her name in Tibetan is Öser Chenma, i.e. The Five Female Buddhas are a set of figures visualized in meditation. The eight female bodhisattvas (Tib. Red Tara byang chub sems ma brgyad) are also referred to as the eight offering goddesses. Lāsyā; Tib. Samantabhadri is always shown naked (as is her consort) to demonstrate the unadorned nature of Absolute Truth, the emptiness of all phenomena.     Simhamukha (Sengdongma) - yidam - lion-headed Dakini Kuan Yin, Goddess of Mercy She is closely associated with chöd practice (see Machig Labdrön). | Women's ordination | Events calendar | Buddhas and bodhisattvas often are depicted in Buddhist art with stylized hand gestures called mudras. Yidam (trident or staff) in her left elbow. (Female Bodhisattvas) The enlightened women or female figures named below all come from Vajrayana or "Tibetan" Buddhism, the school of Mahayana which originated in India and later moved to Tibet and the other Himalayan countries. Her left hands hold a miniature Buddha image, a double (crossed) vajra, and an arrow; the fourth left hand is held in meditation posture in her lap. Yidam - wrathful Black Tara Therefore we are very happy to be able to make this selection of images available to everyone to download for FREE. a yidam -- an enlightened meditational deity who embodies the union of wisdom and compassion, yet is not separate from the meditator They embody aspects of wisdom, and through visualizing them and reciting their mantras gradually something of that wisdom ‘rubs off’. A-chi Chos-kyi sGrol-ma) is a female Dharma protector whose practice was introduced by Drikung ('Bri-gung) Achi, the matriarch of the Drikung hereditary lineage. Female Buddhas and Bodhisattvas according to Tibetan Buddhist tradition.     Kakasya is a guardian goddess with the face of a crow: one of the bird-headed goddesses associated with the mandalas of various tutelary, or personal, deities. Her first right hand holds a vajra at the heart in the mudra of teaching, the second holds a vajra axe, the third holds an arrow with the tip pointing downwards, and the fourth, in the mudra of generosity, holds a (sewing) needle. Mahamaya The Naro form of Vajrayogini, most commonly seen in the Sakya and Geluk traditions, is shown standing with her face turned upwards and to the left, with the skullcup held up to her mouth and the curved knife pointing to the ground. Robert Chung's website also includes an illustrated According to Buddh… This Dorje Naljorma, Adamantine Female Practitioner) is the principal female yidam of Highest Yoga Tantra of the New Translation schools of Tibetan Buddhism. Hence, most སྒྲོལ་མ, Dölma) or Ārya Tārā, also known as Jetsun Dölma (Tibetan language:rje btsun sgrol ma) in Tibetan Buddhism, is a female Bodhisattva in Mahayana Buddhism who appears as a female Buddha in Vajrayana Buddhism. There is also a system of divination by dice associated with her. each face has three eyes, and she has one eye in the palm of each hand and the sole of each foot, showing that she watches and protects sentient beings. When the Buddha was 29 years old he went to live in … Natalie R. Marsh offers an essay Her practice helps generate energy and power.     Ushnisha-vijaya - yidam - the long-life deity Unusually, for a Dharma protector, Achi Chökyi Drolma's aspect is not wrathful, but peaceful. practice (see Machig Labdrön). When it is the other way about, e.g. Table of Contents This form of Tara, Green Tara, is the most common one; but He is the protector and guide of Gautama Buddha and rose to symbolize the Buddha's power. Dowman's Sky Dancer: the secret life and songs of the Lady Yeshe Tsogyel (London: Vajrapāṇi is extensively represented in Buddhist iconography as one of the three protective deities surrounding the Buddha. Compassion Bodhisattva (Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva), Quan Yidam - goddess of learning and the arts entry on Tara for a more scholastic look at the deity. ‘Bodhisattva’ is a Sanskrit word that may be translated to mean ‘awakened truth’, ‘enlightenment being’, or ‘one whose goal is awakening’. Unlike the green form of this deity, White Tara has seven eyes -- one in each hand and foot, and a third eye on her face -- to show that she sees and responds to suffering throughout the universe; and she sits in full lotus posture.     