This practice requires the student to have permission/empowerment received from a qualified master in order to engage in the self-generation of the deity. However, it is permitted to do this practice without such an empowerment as long as you do not generate yourself as the deity. Instead, you should generate the deity at the crown of your head or in front of you.
The White Umbrella Deity, [Skt. Sitatapatra, Tib. gdugs dkar] is a powerful female deity. She has a thousand heads, arms, and legs, and has eyes on the palms of each of her hands and soles of her feet. Her two main hands hold a white umbrella and a Dharma wheel, and her other hands hold a multitude of weapons.
Her parasol indicates her ability to protect sentient beings from natural catastrophes, diseases, and so forth. She is white in color, because the principal means by which she accomplishes this function is the enlightenment energy of pacification.
The White Umbrella Deity is relied upon for protection; healing illness; dispelling interferences, spirit possession, and harmful forces; quelling disasters; averting obstacles; and bringing auspiciousness.
FPMT
Education Services
Practices of Ārya Sitātapatrā
(White Umbrella Deity)
གདུགས་དཀར་མཆོག་གྲུབ་མ་བཞུགས་སོ།།
The Supreme Accomplishment of Sitātapatrā
and
གདུགས་དཀར་བསོ ད་པ་དང་ཟོ ག་པ་བཞུགས་སོ།།
Praises and Repelling Practices of Sitātapatrā
Translated by Joona Repo
Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition, Inc.
1632 SE 11th Avenue
Portland, OR 97214 USA
www.fpmt.org
© 2014, 2021
Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition, Inc.
All rights reserved.
Reissue 2023
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means, electronic
or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information
storage and retrieval system or technologies now known or developed,
without permission in writing from the publisher.
Set in Calibri 12/15, Century Gothic, Helvetica Light, Lydian BT, and Monlam
Uni Ouchan 2.
Contents
Technical Note 4
A Guide to Pronouncing Sanskrit 5
The Supreme Accomplishment of Sitātapatrā 7
Praises and Repelling Practices of Sitātapatrā 23
Praise to Uṣṇīṣa-Sitātapatrā 23
Praises and Requests for Repellence 26
Repellence in Dependence on Uṣṇīṣa-Sitātapatrā 27
Notes 29
4
Technical Note
Italics and a small font size indicate instructions and comments found in
the Tibetan text and are not for recitation. Text in regular font or with
no indentation is likewise not for recitation. Words in square brackets
have been added by the translator for clarification. For example:
This is how to correctly follow the virtuous friend, [the root of the path to
full enlightenment].
5
A Guide to Pronouncing Sanskrit
The following points will enable you to easily learn the pronunciation of
most transliterated Sanskrit terms and mantras:
- Ś and Ṣ produce sounds similar to the English “sh” in “shoe.” The
difference between the two is where the tongue is positioned in the
mouth. - C is pronounced similarly to the “ch” in “chap.” CH is similar but is
more heavily aspirated. - Ṭ, ṬH, Ḍ, ḌH, Ṇ are retroflex letters and have no exact equivalent in
English. These sounds are made by curling the tongue towards the
front section of the palate. They correspond roughly to the sounds
“tra” (Ṭ), aspirated “tra” (ṬH), “dra” (Ḍ), aspirated “dra” (ḌH), and
“nra” (Ṇ). - All consonants followed by an H are aspirated: KH, GH, CH, JH, TH,
DH, PH, BH. Note that TH and ṬH are pronounced like the “t” in
“target” and “tr” in “trap” respectively, not like the “th” in “the.”
The PH is pronounced like the “p” in “partial,” not like the “ph” in
“pharaoh.” - Long vowels with a dash above them (Ā, Ī, Ū, Ṝ, and Ḹ) and take
approximately double the amount of time to pronounce versus their
short counterparts (A, I, U, Ṛ, and Ḷ). - Ṃ indicates a nasal sound. At the end of a word it is generally
pronounced as an “m.” Ḥ indicates an “h”-sounding aspiration. Ṛ is
pronounced similar to the “ri” in “cringe.” Ṅ is pronounced similar to
the “ng” in “king.”
For more information, please consult the FPMT Translation Services’
A Guide to Sanskrit Transliteration and Pronunciation, available online:
https://fpmt.org/wp-content/uploads/education/translation/guide_to_
sanskrit_transliteration_and_pronunciation.pdf
Sitātapatrā (White Umbrella Deity)
7
The Supreme Accomplishment
of Sitātapatrā
In the language of India: Ārya-tathāgatoṣṇīṣa-sitātapatra-
aparājita-mahā-pratyaṅgirā-paramasiddha-nāma-dhāraṇī
In Tibetan: Phag pa de zhin sheg pä tsug tor nä jung wä dug kar po
chän zhän gyi mi thub pa chhir dog pa chhen mo chhog tu drub pa
zhe ja wä zung
[In English: The Ārya Dhāraṇī Called “The Supreme Accomplish-
ment of the Great Repeller Undefeatable by Others—Sitātapatrā,
Arisen from the Uṣṇīṣa of the Tathāgata”]
I prostrate to all the buddhas, bodhisattvas, ārya śrāvakas, and
pratyekabuddhas.
