Ucheyma: She Whose Head is Severed
Ucheyma (Severed Headed Vajrayogini) (Main figure)
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(Top to bottom): H.H. the 7th Panchen Lama, Ucheyma (Severed Headed Vajrayogini), Vajra Varnani (green assistant), Vajra Vairocani (yellow assistant), Dorje Shugden and Citipati.
The central deity is known as Chinnamasta or Dorje Neljorma Ucheyma. Both Chinnamasta (Sanskrit) and Ucheyma (Tibetan) literally mean, ‘She Whose Head is Severed’. The meaning behind her form is to show practitioners that they need to completely remove the grasping and self-identification with the “I” or the ego. Generally, the identity of the self is strongly associated with our face more than any other part of our body. We usually recognise a person when we look at a person’s face. Hence, our self-identification or ego is strongly associated with our face. To show us that this self-identification needs to be overcome on the spiritual path to enlightenment, Vajrayogini uses her ritual chopper to decapitate herself. This is symbolic of her practice eradicating the ego.
The Severed Headed Vajrayogini, as she is also known, removes all afflictive mental constructs by removing the root cause – the identification of the self, the ego. We are either attached to or averse to people and circumstances because we have an ego to please, gratify and protect. But in the grander scheme of things, this self-identification with the ‘I’ is illusory and does not really exist. Therefore, Vajrayogini reveals this ultimate truth through the dramatic decapitation of her head and at the same time is still able to live and function. She is able to live due to her direct perception of emptiness and egolessness.
Contrary to what some people might think, the eradication of the self does not destroy individualism, our personality or make us into a mindless person. In fact, the eradication of the ego makes us become a vibrant and compassionate person, someone that has greater awareness of the suffering of others. In other words, we become much warmer, kinder, forgiving, tolerant, conscientious, generous, contemplative and we are become a joy to be with. The cutting of the ego or the ‘I’ brings us towards awakening our true self, the Buddha nature within.
The Severed Headed Vajrayogini has two dakini attendants. From the trunk of her neck, there are three severed blood vessels spurting three jets of blood that flow into the mouths of her own decapitated head that she carries in her left hand and into the mouths of her two attendants. Tsem Rinpoche explained that the three jets of blood represent that her practice purifies the three psychic poisons of ignorance, hatred and desire. In turn, this leads to the attainment of the three bodies of a Buddha – the emanation body, the enjoyment body and the truth body. In other words, the severance of the ego via her tantric path leads to the purification of all delusions and ultimately, the attainment of Buddhahood itself.
The 7th Panchen Lama, Palden Tenpai Nyima is featured floating above because of his compilation of sadhanas from the ancient Sadhanamala texts. This includes a particular sadhana or collection of prayers, visualisation and mantra focused on Ucheyma. Incidentally, Dorje Shugden in many of his previous lives was a lineage master of the Vajrayogini tantras as well. These previous lives include the likes of the Mahasiddha Naropa and Tsarchen Losel Gyatso. The Lord and Lady of the Charnel Ground, known as Citipati, are one of the main protectors of the Vajrayogini Tantra.
Last of all, the ascetic meditator engaging in his devotional practices towards Ucheyma in the cemetery represents the ideal environment for tantric practice because such environments invoke deep renunciation towards worldly affairs and attachments. All Buddhist traditions advocate meditating on the bones of the deceased because it reminds us of our mortality and hence, we develop revulsion towards the transient nature of worldly or ordinary existence.
My personal Ucheyma statues
These are my personal Ucheyma statues, offered to me recently by a student. They are made out of wood and I had them painted up. The 17.5″ statue was painted gold with an antique finish, and my 24″ statue was painted in full colour, according to the description of this Goddess in her sadhana. I wanted to share these images here as a blessing to plant seeds of Vajra Yogini and enlightenment. Please do share them with others, you may click on any of the images below to download them in high resolution.
My 17.5″ statue when it was unpainted. Click to enlarge or click here to download more high resolution images of Buddhas.
My 17.5″ statue painted in gold and antique finish. Click to enlarge or click here to download more high resolution images of Buddhas.
My 17.5″ statue painted in gold and antique finish. Click to enlarge or click here to download more high resolution images of Buddhas.
My 24″ statue when it was unpainted. Click to enlarge or click here to download more high resolution images of Buddhas.
My 24″ statue painted in full colour, according to the description of this Goddess in her sadhana. Click to enlarge or click here to download more high resolution images of Buddhas.
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Do you have statues like this for sale?
Hi Kim,
All the statues that Kechara has available for invitation are listed on the VajraSecrets website (https://www.vajrasecrets.com/).
I did a quick check for you and at present, it does not appear to be available for invitation home. Perhaps you might like to write to the VajraSecrets team and let them know there’s interest? 🙂 You can reach them here: https://www.vajrasecrets.com/contact
Thank you!