Vajrayogini

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Vajrayoginī (Sanskrit: Vajrayoginī वज्रयोगिनी; Tibetan: རྡོ་རྗེ་རྣལ་འབྱོར་མ་, Wylie: rdo rje rnal ’byor ma, Dorjé Neljorma) is an important figure in Buddhism, especially revered in Tibetan Buddhism. In Vajrayana she is considered a female Buddha and a ḍākiṇī. Vajrayoginī is often described with the epithet sarvabuddhaḍākiṇī, meaning "the ḍākiṇī [who is the Essence] of all Buddhas". She is an Anuttarayoga Tantra meditational deity (iṣṭadevatā) and her practice includes methods for preventing ordinary death, intermediate state (bardo) and rebirth (samsara) by transforming them into paths to enlightenment, and for transforming all mundane daily experiences into higher spiritual paths.^[1]

The cult of Vajrayoginī has its origins between the 10th and 12th centuries and draws inspiration from Hindu Shaiva tantras. Initially appearing as the consort of Cakrasaṃvara, Vajrayoginī later evolved into a standalone practice. The lineage of Vajrayoginī practice can be traced back to the original teachings of Vajradhara and is divided into three main lineages: Narokhachö, Maitrikhachö, and Indrakhachö.

Vajrayoginī's essence is "great passion" (maharaga), a transcendent passion that is free of selfishness and illusion—she intensely works for the well-being of others and for the destruction of ego clinging. She is seen as being ideally suited for people with strong passions, providing the way to transform those passions into enlightened virtues.^[1] She is visualized with a 16-year-old female form, red skin, a third eye of wisdom, and numerous symbolic attributes such as a flaying knife and a skull cup. Her fierce yet blissful demeanor conveys spiritual meanings.

Practices associated with her are Chöd and the Six Yogas of Naropa. Her temples in the Kathmandu Valley are revered as power places in both Newar and Tibetan Buddhism. Additionally, the abbesses of Samding Monastery in Tibet have traditionally been seen as emanations of Vajravārāhī, continuing this lineage of female tulkus to the present day. According to scholar Miranda Shaw, Vajrayoginī is "inarguably the supreme deity of the Tantric pantheon. No male Buddha, including her divine consort, Heruka Cakrasaṃvara, approaches her in metaphysical or practical import."^[2]