I prostrate to the Uṣṇīṣa-Queen, the Bhagavān Undefeatable by
Others.
Thus I have heard at one time. The Bhagavān was staying in the
Hall of Excellent Dharma1 in the realm of the gods at Trāyastriṃśa,
together with a great saṅgha of bhikṣus, a great saṅgha of
bodhisattvas, and Indra, Lord of the Gods. At that time, as soon
as he had sat down on the arranged seat, the Bhagavān rested in
the stabilized concentration known as “Thoroughly Beholding the
Uṣṇīṣa.”2 As soon as the Bhagavān rested in the stabilization, these
words of secret mantra issued forth from the center of his uṣṇīṣa:
8 Practices of Ārya Sitātapatrā (White Umbrella Deity)
I prostrate to the Buddha.
I prostrate to the Dharma.
I prostrate to the Saṅgha.
I prostrate to the seventy million perfectly completed buddhas.
I prostrate to the saṅgha of bodhisattvas and the entire saṅgha of
śrāvakas.
I prostrate to Maitreya and all other bodhisattva mahāsattvas.
I prostrate to all the arhats in the world.
I prostrate to all the stream-enterers.3
I prostrate to all the once-returners.4
I prostrate to all the never-returners.5
I prostrate to all those who have gone to perfection in this world.
I prostrate to all those who have set out toward perfection.
I prostrate to all the divine ṛṣis.
I prostrate to all accomplished vidyādhara ṛṣis with the power to
benefit.
I prostrate to all accomplished vidyādharas.
I prostrate to Brahmā.
I prostrate to Indra.
I prostrate to the Excellent Wrathful One, the Lord Who Repels
Asceticism.6
I prostrate to the Excellent Nārāyaṇa, venerated with the Five
Great Mudrās.7
I prostrate to the Excellent Mahākāla, who disintegrates the
three-tiered world, resides in the charnel ground, and is
worshipped by an assembly of faithful mātṛkās.8
I prostrate to the Bhagavān Tathāgata family lineage.
I prostrate to the Bhagavān Lotus family lineage.
I prostrate to the Bhagavān Vajra family lineage.
I prostrate to the Bhagavān Jewel family lineage.
The Supreme Accomplishment of Sitātapatrā 9
I prostrate to the Bhagavān Elephant family lineage.
I prostrate to the Bhagavān Youthful family lineage.
I prostrate to the Bhagavān Nāga family lineage.
I prostrate to the Bhagavān, Tathāgata, Arhat, Perfectly
Completed Buddha, King of the Steadfastly Heroic Armed
Division.9
I prostrate to the Bhagavān, Tathāgata, Arhat, Perfectly
Completed Buddha, Amitābha.
I prostrate to the Bhagavān, Tathāgata, Arhat, Perfectly
Completed Buddha, Akṣobhya.
I prostrate to the Bhagavān, Tathāgata, Arhat, Perfectly
Completed Buddha, Medicine Guru, King of Vaiḍūrya Light.10
I prostrate to the Bhagavān, Tathāgata, Arhat, Perfectly
Completed Buddha, Lord of the Sal Tree, Fully Blossomed
Flower.11
I prostrate to the Bhagavān, Tathāgata, Arhat, Perfectly
Completed Buddha, Śākyamuni.
I prostrate to the Bhagavān, Tathāgata, Arhat, Perfectly
Completed Buddha, Ratnaketurāja.12
I prostrate to the Bhagavān, Tathāgata, Arhat, Perfectly
Completed Buddha, Samantabhadra.
I prostrate to the Bhagavān, Tathāgata, Arhat, Perfectly
Completed Buddha, Vairocana.
I prostrate to the Bhagavān, Tathāgata, Arhat, Perfectly
Completed Buddha, Expansive Vision, Scent of the Utpala’s
Essence.
Through prostrating to the above, this Great Repeller, Bhagavatī
Sitātapatrā,13 Undefeatable by Others, Arisen from the Uṣṇīṣa
of the Tathāgata eliminates all bhūta-grahas;14 eliminates all the
knowledge-mantras15 of others; repels all types of untimely death;
liberates from everything that kills or binds sentient beings; repels
10 Practices of Ārya Sitātapatrā (White Umbrella Deity)
all malice, bad dreams, and evil omens; annihilates all demonic
yakṣa-16 and rākṣasa-grahas;17 annihilates the 84,000 grahas;
makes the twenty-eight lunar mansions18 auspicious; annihilates
the eight great planets;19 repels all enemies; annihilates everything
hateful and malicious, and bad dreams; repels all poisons, and
wars, fire, and water;20 and frees from all the fears of the lower
realms.
