Item: Mahamaya (Buddhist Deity)

Mahamaya (Tibetan: gyu ma chen mo. English: Great Illusion): a mural painting in the old temple of Dege Gonchen Monastery College. Bibliographic reference: Shri Mahamaya Tantraraja-nama, Toh 425 and No.86 in the Gyude kuntu set of mandalas.

Mahamaya is blue in colour, with four faces and four hands standing in a dancing posture. He embraces the consort Buddha Dakini, blue-green, also with four faces and four hands.

"Mahamaya, blue, with four faces, blue, yellow, red, green. The first two hands hold a skullcup and katvanga staff while embracing the consort. The lower two [hands] hold an arrow and bow. Standing with the left leg drawn up in a half posture dancing manner. Wearing a human skin upper garment. The consort, Buddha Dakini, is red, the same [in appearance], embracing, with a crown of dry skulls, head necklace and five mudra [ornaments]." (bod brgyud nang bstan lha tshogs chen mo bzhugs so, 2001. ISBN 7-5420-0816-1. Page 380-383).

Lineage: Vajradhara, Bodhisattva Vajragarbha, Jnana Dakini, Acharya Kukuripa, Tsokye Vajra, Dombhi Heruka, Tilopa, Naropa, Balpo Pandita Shiwa Zangpo, Lama Marpa Chokyi Lodro, Ngog Chokyi Dorje, Ngog Jose Dode, Ngotsa Choku, Ngotsa Konchog, Lokkya Wangchug Dragpa, Lama Ngong Ton, Lama Chokyi Gyalpo (Chogyal Pagpa 1235-1280), etc.

Jeff Watt 6-2005