Material: Red copper. Gilded. Cast. (Can be stored in Tibetan)

Size: About 30 cm

Description:

Auspicious Goddess (Tibetan: དཔལ་ལྡན་ལྷ་མོ།, dpal ldan lha mo, transliterated Bandaram, also known as Mahakali, Mahakali, Sanskrit: Śrīdevī) is a very influential female guardian deity in Tibetan Buddhism. She is regarded as the patron saint of Lhasa and the Dalai Lama, and has a high status and far-reaching influence in Tibetan Buddhism. The following is her main influence and status in Tibetan Buddhism:

1. The patron saint of Lhasa and Jokhang Temple:

- As early as the 7th century AD, when the Tubo King Songtsen Gampo built the Jokhang Temple, Auspicious Goddess had been invited as the temple's guardian deity. It is said that Jokhang Temple still worships her statue, which shows her special status in the core holy place of Tibetan Buddhism.

- Later, the Goddess of Good Fortune was promoted to the patron saint of the entire city of Lhasa. She was believed to be able to bestow wisdom and happiness, and was deeply revered by the Tibetan people, especially young men and women.

2. The Dalai Lama and the main protectors of the Gelugpa sect:

- The Goddess of Good Fortune is one of the most important protectors of the Gelugpa sect (Yellow Sect), and is especially respected by successive Dalai Lamas. The second Dalai Lama, Gendun Gyatso, and the fifth Dalai Lama, Ngawang Lobsang Gyatso, strongly advocated her status.

- In the Lhamo La Co (holy lake) about 300 miles southeast of Lhasa, it is said that the image of the Goddess of Good Fortune and the deeds and future omens of the Dalai Lama's life can be seen in the lake. Every Dalai Lama must go to this lake at least once in his life to hold a grand ceremony to worship the lake, showing her guidance and protection for the Dalai Lama.

3. Worship by various sects of Tibetan Buddhism:

- The Goddess of Good Fortune not only holds a prominent position in the Gelugpa sect, but is also worshipped in the Sakya, Kagyu and Nyingma sects. For example, she is one of the three main companion gods in the worship ceremony of Hevajra in the Sakya sect, and Aji Quzhen of the Kagyu sect is considered to be her incarnation.

- During the period of Langdarma's persecution of Buddhism, the Goddess of Good Fortune was believed to have protected the inheritance of Tibetan Buddhism from being cut off, and was therefore regarded as the most sacred guardian deity in the entire Tibet.

4. The Festival of the Goddess of Good Fortune and its influence among the people:

- Every year on the 15th day of the 10th month of the Tibetan calendar, the "Fairy Festival" (Tibetan: Bailai Rizhui, also known as the Fairy Festival) is held in Lhasa to commemorate the Goddess of Good Fortune. Festival activities include parades, offering khatas, burning incense and offering food, and women will dress up carefully and ask for donations from men, reflecting her importance in folk beliefs.

- On the first day of the first month of the Tibetan calendar, Tibetan people will also offer sacrifices to the Goddess of Good Fortune and pray for good luck in the new year, showing her wide influence in Tibetan culture.

5. Dual roles of Dharma protector and wealth:

- Goddess of Good Fortune is regarded as the "destroyer of demons" who can subdue evil spirits and eliminate karma. She is also the "wish-fulfilling deity" who can fulfill the secular and extraordinary wishes of all beings. She is also considered the patron saint of wealth. Jokhang Temple became the richest temple in Tibet because of her blessing.

Mythology and origin of Goddess of Good Fortune

The mythology of Goddess of Good Fortune is complex, integrating elements of Hinduism and Tibetan Buddhism. The following are her main myths and origins:

1. Hindu origin and Buddhist transformation:

- Goddess of Good Fortune is the angry incarnation of the Hindu goddess Maha Kali, who is the spouse of Shiva and symbolizes destruction and rebirth. Buddhism subdued her and incorporated her into the system of Dharma protectors, becoming the incarnation of Prajnaparamita, showing a wrathful appearance to protect the Dharma.

- Another theory holds that she is the incarnation of Lakṣmī (Sanskrit: लक्ष्मी, transliterated as Luoqishimi) or Prajnaparamita Bodhisattva. Lakṣmī is the goddess of happiness and wealth in Hinduism, the wife of Vishnu, and was transformed into a guardian deity after being absorbed by Buddhism.

2. Myth story: Killing one's own relatives for the sake of justice:

- In the mythology of Tibetan Buddhism, the image of Lakṣmī is extremely angry. It is said that because her son refused to convert to Buddhism, she killed her son with her own hands, made a ritual implement with his skull, and peeled his skin for a saddle, symbolizing absolute loyalty to Buddhism and killing one's own relatives for the sake of justice. In thangka, she is often depicted with blue-black skin, riding a white mule, walking through a sea of ​​blood, holding a skull stick in her right hand, a bloody human skull in her left hand, and a saddle made of human skin.

- There is an eye on the buttocks of her yellow mule. It is said that when she escaped from her demon husband, the arrow wound turned into an eye, which she used to monitor the pursuers behind, showing her magical powers and tenacity.

3. Fairy Festival Legend:

- The origin of the "Auspicious Mother Festival" is related to the story of Bairam (daughter of Bandanram). It is said that Bairam indulged herself and was cursed by her mother Masojem to never have a husband for life, or to meet her lover Tripu Zongzan (incarnation of Vishnu) only once a year, on the 15th day of the tenth month of the Tibetan calendar. During the festival, the statue of the Auspicious Mother will be paraded to the south bank of the Lhasa River, facing the Trizunzan Temple, symbolizing the meeting of husband and wife.

- Another version describes that the Auspicious Mother was once romantic, dating with hundreds of lovers, and was chained by her father. Later, she escaped on a mule, and was shot by her father with an arrow on the mule. The wound turned into an eye. Later, she was forced to marry a Rakshasa, her appearance became ugly, and she became a guardian deity with a wrathful appearance.

4. Subjugation and Vow to Protect the Dharma:

- It is said that the Goddess of Good Fortune was originally the demon Mahakali, who wanted to disturb the Buddha's enlightenment, but was subjugated by the Buddha with great power. She then vowed to protect the Dharma and became the most extraordinary female Dharma protector. Her wrathful appearance is intended to subdue evil spirits, protect those who do good deeds, and punish those who do evil deeds.

Editor's final summary

In Tibetan Buddhism, the Goddess of Good Fortune combines Dharma protection, wealth and wisdom. She is the patron saint of Lhasa, the Jokhang Temple and the Dalai Lama, and is deeply worshipped by all sects. Her mythological origin combines elements of Hinduism and Buddhism, showing the coexistence of anger and compassion. From the time of Songtsen Gampo to the prosperity of the Gelug Sect in the Qing Dynasty, she has always been the core symbol of Tibetan religion and culture, and is deeply rooted in Tibetan folk beliefs through festivals and thangkas.