Extremely Wrathful One, Undefeatable by Others;21
Ferocious Great Lady, Powerful Great Lady;22
Blazing Great Lady, Extremely Resplendent;23
Brilliantly White, Blazing Garland Pāṇḍarāvasinī;24
Ārya Tārā Bhṛkuṭī;25
Renowned as “The Vajra-Garland of the Conquerors”;26
Clear Sign of the Lotus, Sign of the Vajra;27
The One Possessing a Garland, Undefeatable by Others;28
Extremely Attractive Lady Possessing Vajra Lips;29
Object of Offering of All Peaceful Gods;30
Possessing a Peaceful Golden Garland;31
Brilliantly White, Blazing Pāṇḍaravāsinī;32
Extremely Powerful Ārya Tārā;33
Supreme Vajra Chain;34
Youthful Vajra, Female Knowledge-Holder;35
Holding the Golden Garland of the Vajra Family;36
Lady Adorned with Saffron and Jewels;37
Renowned as Vairocana Vajra-Uṣṇīṣa38—
Through all those assemblies of mudrās and mantras, please
protect us, together with our retinue and all sentient beings!39
OṂ SARVVA TATHĀGATOṢṆĪṢA SITĀTAPATRE HŪṂ DRŪṂ
HRĪḤ ṢṬOṂ / JAMBHANA KARĪ HŪṂ DRŪṂ HRĪḤ ṢṬOṂ /
STAMBHANA KARĪ HŪṂ DRŪṂ HRĪḤ ṢṬOṂ / MOHANA KARĪ
The Supreme Accomplishment of Sitātapatrā 11
HŪṂ DRŪṂ HRĪḤ ṢHṬOṂ / LAMBHANA KARĪ HŪṂ DRŪṂ
HRĪḤ ṢṬOṂ / VAHANA KARĪ HŪṂ DRŪṂ HRĪḤ ṢṬOṂ /
PARA VIṢA BHAKṢANA KARĪ HŪṂ DRŪṂ HRĪḤ ṢṬOṂ /
SARVVA DUṢṬĀ PRADUṢṬĀNĀṂ STAMBHANA KARĪ HŪṂ
DRŪṂ HRĪḤ ṢṬOṂ / SARVVA YAKṢA RAKṢASA GRAHĀṆĀṂ
VIDHVAṂSANA KARĪ HŪṂ DRŪṂ HRĪḤ ṢṬOṂ / SARVVA
PARIVIDYĀ CCHEDANA KARĪ HŪṂ DRŪṂ HRĪḤ ṢṬOṂ /
CATURĀŚĪTĪNĀṂ GRAHA SAHASRĀṆĀṂ VIDHVAṂ
SANA KARĪ HŪṂ DRŪṂ HRĪḤ ṢṬOṂ / AṢṬA VIŚATĪṆĀṂ
NAKṢATRĀṆĀṂ PRASĀDANA KARĪ HŪṂ DRŪṂ HRĪḤ ṢṬOṂ /
AṢṬANĀṂ MAHĀ GRAHĀṆĀṂ VIDHVAṂ SANA KARĪ HŪṂ
DRŪṂ HRĪḤ ṢṬOṂ / RAKṢA RAKṢA MĀṂ SARVVA STVĀṂ ŚCA
Sitātapatrā, Arisen from the Uṣṇīṣa of the Bhagavān-Tathāgata;
Great Repelling Vajra-Uṣṇīṣa,
Great lady possessing a thousand arms,
Great lady possessing a thousand heads,
Great lady possessing a trillion eyes,
Great lady possessing indestructible blazing characteristics—
Through the [power of the] great vajra expanse, may [everything]
be auspicious for me and all sentient beings of the maṇḍalas of
the three realms!
Vajra Lady with Limbs Fully Extended;
Possessor of Eyes Like Golden Light;
Vajra Demeanor; White Vajra; Lotus Eyes; Moonlight;
Glory of the Buddha; Like Eyes;40
Vajra Sunlight; Like the Moon, Holding a Vajra41—
Through this collection of knowledge, mudrās, and mantras,
please thoroughly protect me and all sentient beings!42
12 Practices of Ārya Sitātapatrā (White Umbrella Deity)
OṂ RIṢI GANA PRAŚĀSTĀ SARVVA TATHĀGATOṢNĪṢA
SITATĀPATRE HŪṂ DRŪṂ / JAMBHANA KARĪ HŪṂ DRŪṂ /
STAMBHANA KARĪ HŪṂ DRŪṂ / MAHĀ VIDYĀ SAṂBHAṆA
KARĪ HŪṂ DRŪṂ / PARAVIDYĀ SAMBHAṆA KARĪ HŪṂ
DRŪṂ / SARVVA DUṢṬĀNĀṂ STAMBHANA KARĪ HŪṂ DRŪṂ /
SARVVA YAKṢA RAKṢASA GRAHĀṆĀṂ VIDHVAṂSANA
KARĪ HŪṂ DRŪṂ / CATURAŚĪTINĀṂ GRAHA SAHASĀṆĀṂ
VIDHVAṂSANA KARĪ HŪṂ DRŪṂ / AṢṬAVIŚATĪNĀ
NAKṢATRĀṆĀṂ PRASĀDANA KARĪ HŪṂ DRŪṂ / AṢṬANĀṂ
MAHĀGRAHĀṆĀṂ VIDHVAṂSANAṂ KARĪ HŪṂ DRŪṂ /
HŪṂ HŪṂ PHAṬ PHAṬ RAKṢA RAKṢA MĀṂ SVĀHĀ 43
Sitātapatrā, Arisen from the Uṣṇīṣa of the Bhagavān-Tathāgata;
Great Repelling Vajra-Uṣṇīṣa;
Great lady possessing a thousand arms;
Great lady possessing a thousand heads;
Great lady possessing a trillion eyes;
Great lady possessing indestructible blazing characteristics—
Through the [power of the] great vajra expanse, [protect] me and
all sentient beings of the maṇḍalas of the three realms from the
fear of kings; the fear of thieves; the fear of fire; the fear of water;
the fear of poison; the fear of weapons; the fear of enemy armies;
the fear of famine; the fear of war; the fear of thunderbolts; the
fear of untimely death; the fear of earthquakes; the fear of mete-
ors; the fear of the king’s punishing actions; the fear of gods; the
fear of nāgas; the fear of lightning; the fear of garuḍas; the fear
of fierce wild animals as well as from god-grahas,44 nāga-grahas,
demigod-grahas, wind god-grahas,45 garuḍa-grahas, gandharva46-
