https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=Mand%C4%81rav%C4%81Mandāravā - Revision history2026-10-31T21:03:59ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.43.6https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mand%C4%81rav%C4%81&diff=515831&oldid=prevZARAKHANMAHI8: created first article and citations2026-03-24T14:06:57Z<p>created first article and citations</p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{Short description|Female guru-deity in Tibetan Buddhism}}<br />
{{Infobox person<br />
| name = Mandarava<br />
| image = Shrine to Mandarava in cave above Lake Rewalsar.jpg<br />
| birth_date = <br />
| image_size = 260px<br />
| caption = Shrine to Mandarava in cave above [[Lake Rewalsar]], [[Himachal Pradesh]], India|<br />
}}<br />
{{Tibetan Buddhism}}<br />
<br />
'''Mandāravā''' ({{IPA|sa|mɐndˈaːrɐʋaː|IPA}}, [[Sanskrit|Skt.]], ''mandāravā'' '[[Erythrina stricta|Indian coral tree]]',<ref>{{Cite book |last=Apte |first=Vaman Shivaram |title=The Practical Sanskrit-English Dictionary: containing appendices on Sanskrit prosody and important literary and geographical names of ancient India. |date=1965 |publisher=Motilal Banarsidass |isbn=978-0-89581-171-4 |edition=4th Revised and Enlarged |location=Delhi |pages=743}}</ref> {{Bo|t=མནྡཱ་ར་བཱ་མེ་ཏོག|w=man da ra ba me tog}}){{sfn|Padmasambhava|1994|p={{pn|date=December 2022}}}} (also known as '''Pāṇḍaravāsinī'''){{sfn|Samten Lingpa|1998|p=20}} was, along with [[Yeshe Tsogyal]], one of the two principal [[wikt:consort|consorts]] of great 8th-century Indian [[Vajrayana]] teacher [[Padmasambhava]] (Guru Rinpoche), a founder-figure of [[Tibetan Buddhism]]. Mandarava is considered to be a female [[guru]]-[[deity]] in Tantric Buddhism or [[Vajrayana]].<br />
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According to her biographer [[Samten Lingpa]], she was born a [[princess]] in Zahor in northern [[India]].{{sfn|Samten Lingpa|1998|pp=78, 116}} She renounced her royal birthright at an early age in order to practice the [[Dharma]]. Mandarava is known as being highly educated at a very young age,{{sfn|Samten Lingpa|1998|pp=97-101}} a rare accomplishment for a woman at that time. She was the primary student of Yeshe Tsogyal.{{cn|date=December 2022}} Mandarava's devotion led her to bring at least 800 women, including her entire personal retinue, to the path of the Dharma, all before meeting her teacher, [[Padmasambhava]].{{sfn|Samten Lingpa|1998|pp=105-108, 113-118}}<br />
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Mandarava is said to have attained full enlightenment in the company of Padmasambhava in the [[Halesi-Maratika Caves|Maratika Cave]] in Nepal.{{sfn|Buffetrille|2012}} She is considered to have been a fully realized spiritual adept, [[yogini]], and spiritual teacher.<br />
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==Biography==<br />
There is one published English translation of Mandarava's complete spiritual biography which includes several chapters detailing each of her previous incarnations.{{sfn|Samten Lingpa|1998}} Portions of Mandarava's biography can be found in several other English language sources.{{sfn|Jacoby|2007}}<br />
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[[File:Mandarava statue. Close-up. Mandi, 2010.jpg|thumb|left|Mandarava statue. Close-up. [[Mata Kuan Rani Temple]], Mandi, 2010.]]<br />
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===Early life===<br />
According to one tradition, Mandarava was born to Vihardhara, the King of Zahor, and his wife the Queen Mohauki (also known as Wangmo Ogema).{{sfn|Samten Lingpa|1998|p=174}} Her birth was said to be accompanied by miraculous signs{{sfn|Samten Lingpa|1998|pp=82-91}}{{sfn|Padmasambhava|1994|p={{pn|date=December 2022}}}} and her renunciation and spiritual inclination were apparent at an early age.{{sfn|Samten Lingpa|1998|pp=92-96}}{{sfn|Padmasambhava|1994|p={{pn|date=December 2022}}}}<br />
