The Incredible Poet and Yogi – Jetsun Milarepa
Mahasiddha Milarepa (Main figure)
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(Top to bottom): Mahasiddha Marpa, Mahasiddha Milarepa, Vajravarahi and Dorje Shugden.
Deity: Jetsun Milarepa (Tibetan)
Alternative name: Mila Zehe Dorje (Tibetan)
The enduring story of Milarepa (1052-1135) is perhaps one of the most popular stories of a Tibetan yogi He was born in the Gungthang province of Western Tibet, bordering Nepal. When he was just seven, his father passed away and his family estate was taken over by greedy relatives, who mistreated the rest of the family. He was sent by his mother to learn the dark arts in order to exact revenge on the relatives that abused them. Milarepa turned out to be a great adept in the dark arts and unleashed destruction upon the entire household and killed many people. However, he regretted his wanton destruction and so, he went in search of a means to purify the huge store of negative karma he had accumulated.
At first, he sought out the Nyingma Lama Rongton, who felt that he had karmic ties with Marpa and so he was sent to seek out this master. Upon their first meeting, Marpa was aware that he had to purify his disciple’s karma and thus, Milarepa was placed under tough apprenticeship. Amongst many trials, he was made to build towers and tear them down over and over again. In the end, Marpa bestowed Milarepa with the complete transmission of the Mahamudra teachings stemming from Naropa, Maitripa and other Indian masters. Later, Milarepa practised these teachings for many years in isolated meditational retreats. As a result, he became enlightened. He also acquired the reputation for perseverance and for his great songs of realisation. From his numerous disciples, Gampopa became his successor and lineage holder.
Deity: Mahasiddha Marpa (Tibetan)
Marpa was a great translator who made the perilous journey to India in order to receive teachings from the great Indian masters like Naropa, Maitripa and others. He was not a monk and in fact, had a consort and children. His lineage was transmitted to Milarepa and became the basis of the Kagyu lineage of Tibetan Buddhism.
Deity: Vajravarahi (Sanskrit)
Alternative name: Dorje Phagmo (Tibetan)
In Tibetan Buddhism, Vajravarahi is a semi-wrathful form of Vajra Yogini, who in turn is associated with the Chakrasamvara Tantra. In terms of iconography, she is the female counterpart of Heruka Chakrasamvara and is widely practised in many Tibetan Buddhist traditions but principally relied on within the Kagyu tradition. Her practice is said to confer very high attainments.
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.
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For more interesting information:
- The Dorje Shugden category on the blog
- Must Watch: Powerful Explanations on Dharma Protectors
- Black Tara – The Wrathful Protectress
- Mahasiddha Tilopa – the Chakrasamvara Master
- Guhya Manjushri – the Secret Form of Wisdom
- Five Extraordinary Visions of Lama Tsongkhapa
- The Mahasiddha Kukkuripa and His Dog
- Lords of Purification – 35 Confessional Buddhas
- Manjushri Nagarakshasa – The Naga Deity
- Janguli – The Goddess that Protects from Snakes
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A lovely thangka depicting four enduring figures of Tibetan Buddhism . The main figure on the top is the famous yogi and Mahasiddha Jetsun Milarepa, famed for his legendary courage and indomitable will in accomplishing the herculean feat of building the house of his teacher after having to tear it down and rebuild it again and again.
To the left ,at the top of the thangka , is Milarepa’s teacher, translator Marpa, of immense courage, who had braved the perilous journey to India to receive teachings from such great Indian masters as Mahasiddha Naropa. It was out of his great compassion and wisdom that he set Milarepa such a daunting task as to single-handedly build a mansion without a single flaw and , having it torn down again and again , until it was to his satisfaction. He transmitted to Milarepa his lineage, which became the basis of the Kagyu Lineage.
In the lower part of the thangka, to the left, is Vajravarahi , a semi-wrathful form of Vajra Yogini, and consort to Heruka Chakrasamvara.She is a principal tantric deity of the Kagyu tradition.
Dorje Shugden, our beloved Protector, a wrathful emanation of Manjushri , the Buddha of Wisdom, is the last of the four great figures to grace this beautiful thangka. He arose famously to safeguard the Buddha’s wisdom teachings, especially the important teachings on the “Middle” view. He has tremendous power to overcome obstacles of the body, speech and mind, and create suitable conditions for our spiritual practice to flourish.
Such an amazingly beautiful and powerful thangka!
Jetsun Milarepa was a Tibetan siddha, who famously was a murderer as a young man then turned to Buddhism to become an accomplished buddha despite his past. He is generally considered as one of Tibet’s most famous yogis and poets, serving as an example for the Buddhist life. Interesting biography of Milarepa which I truly enjoying and inspiring story of him. Depicted with Mahasiddha Marpa a great translator, Vajravarahi is a semi-wrathful form of Vajra Yogini, and Dorje Shugden is an emanation of the Buddha of Wisdom, created a beautiful powerful thangka .