her lion subduing a bufalo-faced demon (as contrasted with a buffalo demon); a variation also seen at Ellora. In later sculptures (post-seventh Century), sculptures show the goddess having decapitated the buffalo demon.
Written by Khyungpo Naljor a twelfth-….century Tibetan master who had a visionary experience in which a lion-headed dakini appeared and sang this song.
Crystal dakini guards against interruptions. Jewel dakini increases wealth. Lotus dakini gathers energy. Action dakini gets everything done. When wanting and grasping hold sway The dakini has you in her power. Wanting nothing from outside, taking things as they come, Know the dakini to be your own mind.
The essence of mind is knowing. Know that the crystal is the non-thought of mind itself And the crystal dakini guards against interruptions. Know that the source of wealth is contentment And the jewel dakini fulfills all wants and needs. Know that the lotus is the non-thought of freedom from attachment And the lotus dakini gathers energy. Know that action has no origination or cessation And the action dakini gets everything done. Those who do not understand these points Can practice for eons and know nothing.