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Like many other accomplished [[yogini]]s, Mandarava was pressured to accept an arranged marriage instead of practicing the dharma. This theme is common to the lives of [[Yeshe Tsogyal]] and [[Ayu Khandro]], among others. However Padmasambhava recognised her immediately as being ready for the dharma in the secret Dzogchen. As Mandarava was very beautiful and of high birth, news of her eligibility spread throughout [[India]] and [[China]]. As a result, many kings from these areas vied to marry her. Mandarava preferred to pursue her spiritual calling rather than marry.<ref>{{harvnb|Padmasambhava|1994|p={{pn|date=December 2022}}}}: "He allowed her to choose, without pressure, the life she was called to".</ref> Her father would not hear of this and had Mandarava imprisoned in the palace dungeon.{{sfn|Samten Lingpa|1998|p=126}}<br />
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It was during this time, in two different episodes, that Mandarava led at least 800 women, including her entire personal retinue, to the path of the Dharma. In the first incident, Mandarava gave teachings to a group of 300 noble women. Based on these teachings, this group of women all took the [[Bodhisattva vow]]s, began serious meditation practice, and together built a temple where they could practice.{{sfn|Samten Lingpa|1998|pp=105-108}} On another occasion, Mandarava interceded to end a war and then offered teachings to a group of 500 women who would have been affected by the war. They too took up serious spiritual practice as a result of Mandarava's dharma teachings.{{sfn|Samten Lingpa|1998|p=113-118}}<br />
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At this point, recognizing her seriousness, Mandarava's father sends all suitors away and Mandarava takes both [[ordination]] vows and [[Bodhisattva vow|bodhisattva]] vows. In order to protect his daughter, Mandarava's father then ordered all 500 women in her retinue to also undertake ordination. A new palace was built for Mandarava and her ordained retinue, not far from the palace of her parents.{{sfn|Samten Lingpa|1998|pp=128-30}}<br />
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===Meeting Padmasambhava===<br />
[[File:Mandi - Mata Kuan Rani Temple shrine and attendant.jpg|thumb|250px|[[Mata Kuan Rani Temple]] shrine and attendant in [[Mandi, Himachal Pradesh|Mandi]], H.P., India]]<br />
It was during a spiritual retreat with many of the women she converted to [[Buddhism]], that Mandarava and her retinue met [[Padmasambhava]].<ref>Gyatso, Janet. In {{harvnb|Samten Lingpa|1998|loc="Introduction", p. 9}}.</ref><br />
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Mandarava's father was fearful of the contamination of the royal bloodline and what he perceived as Mandarava's [[apostasy]]. Thus, her father endeavoured to have both Mandarava and Padmasambhava purified by [[Fire sacrifice|immolation]] through the flames of a [[pyre]]. Instead of finding their corpses incensed and charred, Vihardhara finds that the [[fire]] of the pyre has been transformed into [[Lake Rewalsar]] near [[Mandi, Himachal Pradesh|Mandi]] (Zahor) in [[Himachal Pradesh]], India, out of which arises a blooming [[Nelumbo nucifera|lotus]] supporting the unharmed Mandarava and Padmasambhava. In this process, they achieve their secret names of [[Vajravarahi]] and [[Hayagriva]], respectively. It is then that Mandarava's father blesses their relationship.{{sfn|Samten Lingpa|1998|pp=142-151}}{{sfn|Padmasambhava|1994|p={{pn|date=December 2022}}}}<br />
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===Spiritual practice===<br />
