Himalayan Art Resources

A video on Trinle Shingta (HAR 873) is now on our YouTube Channel - https://youtu.be/WRyDvbeg8KQ?si=qfQdSBgMZfXhFKgM

Yamari (gshin rje gshed) is a male wrathful meditational deity (yidam, ishtadevata) of the Anuttayoga Class of Ta***ic literature. There are three divisions or sections of literature and deity forms: Rakta (red) Yamari, Krishna (black) Yamari and Vajrabhairava (terrifying). The Krishna Yamari can be divided first into two main types: New Ta**ras (Sarma) and Old Ta**ras (Nyingma). Both of these traditions have numerous forms and appearances of the deity as well as numerous lineages of practice descending from those forms. In the Nyingma Tradition the two terms ‘Yamari’ (gshin rje gshed) and ‘Yamantaka’ (gshin rje thar byed) are often used interchangeably and the majority, if not all, of the different forms of Krishna Yamari arise from the ‘Revealed Treasure’ Tradition (Terma) rather than the Oral Tradition (K**a). For the Sarma Traditions of Sakya, Kagyu, Jonang, etc., the Krishna Yamari lineages of practice arise from the Ta***ic literature of India, namely the Krishna Yamari Ta**ra [Toh 467].

The text below which describes the role of Yama Dharmaraja in the Yamari literature also gives a clear and succinct description of the subject of Yamari. “In the special, noble, Vajra Vehicle [Vajrayana], among the numerous four tantras [kriya, charya, yoga and anuttara] this protector is of the Anuttarayoga. Of those, from the three [classes], Method, Wisdom and Non-dual, this is Method Ta**ra. From the three famous Father Ta**ras of the Yamari Cycle, Rakta [Red], Krishna [Black], and Bhairava [Terrifying], this is the uncommon protector of the Vajrabhairava.” (Ngor Ponlop Ngagwang Legdrup, 19th century).

The Three Yamari Lineages, the Three Mahamandalas, Abhisheka, Sadhana, together with the Branches: Vajradhara, Jnana Dakini, Acharya Lalitavajra, Amoghavajra, Yeshe Jungne Bepa, Padmavajra, Dipamkara Raksh*ta, Lama Rwa Dorje Drag, Rwa Lotsawa Chorab, Rwa Yeshe Sengge, Rwa Bum Seng, Lama Lokkyapa Wangchug Dragpa, Lama Ngong, Lama Chokyi Gyalpo (Chogyal Pagpa 1235-1280).

Jeff Watt 4-2007 [updated 1-2013, 5-2017, 1-2019, 1-2020]

See the HAR web page on Krishna Yamari (set ID 522) for more details on this deity.

A video on Kurukulla (HAR 69406) is now on our YouTube Channel - https://youtu.be/hf__EsmuSWY?si=0vK-4n9gvAvJk6TJ

Vajrakila according to the Khon Tradition (HAR item number : 73510)

”...the king of wrath, bhagavan Vajrakumara, with a body blue-black [in colour], three faces and six hands. The right face is white, left red, the center blue. Held with the two pairs of right and left hands are a nine and five pointed vajra, a blazing mass of fire and a trident. The remaining two roll a kila. The body is huge and heavy, with bared fangs, three eyes - round and red, brown hair flowing upward; wearing an elephant hide, human skin, and a tiger skin as a lower garment. Adorned with white, red, green, and black snakes as a crown, necklace and sash, decorating the arms and legs. Five dry skulls adorn the head. Wearing a garland of fifty fresh [heads], marked with clots of rakta, spots of great ash and a smear of grease, adorned with various jewel ornaments. With four legs the right are bent and left extended atop the head of Ishvara - face down, and the breast of Uma, standing in the middle of a massive fire of pristine awareness.“ (Sakya Ngawang Kunga Lodro, 1729-1783).

Khon Vajrakila Lineage: Dharmakaya Samantabhadra, Sambhogakaya Vajrasattva, Nirmanakaya Padmasambhava, Khon Lu‘i Wang Srungwa, Khon Dorje Rinchen, Khon Sherab Yontan, Khon Tsultrim Gyalpo, Khon Dorje Tsugtor, Khon Gekyab, Khon Getong, Khon Balpo, Khon Shakya Lodro, Khon Rog Sherab Tsultrim, Khon Konchog Gyalpo, Tsechen Kunga Nyingpo, Lobpon Sonam Tsemo, Jetsun Dragpa Gyaltsen, Sapan Kunga Gyaltsen, Chogyal Pagpa Lodro Gyaltsen, etc. (See the Khon Family Lineage).

Jeff Watt [updated 12-2020]

A video on Virupa (HAR 352) is now on our YouTube Channel - https://youtu.be/X68_iJ_XEjk?si=IKKJ9LdQKVdNjfQg

Vajrasattva with the consort Vajragarvi (Tibetan: dor je sem pa yab yum. English: Vajra Hero, Father-Mother), the buddha of purification and a meditational deity, essence of all the Peaceful Buddha Families. (See HAR 19730).

Sanskrit: Vajrasattva Tibetan: Dor je sem pa

Tatagata Vajrasattva, white in colour, with one face and two hands holds in the right an upright gold vajra to the heart and with the left, held at the hip, an upturned bell with a vajra handle. Adorned with a crown of gold and jewels, earrings and various ornaments, he wears rainbow coloured silks as a lower garment and sits with the back swaying slightly to his right. In the lap is the consort Vajragarvi (Tib.: dor je nye ma), also known as Vajradhatu-ishvari (Tib.: dor je ying wang chug ma. With one face gazing towards the Lord and two hands, a colour white in appearance, she embraces the Lord with the right hand draped over the shoulder. In the left hand she holds a vajra handled bell. Both are seated on a moon disc above a multi-coloured lotus blossom atop a lion and elephant supported throne. The throne back (torana) is formed from pillars adorned with an elephant supporting a sharabha and then a makara with a decorative unfurling tail above that.

“To the divine illusion of the clear light of pristine awareness blazing with the glorious complete marks and examples of the spontaneous three bodies of perfect buddhahood; to Vajrasattva I bow.” (Nyingma liturgical text).

For the full write up with the numbered list of deities, please search the HAR item number 85082 on the Himalayan Art Resources website.

A video on 7th Karmapa, Chodag Gyatso (HAR 85709) is now on our YouTube Channel - https://youtu.be/i-KrT-Ig0rw?si=Ni0Osh0zHSAjaCkV