Item: Shri Devi (Buddhist Protector) - Palden Lhamo

Shri Devi (Tibetan: pal den lha mo): the principal female wisdom protector of Tantric Buddhism and the wrathful form of Shri Lakshmi (Tib.: pal lhamo).

Wrathful in appearance, dark blue in colour, she has one face and four hands. The two right hands hold a white skullcup to the heart and an upraised sword. The left hold a kila (Tib.: phur ba) three edged dagger and a trident held upraised. Three peacock feathers adorn the crown of the head. Seated atop a mule wading through an ocean of blood she is surrounded by wisps of red flame and clouds of dark billowing smoke. A host of retinue figures surround the central deity.

At the top center is the primordial buddha Vajradhara with Tilopa at the left and Naropa on the right. Kagyu lineage lamas extend to the sides. Beneath Vajradhara is the tutelary deity Sahaja Heruka Chakrasamvara embracing the consort red Vajra Varahi.

Jeff Watt 4-2000