grahas, kinnara47-grahas, mahoraga48-grahas, yakṣa-grahas,
rākṣasa-grahas, hungry ghost-grahas, piśāca49-grahas, bhūta-
grahas, kumbhāṇḍa50 -grahas, pūtanā51-grahas, katapūtanā52-
grahas, skanda53-grahas, apasmāra54-grahas, unmāda55-grahas,
chāyā56-grahas, ostāraka57-grahas, ḍākiṇī58-grahas, revāti59-grahas,
The Supreme Accomplishment of Sitātapatrā 13
yama-grahas, śakuni60 -grahas, joy-giving mātṛkā61-grahas, sarva-
traga62-grahas, and kaṇṭhakamini63-grahas! May everything be
auspicious for me [to be freed] from all of these!
Please protect me from those grahas who devour radiance, who
devour wombs, who drink blood, who devour grease, who devour
flesh, who devour fat, who devour bones, who devour newborns,
who rob [others] of their lives, who devour vomit, who devour
excrement, who drink urine, who drink that which flows down
from the orifices, who devour leftovers, who drink spittle, who
devour nasal mucus, who devour what is not clean, who devour
what is cast out, who devour garlands, who devour smells, who
devour scents, who steal the mind, who devour flowers, who
devour fruit, who devour harvests, and who devour fire offerings!
The knowledge-mantras cast by all of the above are severed!
They are stabbed with the dagger!64
The knowledge-mantras cast by parivrājakas65 are severed!
They are stabbed with the dagger!
The knowledge-mantras cast by ḍākas and dākiṇīs are severed!
They are stabbed with the dagger!
The knowledge-mantras cast by Brahmā are severed!
He is stabbed with the dagger!
The knowledge-mantras cast by Īśvara are severed!
He is stabbed with the dagger!
The knowledge-mantras cast by Nārāyaṇa are severed!
He is stabbed with the dagger!
The knowledge-mantras simultaneously cast by Garuḍa are
severed!
He is stabbed with the dagger!
14 Practices of Ārya Sitātapatrā (White Umbrella Deity)
The knowledge-mantras produced by Mahākāla66 are severed!
He is stabbed with the dagger!
The knowledge-mantras produced by the assembly of mātṛkās are
severed!
They are stabbed with the dagger!
The knowledge-mantras produced by Kāpālika67 are severed!
She is stabbed with the dagger!
The knowledge-mantras produced by Jayakarā,68 Madhukara, and
Sarvārtha Sādhaka are severed!
They are stabbed with the dagger!
The knowledge-mantras produced by the four sisters69 are
severed!
They are stabbed with the dagger!
The knowledge-mantras simultaneously produced by Bhṛṅgiriṭi,
Nandikeśvara, and Gaṇapati are severed!70
They are stabbed with the dagger!
The knowledge-mantras produced by the naked śramaṇas71 are
severed!
They are stabbed with the dagger!
The knowledge-mantras produced by shaven-headed śramaṇas72
are severed!
They are stabbed with the dagger!
The knowledge-mantras produced by the arhats73 are severed!
They are stabbed with the dagger!
The knowledge-mantras produced by those free of desire74 are
severed!
They are stabbed with the dagger!
The Supreme Accomplishment of Sitātapatrā 15
The knowledge-mantras produced by Lokeśvara75 and his retinue
are severed!
They are stabbed with the dagger!
The knowledge-mantras produced by Vajrapāṇi76 and his retinue
are severed!
They are stabbed with the dagger!
The knowledge-mantras produced by male messengers, female
messengers, male servants, and female servants are severed!
They are stabbed with the dagger!
The knowledge-mantras produced by all assemblies of ṛṣis are
severed!
They are stabbed with the dagger!
The knowledge-mantras produced by all assemblies of gods are
severed!
They are stabbed with the dagger!
The knowledge-mantras produced by the lords of those who eat
what is unfit77 are severed!
They are stabbed with the dagger!
I prostrate to Bhagavatī Sitātapatrā, Arisen from the Uṣṇīṣa of the
Tathāgata, who is venerated by all buddhas and bodhisattvas.
Please protect me and all sentient beings,
Please protect us.