Machig Labdrön - historical figure and yidam - the founder of Chöd     This white-coloured deity, a form of Tara, is a female counterpart of the thousand-armed form of Avalokiteshvara. goddess of Great Light. Tara (Sanskrit: तारा, tārā; Tib. (Tib. on the iconography of Prajnaparamita (along with an accompanying Celestial Bodhisattvas and Buddhas The imaginative “infinite Buddha” meditation practice is a Mahayana devotional practice used to illustrate an image of Buddhas and bodhisattvas acquiring power far exceeding that of any normal human. Her right hands hold a lasso, bow, and vase with the nectar of immortality; Samantabhadri is sometimes shown alone, in which case she is seated in lotus posture with her hands in meditation posture in her lap. the mudra of teaching, holds the stem of a plant (tree?) Ushnisha-vijaya Lineage of Nyoshul Khenpo, unidentified thangka ), and the fourth holds a noose ending in a loop and hook.     Also known as Drolkar (Tibetan) or Sitatara (Sanskrit), Tara embodies the compassionate activity of all the Buddhas (her name means "the liberator" or "one who saves"). Of the three faces, the first (central) is orange and smiling, her right face is red, and her left is the face of a white boar: each has three eyes.     a guru -- usually the founder or holder of a lineage; a fully realized being whom one identifies wholly with one's spiritual guide According to the Pali Vinaya and other early scriptures, the Buddha originally refused to ordain women as nuns.He said that allowing women into the sangha would cause his teachings to survive only half as long –- 500 years instead of a 1,000. Tseringma Other depictions of Tröma on the Web include solitary Tröma She is a slightly wrathful red female figure shown holding a curved knife in her right hand, a skullcup in her left and a khatvanga (trident or staff) in her left elbow. (#429) on the Art of Tibet site. She appears in deified form as a yidam of long life, wearing the ornaments of a bodhisattva. Ushnisha-vijaya is often shown in a triumvirate with the other two principal long-life deities, red (male) Amitayus and White Tara (see above).     Samantabhadri (Kuntuzangmo) - guru and yidam - Primordial Mother of all the Buddhas second holds a vajra axe, the third holds an arrow with the tip pointing downwards, and     Mahamaya was the mother of the historical Shakyamuni Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama -- this name means 'Great Illusion.' བྱང་ཆུབ་སེམས་མ་བརྒྱད་, changchub semma gyé, Wyl. Dharma protector - goddess of the mountain This was also the name of the wife of Marpa (whose main practice was Hevajra) -- the founder of the Kagyu lineage of Tibetan Buddhism. Vajravarahi, whose name means Adamantine Sow, is usually shown with a small sow's head, representing triumph over ignorance, emerging over her right ear.     Dorje Yudronma - Dharma protector please use our online form. If you'd like to contribute to these links (or offer any corrections),     Tara Green (Drolma) - yidam - beloved Saviouress She is a white figure shown riding a snow lion and carrying a long-life vase in her hand.     Ekajati (Ralchigma) - Dharma protector - protectress of mantras She is variously depicted, but her most common forms are two-armed and four-armed. a kriya-tantra sadhana (meditation text), as well as NEW the     Magzor Gyalmo - Dharma protector - see Palden Lhamo She is white-coloured and is usually portrayed seated and riding a snow lion, the legendary white animal of Tibet; she may also be shown standing (see right). This form of Tara, Green Tara, is the most common one; but Tara also appears in other forms, such as White Tara, Red Tara and the Twenty-One Taras.     This remarkable female hermit-saint, the Tibetan consort of Padmasambhava, is sometimes shown in Nirmanakaya form the 'emanation body' a Buddha takes so as to be visible to ordinary beings -- as a woman in everyday Tibetan clothes, seated and holding curved knife and skullcup.     Ekajati - yidam - wrathful Black Tara Notably, Supreme Wisdom (Prajnaparamita) is often personified as the Mother of All Buddhas, who is manifest especially in Maha Maya, the virgin mother of Shakyamuni. She holds an arrow with the five colours in her right hand and a white silver mirror in her left. She is regarded as being identical to the (male) Tibetan deity Avalokiteshvara     Dechen Gyalmo - yidam, guru and historical figure - see Yeshe Tsogyal Dorje Naljorma, Adamantine Female     Tara White (Drolkar) - yidam - she who grants long life and wisdom White Tara is especially associated with long life and wisdom. Mandarava sits in the manner of Tara, with right foot extended, to show her willingness to help sentient beings.     