Buddhist Deity: Vishvamata Main Page
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Video: The Mother Vishvamata
Tibetan: sna tshogs yum dkar mo.
Vishvamata is found in the Rinjung Lhantab of the 4th Panchen Lama (1782-1853) which is an edited version of the Rinjung Gyatsa of Jonang Taranata (1575-1635).
Vishvamata is described as being female, white in colour, peaceful in appearance with one face and two hands. The right hand is in a gesture of generosity and extends across the right knee while holding the stem of a lotus flower. The left hand is held at the heart in a gesture of blessing and also holds the stem of a lotus flower. Both flowers blossom above the right and left shoulders. The two legs are folded in the crossed vajra posture. Vishvamata is also the consort of the meditational deity Kalachakra. In the Kalachakra system, Vishvamata can have a similar function to Prajnaparamita or Tara in representing the wisdom mother of all buddhas along with purifying all sickness and suffering.
Artistic representations and textual descriptions can have variations such as sometimes she is described as having three eyes, or two eyes. She can be holding a single white lotus in the left hand at the heart. The right hand can also be described as in the fearless gesture. Making an iconographic identification even more difficult, it is also very common to confuse Vishvamata with the deities of a similar appearance such as White Tara, White Manjushri and Khasarpana Lokeshvara. Sculptural forms of Vishvamata are relatively rare. She is more often found in scroll work paintings or murals of the meditational deity Kalachakra where she is represented as a secondary figure. Vishvamata is not found in any of the early collections of sadhana practices until Taranata wrote the Rinjung Gyatsa, after which she was included in a number of late publications.
Vishvamata and Vajra Vega Lineage: Abhaya, Legjor, Ananda, Ratna Rakshita, Vibhuti Chandra, Marton, Kunpang Chenpo Tug Tson, Jangsem Gyalye, Khatsun Yontan Gyatso, Jonang Kunkhyen Chenpo, Ga Rongpa Lha'i Gyaltsen, Jetsunpawa, Dagchen Namgyal Dragpa, Shangton Kunga, Palden, Panchen Namkha Palzang, Je Sher Drampa, Je Drolchog, Khen Rinpoche, [Taranata]. (Rinjung Gyatsa, folio 274).
The list of teachers for both the Vajra Vega and Vishvamata are also said to come down through the Dro Lineage of Kalachakra.
Jeff Watt 4-2015 [updated 8-2018, 8-2024]
Rin 'bjung rgya tsa. Page 453.
Rin 'byung lha tshogs. Tashi Lhunpo, Shigatse. Page 158.
bod brgyud nang bstan lha tshogs chen mo bzhugs so, 2001. ISBN 7-5420-0816-1. Page 623.
