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The Buddhist deity Simhavaktra Dakini

From Tibetan Buddhist Encyclopedia
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https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/art-asia/himalayas/tibet/v/simhavaktra-dakini

Simhavaktra.jpg



Simhavaktra Dakini, an enlightened goddess of the Gelug order of Tibetan Buddhism, clears obstacles from the paths of those who seek enlightenment and provides inspiration and knowledge. The dancing goddess's hair blazes upward with the fire of wisdom.

Her lion head indicates fearlessness in confronting all obstacles to liberation. Her cape is made of freshly flayed human skin, signifying her transcendence of the limitations of the human condition.

The bone ornaments on her chest indicate that she has passed beyond the cycles of birth and death; the tiger skin around her waist symbolizes victory over all harmful passions and deeds. This figure once held a chopper, a skull cup, and a staff. This image of Simhavaktra Dakini was produced under the patronage of the Qianlong emperor and would have been worshiped in a temple in Beijing or its vicinity.

Simhavaktra Dakini, the ferocious lion-faced guardian of Vajrayana Buddhism, is a female “sky-walker” who guides human beings along the right path. This powerful spirit can remove physical hindrances and spiritual obstacles such as pride and ego.

When she is portrayed alone, like here, she dances gracefully; her right leg is raised and bent, and her left leg would usually be planted on a prostrate demonic figure, which in this case is missing. Originally she would have held a chopper (a curved, chopping knife) in her right hand and a bowl made from a human skull in her left. These are also missing. She is naked except for jewelry (originally inset with semiprecious stones), a tiger skin is wrapped around her waist, and human skin is knotted around her shoulders.

Together with Makaravaktra Dakini (a crocodile-headed dakini), Simhavaktra attends Penden Lhamo, the only female goddess among the Eight Guardians of the Dharma who protect the teachings of the Buddha. She is a special inner protectress of various lineages including the Gelukpa Order and its two leaders, the Dalai and Panchen Lamas.

Simhavaktra Dakini, the ferocious lion-faced guardian of Vajrayana Buddhism, is a female “sky-walker” who guides human beings along the right path. This powerful spirit can remove physical hindrances and spiritual obstacles such as pride and ego. When she is portrayed alone, like here, she dances gracefully; her right leg is raised and bent, and her left leg would usually be planted on a prostrate demonic figure, which in this case is missing.

Originally she would have held a chopper (a curved, chopping knife) in her right hand and a bowl made from a human skull in her left. These are also missing. She is naked except for jewelry (originally inset with semiprecious stones), a tiger skin is wrapped around her waist, and human skin is knotted around her shoulders.

Together with Makaravaktra Dakini (a crocodile-headed dakini), Simhavaktra attends Penden Lhamo, the only female goddess among the Eight Guardians of the Dharma who protect the teachings of the Buddha. She is a special inner protectress of various lineages including the Gelukpa Order and its two leaders, the Dalai and Panchen Lamas.



Source

https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/art-asia/himalayas/tibet/v/simhavaktra-dakini