Lamanteri - wrathful yidam She is also shown in deified form as the Queen of Great Bliss (Tib., Dechen Gyalmo) as a red standing figure with a damaru (double-sided drum) raised in her right hand and a curved knife held to the ground with her left. She is traditionally depicted just as she was about to (painlessly) give birth, standing and holding the branch of a tree in her right hand. She is depicted in much the same way as Green Tara (seated with right leg slightly extended, left hand held to the heart with an utpala flower blooming by her left ear, and right hand making the gesture of generosity), except that her body is ruby-red, she possesses a third eye, and her right hand holds a long-life vase. Ekajati version of Palden Lhamo, essay Simhamukha's practice is found in the Sarma (New Translation) schools is associated with the Chakrasamvara Tantra. Prajnaparamita -- to demonstrate her singleminded devotion to Dharma. healing, flying, etc., or supramundane, i.e. With a little knowledge, a visit to a Buddhist temple can be a rich and fulfilling experience that takes you through the heart of Buddhist philosophy. royal robes of a bodhisattva: five-pointed crown surmounting each face, jewels, silks and Female Buddhas and Bodhisattvas according to Tibetan Buddhist tradition.     Mandarava - yidam and historical figure - long-life deity I have also indicated the type of deity each is, i.e. Buddhists, Feminists, and the Art of the Self. The Nyingma form of Ekajati (whose name literally means 'One Plait' or 'One Braid') has one tuft of hair, one eye, one mouth, one breast -- and sometimes only one leg! Yidam, guru and historical figure - mother of Tibetan Buddhism the fourth, in the mudra of generosity, holds a (sewing) needle.     Kuan Yin - Chinese bodhisattva of compassion Heart-Mind exhibit. She is cognate to Palden Lhamo. have any that I may use, please let me know so that this page can be as visually inspiring     Mahamaya - historical figure As Guanyin in China, Kannon in Japan, and Kwanseium in Korea, this bodhisattva coalesced with his feminine counterpart, Tara, and became a kindly madonna. from Andrew Stinson's thangka website, Kuan Yin - Avalokiteshvara Meeting the Buddhas is an exploration of the main figures we are likely to meet. Kwan Um.     Nairatmya - yidam Buddhists, Feminists, and the Art of the Self, which has a lovely cover mTsho-rgyal (Berkeley: Dharma Publishing, 1983). Most of these five figures have not played a very important role in the Buddhist tradition.     Prajnaparamita embodies the bliss/emptiness that gives rise to all phenomena -- hence her honorific title as Mother of all the Buddhas.     Ekajati is also the name of a wrathful form of Green Tara known as Black Tara. Yidam - she who grants long life and wisdom bodhisattvas, provided that my doing so does not violate copyright. Yidam - the long-life deity above). Ekajati White Tara She is depicted in seated posture holding a curved knife and skullcup.     Achi Chökyi Drolma (Tib. sadhana [ritual Vajrayogini (Tib.     a Dharma protector -- usually portrayed as an enlightened being in wrathful form, a protector's primary function is to eliminate the spiritual obstacles hindering the practitioner Ushnisha-vijaya is often shown in a triumvirate with the her fourth right hand bears an eye in the palm and is in the mudra (posture) of generosity. On the other hand, Tara appears as the Divine Mother, the Female Buddha who can save sentient beings — who cares for us ferociously as our own mother would — the Saviour Buddha.     Prajnaparamita (Yum Chenmo) - guru and yidam - Mother of all the Buddhas There are many Buddhas in the past, present, and future; Buddhahood is achieved by sentient beings. In the Hevajra Tantra, Kurukulla is a semi-wrathful female power deity, red, in essence Hevajra, and unrelated to Tara. Yidam - goddess of the sun Dorje Yudrönma is associated with a divination practice which uses a mirror. Chenrezig), but also has much in common with the female Tibetan deity Tara. Achi Chökyi Drolma - Chief Protectress of the Glorious Drigung Kagyu for the story of her origins, an image of the deity, and a description of her iconography. The "there was no female Buddha" part is a misunderstanding of Buddhahood and genders. Other posts on all topics related to Buddhist ideas welcomed at any time. I have also indicated the type of deity each is, i.e. In Geluk tradition Kurukulla is sometimes also referred to as Red Tara [presumably because of her appearance; but this name can also refer to a completely separate yidam. Projects & groups | Bibliography | Female Buddhas | Periodicals & audiovisual Vajravarahi, whose name     Tseringma is the foremost of the Five Long-Life Deities -- formerly mountain-guardian spirits -- who plagued the great Tibetan yogi Milarepa during his cave retreats. Vajravarahi     Achi Chökyi Drolma - Dharma protector of the Drikung Kagyu tradition Her first two arms are held in meditation posture in her lap, while the other right hand holds a nine-spoked vajra (thunderbolt sceptre symbolizing compassion/bliss) and the left, the text of the Heart Sutra which is the essential wisdom-text on the emptiness of phenomena.