Mandarava realized her calling to spread the [[Dharma]] with Padmasambhava, thereby fulfilling the prediction of her birth that she was a [[dakini]]. Thus, at 16 years of age, Mandarava became the first of Padmasambhava's five historical spiritual consorts and together they practiced at [[Maratika]] (known as Haleshi in the local dialect), the Cave of Bringing Death to an End. [[Maratika Cave]], and later [[Maratika Monastery]], is located in [[Khotang District]] of [[Nepal]].<ref>about 185 kilometres south west of [[Mount Everest]].</ref> Both Mandarava and Padmasambhava achieved the [[unified vajra body]] on the [[vidyadhara]] level of mastery and realised some of the practices of long life or [[longevity]] that were concealed in the Maratika Cave as [[Terma (religion)|terma]] by '[[Dakini Sangwa]]' (Wylie: mKha' 'gro gSang ba), the terma constituted the teachings of [[Buddhahood|Buddha]] [[Amitabha]] and they were elementally encoded as terma at the behest of [[Bodhisattva]] [[Avalokiteśvara]]. Later, while Padmasambhava continued to spread the teachings throughout the [[Himalaya]]n region, Mandarava remained in [[India]].<br />
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Mandarava is said to have manifested her [[sambhogakaya]] form at the great Dharma Wheel of [[Tramdruk]] where she engaged in a dialogue of [[mantra]] and [[mudra]] with Padmasambhava. Extensive details of this are rendered in the ''[[Padma Kathang]]''.<br />
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In addition, there is evidence that alongside Padmasambhava, Mandarava practiced the ''Hayagriva Mechar'' [[sadhana]] cycle which now comprises part of the ''Great Play of the Quintessential Lotus and the Treasury of One Thousand Essential Instructions of Tantra on the Union of Hayagriva and Vajravarahi''. Later, during a meeting between Mandarava and [[Yeshe Tsogyal]], Mandarava taught Yeshe Tsogyal the "thirteen pith instructions on Hayagriva".{{sfn|Changchub|Nyingpo|2002|p=163}}<br />
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Through practice and diligence, Mandarava realised a degree of spiritual mastery equal to that of Padmasambhava, evidenced in her honorific name [[Machig Drupa Gyalmo]] (''ma gcig grub pa'i rgyal mo''), "Singular Queen Mother of Attainment".<br />
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===Additional biographical sources===<br />
Additional biographical information about Mandarava can be found in the following sources.<br />
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====Additional Tibetan language sources====<br />
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[[Jamgon Kongtrul]] relates the story of Mandarava within ''In The Precious Garland of Lapis Lazuli''.<br />
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Another story of Mandarava is found in the 14th century ''Padma Thang Yig Sheldrang Ma'' [[terma (religion)|terma]] of [[Orgyen Lingpa]].<br />
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[[Samten Lingpa]] (also known as Tagsham Nu Den Dorje), a [[terton]] from the second half of the 17th century, consecrated six folios to Mandarava and Padmasambhava and their meditation practices in [[Maratika Cave]].<br />
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====Additional English language sources====<br />
A summary of Mandarava's life, based on ''The Lives and Liberation of Princess Mandarava'',{{sfn|Samten Lingpa|1998}} can be found on The Treasury of Lives website.{{sfn|Jacoby|2007}}<br />
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There is a description of the meeting of [[Yeshe Tsogyal]] with Mandarava to exchange spiritual teachings in ''Sky Dancer: The Secret Life and Songs of the Lady Yeshe Tsogyel''.{{sfn|Dowman|1984|p=147-150}}<br />
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==Emanations and reincarnations==<br />
