Marichi (Ozer Chenma)
Om! Homage to the goddess Marichi!
Homage to her, the great enemy of the maras!
Utterly invincible, vanquisher of all,
She who travels before the sun and moon,
And drives away Makaradhvaja, God of Desire —
Simply by praying to you,
May the hosts of opposing forces be destroyed!
Slay them, divide them, drive them away, confuse them and disperse them,
And grant us the siddhi of total victory over all adversity!
~ In Praise of Marichi by Jigme Lingpa
Marichi (Skt. marici, Tib. Ozer Chenma) is a Buddhist goddess associated with sun and its rays. She appears in many forms, both peaceful and wrathful. As the Goddess of the Dawn, one of her most common forms, she is depicted in the chariot of the sun pulled by seven pigs, removing obstacles with her radiant light. Marichi is invoked at the time of sun-rise, which shows her connection with the sun. Her main function is protection, especially during travel, removing obstacles, restoring vital energy and increasing fortune.
The cult of Marichi is very popular in Tibet, Mongolia, China and Japan. Here is the Dharani of Noble Ozer Chenma spoken by Buddha Shakyamuni revealing her qualities, as well as benefits deriving from merely knowing her name.
DHARANI OF NOBLE OZER CHENMA
In Sanskrit: arya marici nama dharana
In Tibetan: pak ma ö zer chen zhé ja wé zung
Homage to all the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas! Thus did I hear at one time. The Bhagavan was dwelling at Shravasti, in the grove of Prince Jeta, in the garden of Anathapindada, together with a great community of fifty and thirteen of monks and together with many Bodhisattvas Mahasattvas. Than the Bhagavan spoke to the monks in these words:
O monks, there exists the Goddess Ozer Chenma, she manifests before the sun and moon, she cannot be seen, she cannot be seized, she cannot be tied, she cannot be negated, she cannot be disputed, she cannot be fooled, she cannot be sentenced, she cannot be beheaded. She cannot be eliminated, she cannot be burned, she cannot fall under the power of the enemies.
O monks, whoever just only knows the name of Ozer Chenma, such person also cannot be seen, cannot be seized, cannot be tied, cannot be negated, cannot be disputed, cannot be fooled, cannot be sentenced, cannot be beheaded, cannot be eliminated, cannot be burned, cannot fall under the power of the enemies.
That is why, because I also know the name of Ozer Chenma, may I not be seen, may I not be seized, may I not be tied, may I not be negated, may I not be disputed, may I not be fooled, may I not be sentenced, may I not be beheaded, may I not be eliminated, may I not be burned, may I not fall under the power of the enemies. Thus are the words of the secret mantra for that:
TADYATHA OM PATAKRA MASI PARAKRA MASI UDAYA MASI NAIRA MASI ARKKA MASI MARKKA MASI URMA MASI VANA MASI GULMA MASI TSIVARA MASI MAHA TSIVARA MASI ANTAR DHAMNA MASI SVAHA
OM O Goddess Ozer Chenma, protect me when I am in a journey, protect me from the wrong paths, protect me from dangers from people, protect me from dangers from kings, protect me from dangers from elephants, protect me from dangers from robbers, protect me from dangers from the Nagas, protect me from dangers from the lions, protect me from dangers from the tigers, protect me from dangers from the fire, protect me from dangers from the water, protect me from dangers from the snakes, protect me from dangers from the poisons, protect me from all hostile forces and enemies. During turmoil and during peace, during fortune and misfortune, in all circumstances — protect me from lions, protect me from tigers, protect me from Nagas, protect me from snakes. SVAHA
From all dangers, from injury, from infectious diseases, from all turmoil and warfare – Protect me! Protect me!
NAMO RATNA TRAYAYA TADYATHA OM ALO TALO KALO SATSTSALO SA MA PA MURDHITI RAKSHA RAKSHA MAM
Protect me and all sentient beings from all harm, from dangers and from diseases. SVAHA
Homage to the Three Jewels! The essence mantra of Ozer Chenma should be recited:
TADYATHA OM VATTALI VADALI VARALI VARAHA MUKHI SARVA DUSHTA PRADUSHTANAM TSAKSHUR MUKHAM BANDHA BANDHA BANDHA MUKHAM DZAMBHAYA STAMBHAYA MOHAYA SVAHA OM MARITSAYE SVAHA
OM VARALI VADALI VATTALI VARAHA MUKHI SARVA DUSHTANAM PRADUSHTANAM TSAKSHUR MUKHAM BANDHA BANDHA SVAHA
The Bhagavan having thus spoken, the multitude of monks and multitude of Bodhisattvas, and the whole assembly of Devas, humans, Asuras and Gandharvas and others have rejoiced and highly praised that spoken by the Bhagavan. Thus is completed the Dharani of the Noble Ozer Chenma.
The text of the dharani is based on the Kangyur (ing Edition) vol. 90 p.477-481.
The praise of Marichi by Jigme Lingpa is translated by Lotsawa House.
