The Supreme Guru of the Vajrayogini Tantra – Vajradharma
Vajradharma (Main Figure)
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(Top to bottom): Buddha Shakyamuni, Vajradharma, Vajrayogini, Hero Vajradharma and Dorje Shugden.
Deity: Vajradharma (Sanskrit)
Alternative names: Dorje Cho (Tibetan)
Within the extremely potent Vajrayogini Tantras of Tibetan Buddhism, there are 11 Yogas or meditative exercises described for practitioners to further their spiritual practice. These meditative practices are meant to transform one’s ordinary conceptions of the self-cherishing ‘I’ into the divine pride of Vajrayogini, an enlightened being. This is coupled with the transformation of the practitioners’ environment, which is generated as the mandala or divine abode of Vajrayogini. Various people that practitioners encounter are likewise generated as the dakas and dakinis of Vajrayogini’s entourage.
Of the 11 Yogas, there are three that are meant to be practised during ordinary daily activity. Normally, ordinary daily activities only create karma, either good or bad. Through the practice of these three yogas, it means that those activities, rather than being ordinary, are transformed into activities that generate spiritual merit. These three yogas are (i) the Yoga of Daily Activity, (ii) the Yoga of Sleeping, and (iii) the Yoga of Waking Up. With regards to sleeping and waking up, through their associated yogas we transform the hours we spend sleeping into spiritual practices.
However, the most important of these practices is that of Guru Yoga. This is a special practice which solicits the blessings of one’s spiritual teacher in order to successfully accomplish the aims of Vajrayogini’s meditational practice. In Vajrayogini’s Guru Yoga, the spiritual teacher is visualised as Vajradharma. In essence he looks similar to Vajradhara, the tantric form of Buddha Shakyamuni, holding a vajra and bell crossed at his chest, but he has a coral red hue instead of being blue in colour. Therefore, the spiritual teacher is visualised as a fully enlightened being, not in his ordinary aspect, in order to receive the highest blessings of an enlightened being.
Deity: Buddha Shakyamuni (Sanskrit)
Alternative name: Sangye Shakya Tupa (Tibetan)
The historic Buddha Shakyamuni was the first to turn the Wheel of Dharma during our current aeon. We are fortunate because the Buddha taught the paths of both Sutra and Tantra. Using Tantric teachings, we are able to accomplish enlightenment within a single lifetime, rather than the three countless aeons required to achieve enlightenment using Sutric teachings.
Furthermore, it was Buddha Shakyamuni who manifested as Heruka Chakrasamvara and Vajrayogini in order to subdue the god Bhairava and his consort Kalaratri, as their energies were having a detrimental effect on beings within samsara. In doing so, he gave countless sentient beings the hope to overcome their suffering through the practice of Tantra.
Deity: Naro Kechari Vajrayogini (Sanskrit)
Alternative name: Dorje Neljorma (Tibetan)
This form of Vajrayogini arose from a pure vision beheld by the Indian Mahasiddha Naropa, hence her name Naro Kechari (or Naropa’s Dakini). This form of Vajrayogini and her practice has since become the main form transmitted due to the efficacy of her practice and blessings of her lineage. Her Tantra promises rebirth in her pure land known as Kechara Paradise, in order that practitioners can continue their spiritual journey without worldly distractions until they become a fully enlightened Buddha.
Deity: Hero Vajradharma (English)
Alternative names: Vira Vajradharma (Sanskrit); Pawo Vajradhara (Tibetan)
At the beginning of the long Vajrayogini sadhana (daily practice), the practitioner solicits the blessings of the lineage masters beginning from the Mahasiddha Naropa all the way to one’s own root guru in order to empower the sadhana to be successful and to receive their blessings. During the various visualisations, one’s root guru is visualised as Vajradharma as mentioned above. The remaining lineage masters are all visualised as Hero Vajradharma, holding damarus, skullcups and cradling khatvanga tantric staffs.
Deity: Dorje Shugden
Dorje Shugden has a special regard for the Vajrayogini Tantras. Before he arose as a Dharma Protector, he had for several lifetimes been great Mahasiddhas, scholars and Tantric practitioners. During his incarnations as the Mahasiddha Naropa and the master Tsarchen Losel Gyatso, he was pivotal in the revelation and proliferation of the Tantra. In his Dharma Protector form, Dorje Shugden clears obstacles and provides conducive conditions for spiritual practice to flourish, especially for those who practise compassion and work for the benefit of others.
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This beautiful art painting of Vajradharma with Buddha Shakyamuni, Vajrayogini, Hero Vajradharma and Dorje Shugden is iconographically unique and powerful.
Thank you for this sharing and short explanation of each deity.