[[File:Shangpadakininiguma.jpg|thumb|[[Niguma]], 11th century dakini and co-founder of the [[Shangpa Kagyu]] school of [[Vajrayana]] Buddhism]]<br />
As Mandarava attained the [[vajra]] [[rainbow body]] (jalus), she is held to be present in the world now spreading and inspiring the [[Dharma]] through various incarnations in both the east and the west.<br />
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*The dakini [[Niguma]] is considered to be an incarnation of Mandarava.{{sfn|Padmasambhava|1994|p={{pn|date=December 2022}}}}<br />
*The female tertön Jetsunma Do Dasel Wangmo Rinpoche (1928-2019) of Kham, Tibet, is understood as an emanation of Mandarava.{{sfn|Chodar|2013|pp=3, 53}}<br />
*In the USA, [[Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo]] was recognized by Lama [[Orgyen Kusum Lingpa]] as an emanation of Mandarava.{{sfn|Sherrill|2000}}{{sfn|Johnson|2004}}<br />
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==Iconography==<br />
[[Image:Mandarava samyeLing.jpg|thumb|right|Mandarava statue in Samye Ling, Scotland]]<br />
The [[iconography]] of Mandarava in her [[sambhogakaya]] form often depicts her with white skin with a tinge of red and wearing regal [[bodhisattva]] ornamentation. In this form, in her right hand she often holds the [[dadar (ritual tool)|dadar]] (or [[arrow]]) a teaching [[tool]] and [[ritual]] implement which is a powerful [[wikt:polyvalent|polyvalent]] [[symbol]] of [[Dzogchen]], disciplic succession, [[Lineage (anthropology)|lineage]] and transmission.<br />
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Mandarava is also often depicted adorned with banners and a [[melong]] (or [[mirror]]) which is another ritual implement, teaching tool and polyvalent symbol of [[Dzogchen]] representing the clear, reflective and [[Nothing|void]] (or empty and ethereal) nature of mind. Mandarava's left hand often holds a ''[[bumpa]]'' or long-life vase or wisdom urn of the [[ashtamangala]].<br />
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Mandarava is usually depicted in a standing pose, yet there are some depictions of her seated (in meditative postures), and occasional depictions of Mandarava in an energetic dance, with her right leg raised, denoting her enlightened activity and dakini nature.<br />
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When depicted with Padmasambhava, Mandarava is often iconographically represented on his right side while Yeshe Tsogyal will be on his left.{{sfn|Meulenbeld|2001|p=52}}{{sfn|Huntington|Bangdel|2004|p=150}}<br />
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==Teachings and lineages ==<br />
Teachings and spiritual practices arising from Mandarava are being practiced today by a variety of lineages and [[Buddhist]] organizations. Many of these focus either on long life practices or the consecration of sacred spiritual medicines.<br />
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For example, the female terton Dechen Chökyi Wangmo ({{Wylie|w=bDe chen Chos kyi dBang mo}}; 1868–1927) revealed a [[Terma (religion)|terma]] that includes Mandarava.{{sfn|Rossi|2008|pp=371–72}}<br />
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<blockquote><br />
bDe chen Chos kyi dBang mo (Dechen Chökyi Wangmo) was a student of the famous Bon teacher Shar rdza bKra shis rGyal mtshan (1859–1934). When she was 51 years old (Earth-Horse Year/1918), near the hermitage of Nor bu phug, at dMu-rdo in rGyal mo rGya'i rong, she revealed a textual treasure (dBang mo'i rnam thar). This gter ma contains sixteen hagiographies of female saints, including those of Maṇḍarava and Ye shes mTsho rgyal, and seems to be one of the few Bonpo treasure texts revealed by a woman in recent times.{{sfn|Rossi|2008|pp=371–72}}<br />
</blockquote><br />
