Wisdom Dakini Machig Labdron

Machig Labdron is a founder of the Cho Tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. Machig Labdron was a renowned 11th-century Tibetan tantric Buddhist practitioner, teacher, and yogini who originated several Tibetan lineages of the Vajrayana practice of Chod. Machig Labdron may have come from a Bon family and, according to Namkhai Norbu, developed Chod by combining native shamanism with the Dzogchen teaching.

Machig Labdron may have come from a Bon family and, according to Namkhai Norbu, developed Chod by combining native shamanism with the Dzogchen teachings.

Machig Labdron is ma gcig lab sgron in Tibet.

The iconography of Machig Labdron

In the iconography of Machig Labdron, we are going to learn about her body posture, hand and leg gesture, and different representations of Machig Labdron in the thangka.

Machig Labdron is white in color with one face and two hands, she appears as a ‘wisdom Dakini’ with bone ornaments, in the appearance of a bodhisattva – like a heavenly goddess. Machig Labdron is Peaceful with three eyes, a tiara of gold and jewels, gold earrings, bone ornaments, and hair ribbons. Machig Labdron holds upraised in the right hand a damaru (drum) resounding with the activities of Dharma.

In the left hand upturned at the hip is a vajra-handled bell ringing with the symbolic silence of emptiness. Machig Labdron is supported by the left leg with the right raised up she stands in a dancing posture above a moon disc and multi-colored lotus blossom surrounded by a nimbus and aureole of three concentric spheres of green, pink and yellow light.

Depicting Lama Teacher Machig Labdron Thangka

The thangka of Machig Labdron is from Tibet. The thangka of Machig Labdron is made between 1800 – 1899 AD. Machig Labdron is from Shiche/Chod, Karma (Kagyu), and Buddhist lineages. The base of the painting is Ground Mineral Pigment on Cotton. Currently, this [painting is in the Rubin Museum of Art.

By depicting this thangka, we will earn about the presentation of Machig Labdron with different deities such as Primordial Buddha Vajradhara, Prajnaparamita, Shakyamuni Buddha, Troma Nagumo, and Tsi’u Map, etc.

Primordial Buddha Vajradhara

Primordial Buddha Vajradhara is at the top center of the thangka. Primordial Buddha Vajradhara is blue in color. Primordial Buddha Vajradhara is accompanied by the Five Symbolic Buddhas.

Prajnaparamita

Prajnaparamita is below the Vajradhara in the thangka. Prajnaparamita is the feminine personification of wisdom. Prajnaparamita is orange in color.

c is with one face and four hands seated peacefully in vajra posture. The first right hand of Prajnaparamita is placed in the ‘earth witness’ mudra. And the second upraised holding a gold vajra. The first left hand of Prajnaparamita is placed in the mudra of meditation and the second holds aloft a folio book.

Shakyamuni Buddha

Shakyamuni Buddha is Below the  Prajnaparamita in the thangka.  Shakyamuni Buddha is yellow in color ‘like a mountain of gold’. Shakyamuni Buddha is with one face and two hands performing the gestures of ‘earth witness’ with the right and meditation with the left.

Troma Nagmo

Troma Nagmo is at the bottom center of the thangka. Troma Nagumo is the meditational deity. Troma Nagumo is a wrathful form of Vajravarahi.

Troma Nagumo is black in color. Troma Nagumo is swinging a human skin in the right hand and holding a shinbone horn in the left. Troma Nagumo is dancing wildly in a blaze of erratic wisdom fire.

Tsi’u Marpo

Tsi’u Marpo is on the left side of the thangka. Tsi’u Marp is the worldly protector. Tsi’u Marpo is indigenous to Tibet and the guardian of Samye Choker Ling.

He is red in color. Tsi’u Marp is in the dress of a warrior with one face and two hands holding a spear and lasso. Tsi’u Marp is riding a red horse and accompanied by a red dog.

Machig Labdron with Guru Kyoton Sonam Lama Thangka

The thangka of Machig Labdron with Guru Kyoton Sonam Lama is from Tibet. This thangka is made between 1800 – 1899 AD. Machig Labdron with Guru Kyoton Sonam Lama is from Shiche/Chod lineages. The size of the painting is 58.42×48.26cm. Ground Mineral Pigment and Fine Gold Line on Cotton is used to color this. presently, this thangka is in the Rubin Museum of Art.

By depicting this thangka, we will learn about the presentation of Machig Labdron with vignettes.

Guru Kyoton Sonam Lama is at the top left of the thangka. guru Kyoton Sonam Lama is in a two-storied house.

Vignettes

Vignettes are descending along the right and left sides of the thangka. Vignettes are from the biography of Machig portraying early childhood, family, and the pursuit of Dharma teachings. The tradition of Cho, severing the four maras, is practiced to a greater or lesser degree by all the schools of Tibetan Buddhists.

Machig Labdron with Orange Prajnaparamita Thangka

The thangka of Machig Labdron with Orange Prajnaparamita is from Eastern Tibet. The thangka is made between 1800 – 1899 AD. Machig Labdron with Orange Prajnaparamita is from Karma (Kagyu) lineages. The size of the painting is 54.61×39.37cm. The base of the painting is Ground Mineral Pigment on Cotton. Currently, this thangka is in the Rubin Museum of Art.

By depicting this thangka, we will learn about the presentation of Machig Labdron with Shadbhuja Mahakala and Chang Shon.

Orange Prajnaparamita is at the top center of the thangka. Orange Prajnaparamita is known as the feminine personification of wisdom. Orange Prajnaparamita is with one face and four hands seated peacefully in vajra posture.

The first right hand of Orange Prajnaparamita is placed in the ‘earth witness’ mudra. And the second hand of Orange Prajnaparamita is upraised holding a gold vajra. The first left hand of Orange Prajnaparamita is placed in the mudra of meditation and the second holds aloft a folio book.

Shadbhuja Mahakala

Shadbhuja Mahakala is at the bottom left of the thangka. Shadbhuja Mahakala is the wrathful protector. Shadbhuja Mahakala is with one face and six hands. Shadbhuja Mahakala is standing atop the form of Ganesh.

Chang Shon

Chang Shon is at the bottom center of the thangka. Chang Shon is known as the protector. Chang Shon is black in color with one face and two hands riding a black wolf.