Item: Teacher (Lama) - Karmapa 2, Karma Pakshi

Karma Pakshi, 2nd Karmapa (1204-1283): intended as a guruyoga meditation practice, the form of the central figure is based on a 'Terma' text of the Nyingma Terton 'Treasure Revealer' Karma Lingpa. The texts and liturgies are also contained in the famous Rinchen Terdzo collection of Jamgon Kongtrul. (See the Guruyoga Images Outline Page).

Karma Pakshi has one face and two hands, a third eye in the middle of the forehead, a black goatee protruding beneath the chin, and the black hat of the Karmapas. In the up raised right hand he holds a gold vajra ready to through and in the left hand he points a kila, three sided peg, downward. In vajra posture, seated atop a moon disc and lotus cushion, above a double dharmakara, he is surrounded by a circle of blue light.

At the top center is Padmasambhava wreathed in rainbow light. Below that is a pandita-monastic figure. At the immediate left is red Hayagriva, wrathful, with one face and two hands. On the right side is Vajravarahi, red, standing in a dancing posture.

At the bottom center is Bernagchen Mahakala. On the left side is Shri Devi, wrathful, with one face and four hands, riding atop a donkey. At the right side is Damchen Garwa Nagpo riding a goat, holding a hammer and a bellows.

Jeff Watt, 1-2010