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The terton [[Namkhai Norbu|Chögyal Namkhai Norbu]] has realized and transmitted a [[Terma (religion)|terma]] of spiritual practices of Mandarava along with oral instructions specifying the iconography of Mandarava and how she is to be depicted in [[thangka]].{{sfn|Norbu|1999}}<br />
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Other sources for Mandarava practices include [[Dilgo Khyentse|Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche]]'s [[Terma (religion)|terma]] as offered by [[Gochen Tulku Sang-ngag Rinpoche]].{{sfn|Tara's Refuge|2013}}<br />
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The ''Chime Soktik'', a [[terma (religion)|terma]] received by Mandarava and Padmasambhava directly from Buddha Amitayus, has become the central long life practice of the [[Dudjom Jigdral Yeshe Dorje|Dudjom Tersar]] lineage.{{cn|date=December 2022}}<br />
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==Associations==<br />
The city of [[Mandi, Himachal Pradesh|Mandi]] in [[Himachal Pradesh]], India, is said to be named after Mandarava,{{sfn|Dowman|1984|p=265}} and many shrines and important pilgrimage sites to Mandarava can be found there today.<br />
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There may be a relationship between Mandarava and the tree with the same colloquial name and the scientific name of ''[[Erythrina]]'' (also called the 'coral tree').{{sfn|Padmasambhava|1994|p={{pn|date=December 2022}}}} Chapter 16 of the [[Lotus Sutra]] mentions, "Mandarava blossoms rain down, scattering over the [[Gautama Buddha|Buddha]] and the great assembly. This has been verified by numerous sources".{{sfn|Watson|n.d.}}<br />
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==References==<br />
===Citations===<br />
{{Reflist}}<br />
<br />
===Works cited===<br />
* {{cite book |last=Buffetrille |first=Katia |author-link=Katia Buffetrille |editor-last=Buffetrille |editor-first=Katia |date=2012 |title= Revisiting Rituals in a Changing Tibetan World |pages=163–208 |chapter=Low Tricks and High Stakes Surrounding a Holy Place in Eastern Nepal: The Halesi-Māratika Caves |chapter-url=https://www.academia.edu/3011609 |location=Leiden/Boston |publisher=Brill | series=Brill's Tibetan Studies Library |volume=31 |isbn=978-9004232174| issn=1568-6183 |via=Academia.edu}}<br />
* {{cite book |last=Chodar |first=Thubten |translator=Sarah Schneider |year=2013 |title=Luminous Moonlight: The Biography of Do Dasel Wangmo |place=Pagosa Springs, CO |publisher=Machig Publication |isbn=978-0989358804}}<br />
* {{cite book |last=Dowman |first=Keith |year=1984 |title=Sky Dancer: The Secret Life and Songs of the Lady Yeshe Tsogyel |publisher=Routledge & Kegan Paul |place=Boston |isbn=0-7100-9576-7}}<br />
* {{cite book |first1=Gyalwa |last1=Changchub |first2=Namkhai |last2=Nyingpo |title=Lady of the Lotus-born: The Life and Enlightenment of Yeshe Tsogyal |translator=the Padmakara Translation Group |publisher=Shambhala Publications |place=Boston & London |year=2002 |isbn=1-57062-544-1}}<br />
* {{cite book |first1=John |last1=Huntington |first2=Dina |last2=Bangdel |title=The Circle of Bliss: Buddhist Meditational Art |publisher=Serindia Publications |place=Chicago |year=2004 |isbn=978-1932476019}}<br />
* {{cite journal |last=Jacoby |first=Sarah |date=August 2007 |title=Mandāravā |journal=The Treasury of Lives |issn=2332-077X |url=https://treasuryoflives.org/biographies/view/Mandarava/ |access-date=2022-12-08}}<br />
* {{cite news |last=Johnson |first=Allie |title=Trouble in Shangri-La |newspaper=[[The Pitch (newspaper)|The Pitch]] |date=April 22, 2004 |url=https://www.thepitchkc.com/trouble-in-shangrila/ |access-date=2022-12-08}}<br />
