Vajrayogini

Vajrayogini (Tibetan: Dorje Naljorma, Wylie: "Rdo rje rnal ’byor ma") Is the Vajra yogini, literally 'the diamond female yogi'. Her other forms include Vajravarahi (Tibetan: Dorje Phagmo, bo|w=rdo-rje phag-mo, English: the Vajra Sow) and Kālikā (Wylie:"khros ma nag mo", English: the Wrathful Lady) [ [http://www.himalayanart.org/pages/vajrayogini/index.html The Forms of Vajrayogini] Himalayan Art Resources] . Vajrayogini is a dakini and a Vajrayana Buddhist meditation deity. As such she is a female Buddha. She is the "Sarva-buddha-dakini" the Dakini Who is the Essence of all Buddhas. [ [http://vajrayogini.com/ VAJRAYOGINI - Buddhist Tantric Practice Support (see Section General Characteristics] from BerzinArchives.com] . "Vajradhara" however is the supreme essence of all Buddhas [ [http://www2.bremen.de/info/nepal/Statues/other/Vajrada1.htm Dharmapala Thangka Centre] Vajradhara] . Her sadhana, or practice, originated in India between the 10th and 12th century. It evolved from the Chakrasamvara sadhana, where Vajrayogini appears as his yab-yum consort, to become a stand-alone practice of anuttarayoga tantra in its own right. [English, Elizabeth (2002). "Vajrayogini: Her Visualizations, Rituals, & Forms". Boston: Wisdom Publications. ISBN 0-86171-329-X] The practice of Vajrayogini belongs to the Mother Tantras (Tibetan:"ma-rgyud"), class of Anuttarayoga Tantra [ [http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O108-anuttarayogatantra.html anuttara-yoga-tantra] Encyclopedia.com] , along with tantras such as Chakrasamvara and Hevajra.

Vajrayogini is often associated with triumph over ignorance as well as with abandonment (one of her hidden aspects is VaruniFact|date=July 2007, Hindu goddess of alcohol and intoxication). Vajrayogini is key figure in the advanced Tibetan Buddhist practice of "Chöd", where she appears in her Kālikā (Tibetan:"Khros ma nag mo") or Vajravarahi (Tibetan:"rDo rje phag mo") forms. Vajrayogini is the yidam that a meditator identifies with when practicing Six yogas of Naropa and is an important deity for tantric initiation, especially for new initiates -- Vajrayogini's practice is said to be well-suited to those with strong desirous attachment, and to those living in the current "degenerate age". Her consort is Chakrasamvara, who is often depicted as a spear on Vajrayogini's shoulder. The seven-headed form of Vajrayogini is similar to the Indian goddess Chinnamasta who is recognized by both Hindus and Buddhists. [cite book|last=Bernard|first=Elizabeth Anne|title= Chinnamasta: The Aweful Buddhist and Hindu Tantric Goddess |publisher=Motilal Banarsidass|year=2000|isbn=978-8120817487]

In Tibet the abbess of Samding monastery, on the shores of the Yamdrok Tso Lake (Yamdrok Lake) near Gyantse, was traditionally a tulku of Dorje Phagmo [Tashi Tsering, "A Preliminary Reconstruction of the Successive Reincarnations of Samding Dorje Phagmo; The Foremost Woman Incarnation of Tibet" , Youmtsho - Journal of Tibetan Women's Studies, no. 1, pp.20-53 ] . The lineage started in 15th century with the princess of Gungthang, Chokyi Dronma (1422-1455). [ [http://www.innerasiaresearch.org/Diemberger_Woman.pdf When a woman becomes a dynasty : the Samding Dorje Phagmo of Tibet] ] , [ [http://catdir.loc.gov/catdir/toc/ecip079/2007000291.html Table of contents for When a woman becomes a dynasty : the Samding Dorje Phagmo of Tibet / Hildegard Diemberger.] ] . The current incarnation resides in Lhasa. [Pamela Logan, [http://www.asiaquarterly.com/content/view/143/ "Tulkus in Tibet"] , Harvard Asia Quarterly, Vol. VIII, No. 1. Winter 2004.]

According to Miranda Shaw:

Vajrayoginī, the "Adamantine Yogini", who is inarguably the supreme deity of the Tantric pantheon. No male Buddha, including her divine consort , Heruka-Cakrasaṃvara, approaches her in metaphysical or practical import. [cite book|last=Shaw|first=Miranda|title=Buddhist Goddesses of India|publisher=Princeton University Press|location=USA|date=2006|pages=p.8|isbn=9780691127583|url=http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=MvDKOK1h3zMC&]

Iconcography

Vajrayogini is visualized as the translucent, deep red form of a 16 years old female with the third eye of wisdom set vertically on her forehead. Iconographically, Vajrayogini, like most of the Dakini, is often signified with the investiture of Digambar. She is often pictured with a sow, in her Vajravarahi form she is known as the Vajra Sow.

Referenceses

Further Reading

*English, Elizabeth (2002). "Vajrayogini: Her Visualizations, Rituals, & Forms". Boston: Wisdom Publications. ISBN 0-86171-329-X
*Diemberger, Hildegard (2007): "When a Woman Becomes a Religious Dynasty - The Samding Dorje Phagmo of Tibet", Columbia University Press, 2007, ISBN 0231143206, EAN 9780231143202
*Gyatso, Geshe Kelsang (1991). "Guide to Dakini Land: The Highest Yoga Tantra Practice Buddha Vajrayogini." Tharpa Publications. ISBN 0-948006-18-8

ee also

*Narodakini
*Simhamukha
*Yeshe Tsogyal
*Mandarava
*Prajnaparamita

External links

* [http://www.vajrayogini.com Vajrayogini website] - website dedicated to Naro's Vajrayogini in the Gelug and Sakya traditions
* [http://www.khandro.net/dakini_queen.htm The Great Bliss Queen] - an in depth article on Vajrayogini
* [http://www.yoniversum.nl/dakini/vajravarahi.html Vajravarahi entry on Yoniversum.nl] - a short description
* [http://www.himalayanart.org/image.cfm/839.html Red Vajravarahi on HimalayanArt.org] - an image of Vajravarahi
* [http://www.asianart.com/exhibitions/svision/i20.html Vajravarahi Mandala]
* [http://www.asianart.com/exhibitions/desire/vajravar.html Desire and Devotion: Exhibit on Asian Art]
* [http://kadampa.org/en/buddhism/heruka-vajrayogini The Practices of Heruka & Vajrayogini]