Material: White Umbrella Goddess, brocade embroidery cloth frame thangka

Size: about 61x 85 cm

Description:

**The influence and status of White Umbrella Goddess in Tibetan Buddhism**

White Umbrella Goddess (Tibetan: Gdugs Kar; Sanskrit: Sitātapatrā, meaning "white umbrella") is a very powerful deity in Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana), and is revered as the incarnation of the Buddha's cause and the mother of all Buddhas. She is as famous as the Victory Buddha Mother and the Thousand-armed and Thousand-eyed Avalokitesvara in Tibetan Buddhism, and has the supreme power to stop all disasters and subdue demons. Her image is marked by holding a white umbrella, which symbolizes covering sentient beings with the light of the Dharma and protecting them from natural disasters, diseases, evil spells and demons.

The status of White Umbrella Goddess in Tibetan Buddhism is extremely high, which is mainly reflected in the following aspects:

1. **The guardian of the Dharma and the pacifier of disasters**: She is regarded as the guardian of all Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, and protects practitioners and the Dharma with the power of "reflection" (i.e. reflecting and blocking all evil laws). Her mantras and practices can cure external obstacles (such as natural disasters, enemies, and evil arts) and internal obstacles (such as greed, anger, and ignorance), and are widely used for the purposes of pacifying disasters, increasing blessings, and subduing demonic obstacles. Her "Armor Mantra" is considered to be one of the most secret methods of Tantric Buddhism, which can protect the country, repel enemies, and resolve disasters of earth, water, fire, wind, and space.

2. **Historical and cultural influence**: The practice of White Umbrella Goddess is deeply rooted in the hearts of Tibetan Buddhism and has been introduced to the Han area. In the Tang Dynasty, Venerable Panshimiti translated the "Sutra of the Great Buddha's Head and Head", in which the "Sutra of the Great Buddha's Head and Head" is closely related to the White Umbrella Dharani, and has become an important mantra in the daily morning class of Han Buddhism. Kublai Khan, the founder of the Yuan Dynasty, once worshipped the statue of White Umbrella Goddess beside the imperial throne. Inscriptions in Sanskrit and Tibetan with her mantra were also found in the underground palace of Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty, showing the extent of her worship among the royal family and the people.

3. **Wide Application of Practice**: Her practice rituals are simple, and her mantras (such as "Hum Mama Hum Ni Soha") are easy to recite, but the merits are great. Tibetan Buddhists believe that practicing the White Umbrella Goddess Dharma can eliminate disasters and misfortunes, fulfill their wishes, and even rebirth in the Pure Land at the end of life without falling into the six realms. Her mantra pennants or mantra paper are often worn or hung to protect homes and individuals.

4. **Diverse Images and Inheritance**: White Umbrella Goddess has many images, including one face and two arms, three faces and six arms, a thousand faces, a thousand arms, a thousand eyes, a thousand feet, etc., showing her boundless power. Her inheritance is divided into human inheritance and heavenly inheritance, which comes from classics such as "The Sutra of the Great White Umbrella Dharani" and "The Sutra of the Great White Umbrella Dharani Spoken by the Buddha", showing her importance in different sects.

**Mythology and Origin**

The myth of the Great White Umbrella Buddha is mainly derived from Buddhist classics, especially the legend of the battle between Indra and Asura:

1. **The Battle between Indra and Asura**: According to legend, in the six realms, Asura has blessings but strong anger. There is a wish-fulfilling tree between the Asura realm and the heaven. The roots of the tree are in the Asura realm, but the branches extend to the heaven. The gods can pray to the wish-fulfilling tree and get their wishes fulfilled. Asura is jealous of this and gathers people to attack the heaven and approach Indra's palace. Indra was defeated and had no choice but to ask for help from Sakyamuni Buddha. The Buddha, out of compassion for all living beings, entered into a state of meditation and emitted supreme light from his topknot, which transformed into the "Invincible Vajra Mother" with a thousand hands, a thousand arms, a thousand eyes, and a thousand feet, namely the White Umbrella Mother. She held a huge white umbrella, covering the entire palace of Indra, and recited the "White Umbrella Dharani Mantra". The Asuras saw her majesty and fled in fear, and the war was over.

2. **The Buddha preached in the heavens**: Another legend records that when Shakyamuni Buddha was 41 years old, he went to the Thirty-three Heavens to spend the summer retreat in the Good Dharma Hall in order to save his mother, Lady Maya, who was reborn in the heavens. Surrounded by Indra and other disciples, the Buddha entered the "Universal Viewing Topknot Samadhi", and the White Umbrella Mother appeared from his topknot, and recited the "The Sutra of the Supreme Accomplishment Dharani of the Invincible White Umbrella Mother Emerging from the Topknot of the Holy Tathagata". This sutra emphasizes the boundless power of the Buddha Mother, who can protect all living beings from all harm.

3. **Symbol of the topknot manifestation**: White Umbrella Goddess is considered to be the embodiment of the light of Sakyamuni Buddha's topknot (one of the thirty-two characteristics of Buddha, symbolizing supreme wisdom), and is called the "Mother of All Buddhas". Her white umbrella symbolizes covering the Dharma Realm with Buddha's wisdom and compassion, protecting sentient beings from demonic obstacles and disasters. Her thousand hands, thousand eyes, and thousand feet symbolize infinite compassion and wisdom, which can encompass all sentient beings.

**Summary**

White Umbrella Goddess is a very influential deity in Tibetan Buddhism, and is deeply respected for her invincible power of repelling and great compassion. Her mythological origin is closely related to the battle with Indra and the legend of the topknot manifestation of Buddha, showing her lofty status as the mother of all Buddhas and the protector of the Dharma. Her practice is not only widely spread in Tibet, but also deeply influenced Chinese Buddhism, becoming an important method for pacifying disasters and protecting.