Question asked by Eric
Hello Pastor Niral
I noticed that on Yumar Gyalchen's thangka he wears a "Melong" on his chest.
Could you explain why he would wear an "Oracle's Melong"?
Also thank you on that wonder article you wrote on "Shangmo Dorje Putri".
Thanks to Tsem Tulku I know all the mantras for all of Dorje Shugden's Dharmapalas except for "Shangmo".
Do you know her mantra?
I would like to include her in my daily mantra recitations for Dorje Shugden and his retinue.
Thanks again for all your wonderful answers.
Dear Eric,
Thank you for your interesting questions. Yumar Gyalchen does not wear an oracles melong, it is actually the other way around. Many of the protective deities wear melongs, in the manner of a warrior’s breastplate as part of their armour. A melong actually has a very precise meaning in Buddhist iconography. It represents the clarity of consciousness and of emptiness. As a mirror it reflects all appearances within samsara, both good and bad, but it remains unaffected. In this way it symbolises that whatever happens, the enlightened mind remains unaffected by samsara, but at the same time firm in its resolve to aid sentient beings transcend all experiences, whether good or bad, and to achieve enlightenment. Enlightenment itself is beyond all concepts, including that of good and bad. As symbols the melong also represents the faculty of sight, therefore represents the protector’s ability to into the past, present and future. As such in some divination practices melongs are used to gaze into the future, to see signs and give advice.
Many of the ‘melong/breastplates’ belonging to Dharma protectors are inscribed with the seed syllable associated with them and their practice, for example, Setrap’s breastplate is adorned with the syllable HRI.
I am glad that you liked the Shangmo Dorje Putri article. She is indeed a very powerful protector. Even though she is under the entourage of Kache Marpo, she is still an unenlightened being. Therefore, we do not engage in her practice unless authorised to do so by a high lama who can explain the practice to us. Sadly, I do not have such authorisation therefore I am not aware of her mantra, only what was written in the article. As a Bamo spirit, she can cause great harm to those who are not qualified enough or authorised to interact with her as she requires a practitioner to have reached a certain degree and stability in their practices, especially in their guru devotion. I hope this helps. Thank you.