Deities in Tibetan Buddhism (9)

Understanding the Role of Yama in Tibetan Buddhism

Yama, a significant Dharma Protector, is considered an emanation of Manjushri Bodhisattva. Furthermore, Yama is categorized into three distinct forms: Outer, Inner, and Secret. The Outer Yama has a dark blue complexion. Also, he has a stout build with a low-hanging belly. He is depicted with one face, two arms, and an angry bull-like face. Additionally, his features include two sharp horns and three wide-open eyes. Moreover, his mouth is a gaping blood basin that reveals four fangs. His eyebrows and beard resemble fire, with red hair streaming upward. In his right hand, he holds a skull staff and a demon-binding lasso in his left hand. Finally, he stands with his right leg bent and his left leg extended on a blue wrathful water buffalo.

Next to him stands “Chamundi,” his consort. She has a dark blue-black color with one face and two arms. She holds a trident in her right hand and a skull cup filled with blood in her left hand. She also stands on a ferocious water buffalo, gazing up at Yama. This “Outer Yama” is believed to reside in the seven layers beneath the southern ground. He acts as the master of the prison of all life cycles and a protector of the law of karma.

The Inner Yama represents the karmic energy that flows in the left and right channels. He appears naked, with a dark blue-black complexion. Also, he has one face and two arms. The inner Yama possesses a wrathful Rakshasa-like face. His three eyes have a ferocious glare, and his body is short and stout with a low-hanging belly. He wears a garland of fifty fresh human heads and a five-skull crown. The Yama’s beard and hair are light yellow, swirling upwards. A yellow vajra on his head symbolizes the immovability of Vajra. Furthermore, he wears a tiger skin skirt, adorned with eight cemetery ornaments. In his right hand, he holds a raised curved knife, and his left hand holds a skull cup at his chest. Lastly, he stands with his right leg stretched and his left leg bent on a sun-disk.

The Secret Yama embodies the discriminating consciousness within the two channels. The secret Yama is red, with one face and two arms. In his right hand, he holds a wish-fulfilling jewel, and in his left hand at his chest, a blood-filled nectar skull cup. He also wears a garland of fifty fresh human heads, a five-skull crown, and two horns. His appearance is fierce, eerie, and terrifying. He stands with his right leg bent and left leg extended on a red water buffalo.

The Sister Protectors: Guardians of Dharma

The Sister Protectors, also known as the Rhinoceros Armor Protectors, are worldly protectors in Tibetan Buddhism. However, they share characteristics with worldly protectors and act as war gods. The Sister Protectors have a lineage. Their father is Yaksha Sangye Repa Chin, and their mother is the goddess Semu Chagi Repa Chin. They reside in a sea of blood at the center of a copper mountain. The landscape features many human and horse corpses, and blood from them forms a lake. Iron mountains surround this blood sea. At the center, a dark purple rhinoceros hide palace stands on the peak with agate ramparts and skull eaves.

The Sister Protectors are bright red. Their limbs are short and stout, with a wide-open mouth where hot, wet blood bubbles. Also, their tongues are rolled backward, baring copper fangs. Their eyebrows and facial hair are yellowish-red. Moreover, their three eyes angrily glare at the enemies of the Dharma. In their right hands, they hold swords pointed skyward to cut off enemies’ lifelines. Their left hands hold fresh hearts towards their mouths, and also bows and arrows. Additionally, they have a coral pouch and a spear with a black and red silk flag on their left arm. They wear copper armor, red silk clothing, a cloak of brown male goat skin, and a helmet with a circular decoration and a garland of fifty heads. Their feet are clad in red leather high boots, and their bodies are engulfed in red flames.

Donmama, their sister and consort, accompanies the Sister Protectors. She has a black-blue body, a wrinkled red face with flames, and furrowed eyebrows. Her mouth is open with her tongue rolled backward, exposing sharp teeth. In her right hand, she holds a copper sword. Her left hand plunges a vajra dagger into obstructive demons. Donmama’s breasts are bare and adorned with skull bones. She rides either a man-eating black bear or a lioness with a prostrate man beneath her paws.

Arya Deva Bodhisattva’s Role in Madhyamaka Philosophy

Arya Deva Bodhisattva, also known as Kanaripa, was a key disciple of Nagarjuna. He is also recognized as one of the founders of the Mahayana Madhyamaka school of thought. Inheriting Nagarjuna’s Madhyamaka philosophy, Arya Deva further developed its teachings. Great masters often refer to Nagarjuna and Arya Deva as the “holy father and son.” Arya Deva, alongside Nagarjuna, is considered one of the six ornaments of Jambudvipa.

Arya Deva Bodhisattva is depicted wearing a Pandita hat and has a beard. He sits naked above the waist on an animal skin, engaging in a debate. In thangkas, Nagarjuna Bodhisattva often appears, highlighting their teacher-disciple relationship. In these images, Nagarjuna is positioned at the top left of Arya Deva. Chakrasamvara appears in the upper right of the thangka, and the four-armed Mahakala Dharma Protectors are below.

Geshe Palden Lhamo: A Guardian Across Monasteries

Geshe Palden Lhamo, a worldly protector, is the guardian of many Tibetan monasteries. The Geshe Palden Lhamo at Ganden Monastery is known as the Ganden Wild Mountain Geshe. At Reting Monastery, he is called the Earth God Palden Lhamo or the Reting Venerable Palden Lhamo Mountain. In addition, he has a very important position there. In Sera Monastery, he is referred to as Dorje Pelden. Furthermore, at Dongkar Monastery, he is known as Neyshe Gyewo Chenpo, the Great Deity Geshe, Lhache Gyewo Chaling, and Kangzenpa.

Two other names for this protector are Earth God Pelden and Dorje Bachen. Legend says that Palden Lhamo originally resided in Nalanda, India. Later, Pandit Atisha moved Palden Lhamo to Tibet. Also, Palden Lhamo is considered an emanation of Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva.

Palden Lhamo’s body has a crystal white color. Moreover, he is depicted with one face and two arms. In his right hand, he holds a golden-headed white crystal spear. Also, celestial silk flags are attached to it, and his left hand holds a wish-fulfilling jewel. He has a laughing expression, a cloth head covering, and wide-sleeved celestial silk clothes. He sits in a haughty posture. On either side, his outer retinue includes a queen, sons, ministers, warriors, and subjects. These beings do not possess Dharma power.

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