[The heart mantra]:
OṂ ASITA ANALĀRKA PRABHĀ SPHUṬA VIKA SITĀTAPATRE /
OṂ JVALA JVALA / KHĀDA KHĀDA / HANA HANA / DAHA
DAHA / DARA DARA / VIDARA VIDARA / CCHINDA CCHINDA /
BHINDA BHINDA / HŪṂ HŪṂ PHAṬ SVĀHĀ
16 Practices of Ārya Sitātapatrā (White Umbrella Deity)
HE HE PHAṬ / HO HO PHAṬ / AMOGHĀYA PHAṬ /
APRATIHATĀYA PHAṬ / VARADĀYA PHAṬ / VARAPRADĀYA
PHAṬ / PRATYAṄGIRĀTĀYA PHAṬ / ASURA VIDRĀVAṆA
KARĀYA PHAṬ / PARAMIDRĀVAṆA KARĀYA PHAṬ /
SARVVA DEVE BHYAḤ PHAṬ / SARVVA NĀGE BHYAḤ PHAṬ /
SARVVA RĀKṢASE BHYAḤ PHAṬ / SARVVA BHŪTE BHYAḤ
PHAṬ / SARVVA PRETE BHYAḤ PHAṬ / SARVVA PIŚĀCE
BHYAḤ PHAṬ / SARVVA KUMBHAṆḌE BHYAḤ PHAṬ / SARVVA
PŪTANE BHYAḤ PHAṬ / SARVVA KAṬAPŪTANE BHYAḤ PHAṬ /
SARVVA SKANDHE BHYAḤ PHAṬ / SARVVA UṂMĀDE BHYAḤ
PHAṬ / SARVVA CCHAYE BHYAḤ PHAṬ / SARVVA APĀSMARE
BHYAḤ PHAṬ / SARVVA OSTARAKE BHYAḤ PHAṬ /
SARVVA ḌĀKINĪ BHYAḤ PHAṬ / SARVVA REVATĪ BHYAḤ
PHAṬ / SARVVA YAMAYE BHYAḤ PHAṬ / SARVVA ŚAKUNI
BHYAḤ PHAṬ / SARVVA MĀTRINANDIKE BHYAḤ PHAṬ /
SARVVA KAṂPŪKIMANE BHYAḤ PHAṬ / SARVVA ALAṂBAKE
BHYAḤ PHAṬ / SARVVA KATADANE BHYAḤ PHAṬ / SARVVA
GANDHARVE BHYAḤ PHAṬ / SARVVA ASURE BHYAḤ PHAṬ /
SARVVA KINNARE BHYAḤ PHAṬ / SARVVA GARUḌE BHYAḤ
PHAṬ / SARVVA MAHORAGE BHYAḤ PHAṬ / SARVVA YAKṢE
BHYAḤ PHAṬ / SARVVA DURLAṂGĪTE BHYAḤ PHAṬ / SARVVA
DUPRAKṢITE BHYAḤ PHAṬ / SARVVA JVARE BHYAḤ PHAṬ /
SARVVA BHYAYE BHYAḤ PHAṬ / SARVVA UPADRAVE BHYAḤ
PHAṬ / SARVVA UPASRAKE BHYAḤ PHAṬ / SARVVA KṚTYA
KARMAṆI KĀKHORDE BHYAḤ PHAṬ / KIRAṆAVETĀḌE
BHYAḤ PHAṬ / CICCHA PREŚĀKA SARVVA DUŚCARDITE
BHYAḤ PHAṬ / SARVVA DURBHUKTE BHYAḤ PHAṬ / SARVVA
TĪRTHIKE BHYAḤ PHAṬ / SARVVA ŚRAMAṆE BHYAḤ PHAṬ /
SARVVA PĀTAKI BHYAḤ PHAṬ / SARVVA VIDYĀDHARE BHYAḤ
PHAṬ / JAYAKARA MADHUKARA SARVVA ARTHA SĀDHAKE
BHYO VIDYĀCARE BHYAḤ PHAṬ / CATUR BHYO BHAGINĪ
BHYAḤ PHAṬ / VAJRA KAUMĀRĪYA VAJRA KULANDHARI
The Supreme Accomplishment of Sitātapatrā 17
VIDYĀCARE BHYAḤ PHAṬ / SARVVA MAHĀ PRATYAṂGIRE
BHYAḤ PHAṬ / VAJRA ŚAṂKAṂLĀYA PRATYAṂGIRA RĀJĀYA
PHAṬ / MAHĀKĀLĀYA MĀTRIGAṆA NAMASKṚTĀYA PHAṬ /
BRAHMAṆĪYE PHAṬ / VĪṢṆAVĪYE PHAṬ / MAHEŚVARĪYE
PHAṬ / RAUDRĪYE PHAṬ / MAHĀKĀLĪYE PHAṬ / CĀMUṆḌĪYE
PHAṬ / KAUMARIYE PHAṬ / VĀRĀHĪYE PHAṬ / ĪNDRAYE
PHAṬ / AGNAYE PHAṬ / YAMĀYE PHAṬ / NAIṚTĪYE PHAṬ /
VARUṆĀYE PHAṬ / MĀRUTĪYE PHAṬ / SAUMĀYE PHAṬ /
ĪŚANĪYE PHAṬ / KĀLADAṆḌĪYE PHAṬ / KĀLARĀTRĪYE PHAṬ /
YAMADAṆḌĪYE PHAṬ / RĀTRĪYE PHAṬ / KAPĀLĪYE PHAṬ /
ADHIMUKTI ŚMAŚĀNA VĀSINĪYE PHAṬ / OṂ ṢṬOṂ BHANDHA
BHANDHA / RAKṢA RAKṢA MĀṂ SVĀHĀ
May the minds of whatever beings cause me harm or who have a
hostile mind, who are cruel or who have a cruel mind, who are bad
or have bad minds, who disturb or have disturbed minds, and who
are malicious and have malicious minds [have their minds] trans-
form into minds of love and may they protect me and all sentient
beings. May I live to be one hundred years of age; may I see one
hundred autumns.
