Item: Begtse Chen (Buddhist Protector)

Begtse Chen, (English: the Great Coat of Mail. Sanskrit: Prana Atma), the main protector for the Hayagriva cycle of practice.

Tibetan: Begtse Chen

Fiercely wrathful, with one face and two hands, red in colour, he stares with three round eyes and a gaping mouth with exposed fangs, orange hair flowing upward. In the right hand held aloft is a sword, with the left he holds a heart to the mouth while cradling a spear with a pendant, bow and arrows in the bend of the elbow. Adorned with a crown of five skulls, gold and jewel ornaments, he is attired in body armour, variously coloured garments and boots. With the right leg bent atop a blue horse and the left straight atop a human corpse, he stands above a multi-coloured lotus blossom surrounded by the flames of wisdom fire. Three large white skullcups filled with offerings are presented in front.

At the top center is Lama Tsongkapa with the two principal students seated at the right and left.

Surrounding the central wrathful figure are 29 butcher daemons - forming the outer retinue, red in colour with one face and two hands. Holding various instruments, butchering knives and the like, they are engaged in the work of carving the flesh from corpses, dancing and cavorting in various postures.

At the bottom center is the principal protector of the Bon religion, Sipe Gyalmo, Queen of the World, dark blue in colour with three faces and six hands, riding a mule.

Within the Sarma Schools the practice of Begtse Chen, sometimes known as red Mahakala, was popularized by Marpa Lotsawa and Sachen Kunga Nyingpo the respective early founders of Kagyu and Sakya; later the practice was taken up by the Gelugpa School.

Lineage from India: Vajradhara, Mahadeva, Nyi Od Drakpa, Dawa Nagpo, Shridhara Krashu, Nyen Lotsawa Dharma Drag, Kha'u Chokyi Gyaltsen, Sachen Kunga Nyingpo (1092-1158), etc. Alternately from Nyen Lotsawa to Marpa Lotsawa Chokyi Lodro (1012-1099), etc.

Jeff Watt 4-2001