Himalayan Art Resources

Buddhist Deity: Simhamukha Main Page

Simhamukha Masterworks

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Video: Simhamuka Description

The dakini Simhamukha is a female meditational deity with a lion face. In the Sarma traditions (Sakya, Kagyu, Gelug) she arises out of the Chakrasamvara cycle of Tantras and belongs to the Anuttarayoga 'wisdom' classification. The Sarma tradition Simhamukha is somewhat unrelated to the deity of the same name and appearance in the Nyingma tradition, although the Nyingma Simhamukha is based on the Sarma tradition of Bari Lotsawa according to Nyangral Nyima Ozer. In the Nyingma 'Treasure' tradition Simhamukha is regarded as one of the many forms of Padmasambhava, specifically a 'secret' form of Guru Rinpoche within the system of outer, inner and secret manifestations.

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Jeff Watt 6-1998 [updated 10-2016, 4-2017, 2-2020]