Item: Vajrayogini (Buddhist Deity) - (Naropa Tradition)

Vajrayogini, the 'Khechari of Naropa' (Tibetan: dor je nal jor ma, na ro kha cho ma). Belonging to the Chakrasamvara collection of Tantras and one of the five principal tantric practices of the Sakya School.

Sanskrit: Vajrayogini Tibetan: Dor je nal jor ma

Sanskrit: Tibetan:

Red in colour with one face and two hands she holds a curved knife in the right and a skullcup upraised in the left. Resting on the left shoulder is a katvanga staff. Adorned with a tiara of skulls and gold, jewel and bone ornaments she wears a necklace of fifty dry skulls standing with the two feet placed on the bodies of red Kalaratri and black Bhairava above a sun disc and multi-coloured lotus seat. Completely surrounded by the flames of pristine awareness she looks up to the pure realm of Khechara and drinks from the skullcup in the left hand.

At the top center is white Sarasvati playing the vina - stringed instrument. At the bottom left is Vajrayogini from the Indra Khechari tradition of King Indrabhuti. On the right is Vajrayogini of the Maitri Khechari Tradition of the mahasiddha Maitripa.

Vajrayogini, is a representation of complete buddhahood in female form. Classified as Wisdom or 'Mother' Anuttarayoga Tantra the practices originate with the Chakrasamvara Cycle of Tantras. Although found in a variety of forms, she is common to all schools of Tibetan Buddhism. In this particular form she is a special teaching passed down from the lineage of the Indian mahasiddha Naropa through to the Sakya School. This form is also popular within the Gelugpa Tradition.

Guru Lineage: Vajradhara, Vajrayogini, mahasiddha Naropa, Pamtingpa, Sherab Tseg, Mal Lotsawa, Sachen Kunga Nyingpo, Sonam Tsemo, Dragpa Gyaltsen, Sakya Pandita, Chogyal Pagpa, etc.

Jeff Watt 12-2008

Thematic Sets
Painting Style: Khyenri - Peaceful Deities & Semi Peaceful
Buddhist Deity: Vajrayogini (Miscellaneous Forms)
Painting Style: Khyenri Female Figures
Buddhist Deity: Vajrayogini (Main Figure)
Subject: Thirteen Golden Dharmas of Sakya
Subject: Three Red Ones (Vajrayogini)