Buddhist Deity: Dorje Shugden Religious Context
Dorje Shugden Main PageSubjects, Topics & Types:
- Religious Context
- Visual Outline
- Incarnation Lineage Murals
- Trode Khangsar Temple, Barkhor, Lhasa
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- Protector Deities Main Page
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- Colours & Activities
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- Bibliography (short)
- Confusions: Example 1, Dorje Ta'og, Dorje Legpa, Warrior Monks
- Controversy
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Liturgical formulas and religious texts for presenting offerings to Dorje Shugden were created in the Sakya, Gelug, and Drugpa Kagyu Traditions of Tibetan Buddhism. The Drugpa Kagyu texts are from Bhutan. (No Drugpa Kagyu paintings have so far come to light). It is possible that other traditions aside from these three mentioned also propitiated the worldly deity and created visual depictions. The Sakyas have several short liturgical works all written approximately 200 years ago or more, whereas in the last century Gelug writers have feverishly written enough new material to fill two standard size Tibetan volumes. This collection of works is called in short the Dorje Shugden Be'u Bum. This collection also includes those early Sakya writings. According to the lunar calendar the special day for worship of Dorje Shugden is the 15th of the month.
In the Gelug Tradition evidence suggests, textual and visual, that the practice of Dorje Shugden became popular in the early 20th century and very prominent by the mid century. The popularity was also carried forth by such influential teachers of the time as Pabongka Dechen Nyingpo and others. However, since very recent times, specifically the 1970s and a frenzied exchange of Tibetan language publications on the topic of Dorje Shugden, there are now two groups of Gelug followers that espouse two different views on the nature of Dorje Shugden. There are those who follow the Dalai Lama and have put the practice of Dorje Shugden aside believing that it is nothing more than the worship of a ghost or spirit (preta) and potentially harmful in the end. A second group of Gelug followers believe that Dorje Shugden is in fact a Wisdom Deity of the highest level and none other than Manjushri himself emanating in various forms through the last millennium - appearing now as Dorje Shugden - protector of the true faith.
The two Gelugpa groups remain far from reconciled over the issue of Dorje Shugden. As for the actual origins of Dorje Shugden, that remains shrouded in history at this time. However, there are many claims as to the origin of the deity.
Authoritative Opinions on the Origins of Dorje Shugden:
- The 5th Dalai Lama, Lobzang Gyatso (1617-1682), was uncommitted as to the origins but did not necessarily believe that Shugden was the incarnation of Tulku Dragpa Gyaltsen (1619-1656).
- Terdag Lingpa Gyurme Dorje (1646-1714) suggested that Dorje Shugden arose after the tragic death of a Karma Kagyu monk that had threatened the Gelug tradition.
- Sumpa Khenpo Yeshe Paljor (1704-1788) claimed that Trulku Dragpa Gyaltsen was reborn in China and became the Kangxi Emperor.
- Sumpa Khenpo also suggested that the 'trouble causing' spirit was the deceased Desi Sonam Chophel (d.1657) - a regent of the young 5th Dalai Lama.
- The 9th Je Khenpo of Bhutan, Shakya Rinchen (1744-1755), in a protector liturgy, equates Dorje Shugden with the Five Buddha Families and Padmasambhava.
- Dragshul Trinle Rinchen (1871-1935) of the Sakya tradition states in his diary that Dorje Shugden was an emanation of Avalokiteshvara and that his own father, Kunga Nyingpo (19th century), was an emanation of Dorje Shugden.
- Pabongkha Dechen Nyingpo (1878-1941) wrote that Shugden was both an emanation of Manjushri and the incarnation of Trulku Dragpa Gyaltsen. (See the Lineage Murals from Trode Khangsar Temple, Lhasa).
- Some contemporary officials of Drepung Monastery claim that Trulku Dragpa Gyaltsen is unrelated to Dorje Shugden and that the Trulku continues to be reborn, discovered and enthroned as a teacher at Drepung Monastery for the past 350 years.
- Other stories and narrative myths.....
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Jeff Watt 12-2010 [updated 2-2016, 4-2017, 12-2019]
(The images below are only a selection of examples from the links above).
