Five Tseringma Sisters
Five Tseringma Sisters (Main figures)
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(Top to bottom): Guru Rinpoche, Achi Chokyi Drolma, Five Tseringma Sisters and Dorje Shugden.
Deity: Tashi Tseringma Five Goddesses (English)
Alternative name: Tashi Tsering Chenga (Tibetan)
Tashi Tseringma and her sister goddesses are mountain spirits who dwell in the border regions of Tibet and Nepal. They are believed to have been subdued by Guru Rinpoche in the 8th Century and have since been entrusted with protecting Buddhism. It is said that they travelled into India and received teachings at the ‘Dark noisy’ charnel ground from the Tibetan master, Lopon Chogyi Gocha and the Indian Mahasiddha Krishnacarya.
Then in the 11th Century, the sister goddesses manifested apparitions to distract Milarepa in order to test his resolve. However, they could not cause any harm due to their oaths to Guru Rinpoche and they appeared before the yogi three days later and reconfirmed their vows to protect the Dharma. It is said that they requested teachings, which Milarepa gave them including those on generating Bodhicitta, teachings on the Hevajra Tantra and others. The sisters consist of Tashi Tseringma, Thingi Zhalsangma, Miyo Losangma, Chodpen Drisangma and Telkar Drosangma.
Deity: Guru Rinpoche (Tibetan)
Alternative names: Guru Padmasambhava (Sanskrit); Lopon Rinpoche (Tibetan)
Guru Rinpoche, also known as Guru Padmasambhava, was an 8th Century Indian Buddhist master who travelled to Tibet in order to spread the Buddha’s teachings. Guru Rinpoche is highly revered within all schools of Tibetan Buddhism. He was invited to Tibet to subdue powerful obstructive beings who opposed the spread of Buddha’s teachings. He waged supernatural war with these deities and won due to his high spiritual attainments. Instead of vanquishing these obstructive beings, he chose to follow the Buddha’s teaching on compassion and bound them to an oath never to harm sentient beings again. They promised to protect and provide for practitioners on the Buddhist path.
Deity: Achi Chokyi Drolma (Tibetan)
Achi Chokyi Drolma is a Dharma Protector practised within the Drikung Kagyu lineage and the Karma Kagyu lineage, where she is known as Achi Chodron. She is considered an emanation of Vajra Yogini and it is said her coming was prophesied within the Heruka Chakrasamvara Tantra. Even the great Jigten Sumgon, himself the founder of the Drikung Kagyu, wrote extensive prayers to Achi Chokyi Drolma. In fact, she is said to be his great-grandmother.
Deity: Dorje Shugden (Tibetan)
Alternative name: Vajra Rudra (Sanskrit)
Dorje Shugden is an emanation of the Buddha of Wisdom, Manjushri. He took the form of a Dharma Protector in order to safeguard the Buddha’s teachings, especially the important teachings on the Middle Way View. Reminiscent of Manjushri’s form, Dorje Shugden carries a meandering sword and rides a snowlion that represents the fearlessness of a fully enlightened Buddha. Thus, he has great strength to overcome obstacles of the body, speech and mind, and create suitable conditions for our spiritual practice to flourish. Furthermore, he carries a jewel-spitting mongoose and a vajra hook to symbolise that he has the tremendous ability to bestow wealth and resources.
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Hello from Brazil. Can someone tell me what’s the name of this one? Thank you
Apart from the thangka itself, I find these posts of thangkas are most beneficial when it comes with narrative. Very beneficial to present it in that way. That’s the most important point as most of us are new to these. I learnt a pantheon of deities through this blog. Thank you so much Rinpoche.