Himalayan Art Resources

Buddhist Deity: Marichi Main Page

Marichi Masterworks

- Art History

- Iconography

- Religious Context


Videos:
- Iconography Hack: Marichi, Goddess of the Dawn (1:35 minutes)
- Marichi: Goddess of the Dawn (4 min.)
- Sow Faced Deities (4:17 min.)
- Marichi Compendium Texts (HAR on Patreon [13 min.])

The Goddess of the Dawn (Tibetan: ozer chen ma. Sanskrit: Marichi) is depicted in many different forms. Sometimes she rides a white horse through the sky, banishing the darkness and driving back the night with the orb of the sun in the outstretched right hand, more commonly she is yellow or red in colour, with one, three or more faces and six to twelve arms, seated on a chariot drawn by seven pigs, or horses, removing all obstacles to happiness and well-being. Her mood can be either peaceful or wrathful. The metaphor for spiritual practice and meditation is light, light overcoming darkness.

The compendium of practices known as the Bari Gyatsa contains five different descriptions of Marichi. The Drub Tab Gyatso has six descriptions (see an example). The Nartang Gyatsa describes a single form of Marichi and the Rinjung Gyatsa of Taranata has four different forms. Both the Vajravali and Mitra Gyatsa describe a single mandala of Marichi with twenty-five surrounding figures.

Database Search: All Images | Painting | Sculpture | Mandala

Jeff Watt 8-2006 [updated 4-2017, 1-2020]