Please protect me from those yakṣas and grahas who devour
radiance, those who steal [our] splendor, those who devour
wombs, those who drink blood, those who devour grease, those
who devour flesh, those who devour fat, those who devour
marrow, those who devour newborns, those who steal life energy,
those who devour leftovers, those who devour what is cast out,
those who devour garlands, those who devour smells, those who
devour scents, those who devour flowers, those who devour fruit,
those who devour harvests, those who devour fire offerings,
those who devour pus, those who devour excrement, those who
drink urine, those who drink spittle, those who devour vomit,
those who devour nasal mucus, those who devour what is not
18 Practices of Ārya Sitātapatrā (White Umbrella Deity)
clean, those who drink that which flows down from sewage drains,
all those with a bad mind, all those with a hostile mind, all those
with a cruel mind, all those with a disturbed mind, all those with a
malicious mind, all god-grahas, all nāga-grahas, all demigod-grahas,
all yakṣa-grahas, all rākṣasa-grahas, all bhūta-grahas, all hungry
ghost-grahas, all piśāca-grahas, all kusmanda-grahas,78 all pūtanā-
grahas, all katapūtanā-grahas, all skanda-grahas, all unmāda-
grahas, all chāyā-grahas, all apasmāra-grahas, all ostāraka-grahas,
all ḍākiṇī-grahas, all revāti-grahas, all yama-grahas, all śakuni-
grahas, all joy-giving mātṛkā-grahas, all sarvatraga-grahas, all
textile-taking79-grahas, and all kaṇṭhakamini-grahas. May I live to
be one hundred years of age; may I see one hundred autumns.
Please clear away all epidemic diseases [lasting] one day, all epi-
demic diseases of two days, all epidemic diseases of three days,
all epidemic diseases of four days, all epidemic diseases of seven
days, all enduring epidemic diseases, all unbearable epidemic dis-
eases, all the epidemic diseases [caused by] bhūtas, all epidemic
diseases arising from wind, all epidemic diseases arising from bile,
all epidemic diseases arising from phlegm, all epidemic diseases
arising from a combination [of these humors], and all sicknesses
of the brain!
Please thoroughly clear away illnesses [afflicting] half of the body,
the inability to swallow, illnesses of the eyes, illnesses of the nose,
illnesses of the mouth, illnesses of the neck, illnesses of the heart,
illnesses of sections of the throat, illnesses of the ear, illnesses of
the teeth, illnesses of the mind,80 illnesses of the brain, illnesses
of the ribs, illnesses of the back, illnesses of the belly, illnesses of
the waist, urinary illnesses, illnesses of the thighs, illnesses of the
shank, illnesses of the feet, illnesses of the limbs, and illnesses of
the minor limbs.81
Through this, Sitātapatrā, Great Repelling Vajra-Uṣṇīṣa Lady,
please completely protect me within twelve yojanas,82 from
The Supreme Accomplishment of Sitātapatrā 19
bhūtas, vetālas,83 ḍākiṇīs, yakṣas, rākṣasas, epidemic diseases,
abscesses, itches, pox, genital and anal fistulas, leprosy, boils,
pale complexion and pimples, contagious skin disease,84 itchy skin
disease,85 bacterial toxins,86 emaciation, anxiety, the coughing up
of phlegm, heavy breathing, forgetfulness, poison made of pre-
cious substances, mixed poison,87 kākhordas,88 fire, water, infec-
tious diseases, māras,89 imprisonment, enemies, untimely death,
tryambuka-flies,90 trailāṭā-flies,91 scorpions, snakes, weasels,
lions, tigers, bears, brown bears,92 wild yaks, makaras,93 and other
creatures.