* {{cite book |last=Meulenbeld |first=Ben|year=2001 |title=Buddhist Symbolism in Tibetan Thangkas: The Story of Siddhartha and Other Buddhas Interpreted in Modern Nepalese Painting |place=Netherlands |publisher=Binkey Kok |isbn=978-9074597449}}<br />
* {{cite book |last=Norbu |first=Namkhai |title=The Practice of Long Life on the Immortal Dakini Mandarava |publisher=Shang-Shung Editioni |year=1999 |series=Series of Teachings |volume=118 E}}<br />
* {{cite book |author=Padmasambhava |translator=Erik Pema Kunsang |year=1994 |title=Advice from the Lotus-Born: A Collection of Padmasambhava's Advice to the Dakini Yeshe Tsogyal and Other Close Disciples |publisher=Rangjung Yeshe Publications |place=Boudhanath, Arhus & Hong Kong |isbn=962-7341-20-7}}<br />
* {{cite journal |last=Rossi |first=Donatella |year=2008 |title=Mkha' 'gro dbang mo'i rnam thar, The biography of the gter ston ma Bde chen chos kyi dbang mo (1868-1927?) |journal=Revue d'Études Tibétaines |volume=15 |pages=371–78}}<br />
* {{cite book |author=Samten Lingpa |translator1=Lama Chönam |translator2=Sangye Khandro |title=The Lives and Liberation of Princess Mandarava: the Indian Consort of Padmasambhava |year=1998 |place=Boston |publisher=Wisdom Publications |isbn=978-0861711444}}<br />
* {{cite news |last=Sherrill |first=Martha |title=The Buddha from Poolesville |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |date=April 16, 2000 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/magazine/2000/04/16/the-buddha-from-poolesville/60120d40-5736-4eaa-92f1-ea68a0d8791c/ |access-date=2022-12-08}}<br />
* {{cite web |url=http://tarasrefuge.org/event/mandarava-empowerment/ |title=Mandarava Empowerment |author=Tara's Refuge |date=April 14, 2013 |access-date=2016-05-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140302160912/http://tarasrefuge.org/event/mandarava-empowerment/ |archive-date=2014-03-02 |url-status=dead }}<br />
* {{cite book |ref={{harvid|Watson|n.d.}} |translator-last=Watson |translator-first=Burton |date=n.d. |chapter-url=https://nichiren.info/buddhism/lotussutra/text/chap16.html |title=The Lotus Sutra |chapter=Chapter Sixteen: The Life Span of the Tathagata |via=Nichiren.info |access-date=2022-12-08}}<br />
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==Further reading==<br />
* {{cite web |first=Mahaprajapati |last=Gautama |date=n.d. |url=http://www.dharmafellowship.org/library/essays/women-buddhas.htm |title=Women Buddhas: A Short List of Female Saints, Teachers and Practitioners in Tibetan Buddhism |website=Dharmafellowship.org |ref=none}}<br />
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==External links==<br />
* [https://treasuryoflives.org/biographies/view/mandarava/9 Biography of Mandarava by Sarah Jacoby on The Treasury of Lives]<br />
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070103013814/http://thangka.ru/gallery/ge_mand.html Dakiny Mandarava's mandala]<br />
* [https://archive.today/20130104133100/http://www.rangjung.com/authors/Mandarava.htm Mandarava] at ''rangjung.com''<br />
* [http://www.yoniversum.nl/dakini/mandarava.html Mandarava] at ''yoniversum.nl''<br />
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20061231233503/http://www.thangka.ru/history/he_padmadsat_5.html Princess Mandarava]<br />
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{{Buddhism topics}}<br />
{{TibetanBuddhism}}<br />
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[[Category:Dakinis]]<br />
[[Category:Female buddhas and supernatural beings]]<br />
[[Category:Indian Buddhists]]<br />
[[Category:Padmasambhāva]]<br />
[[Category:Tibetan Buddhists from India]]<br />
[[Category:Tibetan Buddhist spiritual teachers]]<br />
[[Category:Tibetan Buddhist yogis]]<br />
[[Category:Tibetan women]]<br />
[[Category:Vajrayana and women]]<br />
[[Category:Women yogis]]<br />
[[Category:Buddhist yogis]]</div>ZARAKHANMAHI8