Tibetan Buddhism began in the Songtsen Gampo era in the 7th century. With the arrival of Princess Bhrikuti of Nepal and Princess Wencheng of the Tang Dynasty, Buddhist gods, an important symbol of Buddhism, were introduced to Tibet. From a certain perspective, the 8-year-old Shakyamuni Buddha statue brought by Princess Bhrikuti and the 12-year-old Shakyamuni statue brought by Princess Wencheng almost became the beginning of the history of Tibetan Buddhism. After more than 1,300 years of historical evolution and development, an intense ethnic style and local characteristic have been formed.
According to Tibetan Buddhism, the female buddha goddess is the source of all Buddhas. It mainly includes Palden Lhamo, Dakini, Usnisavijaya, Ushnisha Sitatapatra, and so on.
Palden Lhamo
Who is it?
Palden Lhamo is an important female guardian deity of Tantric Buddhism. In Chinese Buddhism, she refers to as either “Meritorious god” or “Auspicious goddess”. She’s the goddess of happiness and wealth.
How can I tell?
In Tibetan Buddhism, Palden Lhamo has both peaceful and wrathful forms.
The latter form is a fierce deity. She is usually depicted as deep blue in color and with red hair, riding side-saddle on a yellow mule. On her head, there are five human skulls, crescent-shaped adornments, and peacock feathers. Her left hand holds a skeleton stick, which was specially designed to deal with the evil spirit Asura. Her right hand holds a skull bowl full of blood.
Dakini
Who is it?
Dakini, the Sanskrit transliteration, meaning a person walking in the air. Dakini is a female deity. She is powerful enough to fly in the air, hence her name. In Tantric Buddhism, the Dakini is the goddess of wisdom and compassion.
How can I tell?
She wears a crown of five skulls on her head, with a bare body, thin waist, and soft abdomen. Her neck hangs fifty skulls. With her left arm elbow raised, she holds a skull cup (kapala) for a drink in her left hand, and a curved knife in the right hand, standing on the lotus pedestal in a flying posture.