Bind the knowledge-mantras produced by all of these! Bind their
splendor! Bind the knowledge-mantras of all others! Bind the
boundaries!94
The near-heart [mantra]:
TADYATHĀ OṂ ANALE ANALE / KHASAME KHASAME / VAIRE
VAIRE / SAUME SAUME / ŚĀNTE ŚĀNTE / DHĀNTE DHĀNTE /
VIṢADE VIṢADE / VAIRE VAIRE / DEVI VAJRADHĀRI / BANDHA
BANDHANI / VAJRAPĀNI PHAṬ / OṂ HŪṂ HŪṂ DRŪṂ ṢṬŌṂ
PHAṬ SVĀHĀ / HŪṂ DRŪṂ BANDHA PHAṬ / Please protect me
SVĀHĀ! / OṂ VAJRAPĀṆI BANDHA BANDHA VAJRAPĀŚENA
MAMA SARVVA DUṢTAṂ VINĀYAKAṂ HŪṂ HŪṂ PHAṬ PHAṬ
SVĀHĀ
Whoever writes this Queen of Knowledge-Mantras, the Repel-
ler Undefeatable by Others—Sitātapatrā, Arisen from the Uṣṇīṣa
of the Tathāgata on birch bark, cloth, or the bark of various trees;
fastens it to one’s body, around one’s neck; or reads it, for as long
as they live, will never be harmed by weapons, harmed by poison,
harmed by kākhordas, or face untimely death. Also, all grahas,
obstructors,95 and those who lead astray will be contented. Like-
wise, all the eighty four trillions96 of vajra families and goddesses
of attainment will always kindly give protection, refuge, and cover.
One will be attractive to them and they will be pleased.
20 Practices of Ārya Sitātapatrā (White Umbrella Deity)
One will remember 84,000 great kalpas of previous births. The sixty-
four messenger goddesses will always give thorough protection.
One will never become a yakṣa, a hungry ghost, a piśāca, a pūtanā,
or a katapūtanā. One will not become impoverished.
One will possess the collection of merit of countless innumerable
buddha-bhagavāns, as many as the grains of sand found in the
Ganges River. One will be protected, supported, and safeguarded
by as many buddha-bhagavāns and bodhisattvas as there are grains
of sand in the Ganges River. One will be held dear by them and they
will be pleased.
If one holds onto this Queen of Knowledge-Mantras, the Repeller
Undefeatable by Others known as “Sitātapatrā, Arisen from the
Uṣṇīṣa of the Tathāgata,” impure conduct will turn into pure
conduct. Furthermore, those who are not capable will become
capable, that which is unclean will become clean, and also those
who do not observe dietary restrictions will come to observe
dietary restrictions.97 The five negative acts of immediate
retribution will be purified and all the obscurations [caused by]
former actions will be exhausted without exception.
Whatever son and daughter of the family wishes for a child and
holds or reads this Queen of Knowledge-Mantras, the Repeller
Undefeatable by Others—Sitātapatrā, Arisen from the Uṣṇīṣa of
the Tathāgata will gain a child. Lifespan, merit, and power will be
thoroughly increased. Also, after having passed away from this life,
one will be born in the world-system of Sukhāvatī.
[When threatened by] diseases of men, diseases of livestock,
contagious diseases, violence, harm, infectious diseases, any kind
of fighting, and any approaching enemy armies, this Queen of
Knowledge-Mantras, the Repeller Undefeatable by Others known
as “Sitātapatrā, Arisen from the Uṣṇīṣa of the Tathāgata,” should
be fastened to the peak of a victory banner. Having performed
The Supreme Accomplishment of Sitātapatrā 21
extensive offering rituals with great veneration, hoist [these
banners] at the gates of all cities, in villages, in cities, in towns, in
regions, and in monasteries. If this Queen of Knowledge-Mantras,
the Ārya Repeller Undefeatable by Others is planted [with these
banners] with great veneration, all warfare will immediately cease.
Contagious diseases, violence, harm, infection, fighting, and all
approaching enemy armies will be thoroughly pacified.
TADYATHĀ OṂ ṢṬOṂ BANDHA BANDHA MAMA RAKṢA
RAKṢA SVĀHĀ / OṂ ṢṬOṂ BANDHA BANDHA / VAJRA
MAMA RAKṢA RAKṢA / VAJRAPĀṆI HŪṂ PHAṬ SVĀHĀ /
OM SARVVA TATHĀGATOṢṆĪṢA ANALE / AVALOKITE CURṆĀ
TEJO RĀSI / OṂ JVALA JVALA / DHAKA DHAKA / DHARA
DHARA / VIDHARA VIDHARA / CCHINDHA CCHINDHA /
BHINDA BHINDA / HŪṂ HŪṂ PHAṬ PHAṬ SVĀHĀ / OṂ
SARVA TATHĀGATOṢṆĪṢA HŪṂ PHAṬ SVĀHĀ
TADYATHĀ OṂ ANALE ANALE / KHASAME KHASAME /
VAIRE VAIRE / SAUME SAUME / SARVVA BUDDHA
ADHIṢṬHĀNA ADHIṢṬHĪTE / SARVVA TATHĀGATOṢṆĪṢA
SITĀTAPATRE HŪṂ PHAṬ / HŪṂ MAMA HŪṂ NI SVĀHĀ
The nāga king Ananta, the nāga king Śaṅkhapāla, and the nāga king
Mahākāla will send rain in time. They will gather clouds in time
and will sound thunder in time. In all distress, one should recite
[this], the practice of the Buddha’s yoga, three times.
The buddhas and bodhisattvas, gods, humans, demigods, and
gandharvas rejoiced and praised that which was spoken by the
Bhagavān.
