The Goddess of the Dawn: Marici
Marici (Main figure)
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(Top to bottom): Green Tara, Marici and Dorje Shugden.
Deity: Marici (Sanskrit)
Alternative name: Ozer Chenma (Tibetan)
Marici is known as the Goddess of the Dawn and she takes on a number of forms. In one of her forms, she rides a white horse mount through the sky in order to dispel darkness and the night with the sun, which she holds in her right hand.
In her main form, she is usually yellow in colour, possesses three faces, has eight arms and is seated on a chariot that is drawn by seven pigs. She is propitiated to remove obstacles to our well-being and our spiritual aspirations. She is usually depicted either in a peaceful or wrathful mood. The metaphor for light is wisdom and being the Goddess of the Dawn, her light of wisdom overcomes the darkness of ignorance, delusions and obstacles. Due to her nature, her sadhana or practice is most effective when it is done at dawn when the first rays of light emerge over the horizon.
Her practice is preserved in various Indian and Tibetan sadhana collections. Within the ancient Indian Vajravali and Mitra Gyatsa collections are practices associated with Marici’s mandala along with the 25 deities in her retinue. Within the Bari Gyatsa collection, there are five different sadhanas to Marici. Within the Drub Tab Gyatsa collection, there are six sadhanas of Marici. Both the Narthang and the Rinjung Gyatsa of Taranatha contain a single sadhana of Marici.
Deity: Arya Tara (Sanskrit)
Alternative names: Green Tara (English); Shyama Tara (Sanskrit); Drolma (Tibetan); Droljang (Tibetan)
Tara is known as Jetsun Drolma in Tibetan and she is a very important figure in Tibetan Buddhism. She is known as the ‘saviouress’ and is also considered the embodiment of the activity of all the Buddhas. In the Tara Tantras, it is said that she was a Bodhisattva disciple of the Buddha of another world system. Her name was Yeshe Dawa and she had deep faith in the Buddha of that world system and made tremendous offerings to him. She also went to receive teachings and engaged in deep meditations as well. At one time, she received a special teaching on the development of Bodhicitta – the infinitely compassionate mental state of a Bodhisattva.
After the teachings, some monks approached her and suggested that because of her level of attainments, she should pray to be reborn as a male to progress further in her next life. She contemplated their words and told the monks that it is only the “ignorant minded” who see gender as a barrier to attaining enlightenment. Nevertheless, she realised that there have been few who have developed the aspiration to work for the welfare of sentient beings in a female form. Therefore, she made the aspiration to be reborn in a female form, again and again, to work tirelessly to liberate all beings until samsara is emptied. She then remained in a state of meditation and perceiving her supreme aspiration, the Buddha prophesied that she would manifest enlightenment and be known as the Goddess Tara.
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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Stunning thangka of Green Tara, Marici and Dorje Shugden tells all. The Buddhist goddess Marici appears in many forms associated with light and the sun. As the Goddess of the Dawn, one of her most common forms, she is depicted her in the chariot of the sun. She is revered in the Buddhist tradition as a heavenly warrior and powerful protector. She plays an important role in the Buddhist tradition of India and Tibet where she saves sentient beings from suffering, illuminating their hearts with the light of enlightened wisdom. Here she is depicted together with Tara and Dorje Shugden form a powerful thangka . It is good to have it in our home for protection.
Thank you for sharing.