Item: Jambhala (Buddhist Deity) - Black (2 hands)

Jambhala, Black (Tibetan: dzam bha la, nag po), a wealth deity popularized in Tibet by Bari Lotsawa (b.1040) and the Kashmiri teacher Shakyashri Bhadra.

"...the Lord Jambhala, with a body black in colour, having the appearance of a dwarf, pot-bellied, without pierced ears, brown hair flowing upwards and bared fangs, adorned with the eight great nagas. The right hand holds a blood filled skullcup and the left a mongoose expelling various jewels. The right leg is extended pressing upon the yellow Lord of Wealth, adorned with various gold ornaments, lying supine expelling various jewels from the mouth." (Ngorchen Konchog Lhundrup, 1497-1557).

Lineage: The Powerful Sage [Vajradhara], Guhyapati [Vajrapani], Acharya Jetari, Vajrasana, Bari Lotsawa, the Great Lord Sakyapa [1092-1158], Sonam Tsemo, Dragpa Gyaltsen, Sakya Pandita, Tsog Gompa, Nyenchen Sonam Tenpa, Lama Sonam Kyab, Khedrup Zung-gyi Palwa, Palden Tsultrim, Yeshe Gyaltsen [Ludingpa], Ngorchen Dorje Chang, etc.

A second lineage was brought to Tibet in approximately 1209 by the Kashmiri Pandita Shakyashri Bhadra. Black Jambhala is now practised by all the Sarma Schools and gained acceptance into the Nyingma School as a Terma, 'Revealed Treasure' tradition.

Jeff Watt 2-2002