Thus ends The Ārya Dhāraṇī Called “The Supreme Accomplishment of
the Great Repeller Undefeatable by Others—Sitātapatrā, Arisen from
the Uṣṇīṣa of the Tathāgata.”
22 Practices of Ārya Sitātapatrā (White Umbrella Deity)
Colophon:
Translated by Joona Repo from ‘gdugs dkar mchog grub ma in dpal ‘og
min byang chub chos gling grwa tshang gi zhal ‘don thub bstan dga’ tshal,
Kathmandu: Kopan Library, 2012 edition, pp. 398–416. Several other editions of
the text were also consulted. Translation reviewed by the Sera Jey Translation
Committee, 2014. Both the translator and reviewers made use of Rongtha
Lozang Damcho Gyatso’s commentary to the text (rong tha blo bzang dam
chos rgya mtsho, bcom ldan ‘das kyi gtsug tor nas byung ba’i gdugs dkar po can
rig sngags kyi rgyal mo mchog tu grub pa’i ‘grel pa kun phan bdud rtsi’i spun zla
phyir zlog gdams pa’i rgyal po in blo bzang dgongs rgyan mu tig phreng mdzes
deb dgu pa [Losel Literature Series Volume IX], Mundgod: Drepung Loseling
Educational Society, 1996, pp. 211–264). Revised by Joona Repo, February
2021 and September 2023..
23
Praises and Repelling
Practices of Sitātapatrā
Praise to Uṣṇīṣa-Sitātapatrā
After seventy million victorious ones and their assemblies of āryas,
ṛṣis, knowledge-mantra holders,98 Brahmā, Indra, the Wrathful
Mountain Son99 as well as Nārāyaṇa, the Seven Excellent Black
Lineages,100 and the Ten Sugatas had respectfully prostrated to
those worthy of homage, the words of secret mantra issued forth
from the crown of the Sugata. Through this, the eulogy praising
the Glorious Sitātapatrā was proclaimed to the assembly:
[The one] unable to be defeated by a variety of māras
[Was] excellently born from the uṣṇīṣa, supreme mark of the King
of Śākyas,
In the Sudharmā Hall of the immortal lords.
As she repels all opposing enemies,
[She is] known as “The One Undefeatable by Others, Uṣṇīṣa-
Sitātapatrā,”
Thoroughly renowned, all-pervasive throughout the three levels;
Single mother of all victorious ones of the three times;
Bhagavatī, to you I prostrate.
The harm inflicted by grahas, constellations,101 and planets;
Untimely death and bad dreams;
The harm of poison, weapons, fire, water, and so forth;
To you who thoroughly pacifies [all of these], I prostrate.
24 Practices of Ārya Sitātapatrā (White Umbrella Deity)
The extent of the maṇḍala of your body is exceedingly vast.
With a thousand heads displaying manifold expressions
And a thousand hands possessing blazing hand symbols,
You have power over all the maṇḍalas of the three levels.
Accompanied by the twenty-two mudrās, the “Extremely
Wrathful” and so forth,
Through your unobstructed actions taming malevolent ones,
You crush the dark hordes to dust.
To the assembly of the knowledge-mantra goddess, I prostrate.
When I remember the fears of untimely death, sickness, and so
forth
Produced by human and nonhuman bhūtas,
I go to you for refuge.
Please always protect me from all fears.
By merely remembering you,
Please repel gods, nāgas, demigods, and others;
All great grahas102 and those who rob us of our splendor and
radiance;
And all those who eat wombs, flesh, blood, and the like.
Sever without exception the knowledge-mantras, which rob us of
our happiness and excellence,
[Cast] by all types of evil beings.
And with a blazing dagger,
Perform the enlightened activity of stabbing all of these.
In brief, Bhagavatī, your assembled mudrās,
When held onto for refuge, grant wishes,
And with this mind [of refuge], all adverse conditions will be
pacified.
Please establish all concordant conditions without exception
according to our wishes.
Praises and Repelling Practices of Sitātapatrā 25
Known as “Sitātapatrā, Goddess Arisen from the Uṣṇīṣa of the
Tathāgata,”
The wrathfully magnificent one who pulverizes
All the hordes of grahas, obstructers, and assemblies and retinues
of bhūtas—
Bhagavatī, you make the Buddha’s teachings flourish.
Bhagavatī Sitātapatrā, whatever your body,
Retinue, lifespan, and realm,
Whatever your supreme and excellent name,
May I and others become exactly like that.
By the power of praising and making requests to you,
For the sake of myself and others, wherever we are in this world,
Pacify all sickness, grahas, poverty, and fighting.
Please make the Dharma and auspiciousness increase!
Colophon:
This praise to Uṣṇīṣa-Sitātapatrā was composed by Lozang Dragpa at the
request of the renunciate Sherab Gyaltsen and others.
26 Practices of Ārya Sitātapatrā (White Umbrella Deity)
Praises and Requests for Repellence
As for the repellence:
Sitātapatrā, mother of all the conquerors,
Born from the invisible uṣṇīṣa of the Tathāgata,
Bliss-causing supreme deity,
Just by calling your name, hordes of māras are incinerated
through knowledge-mantras and fire.
May [you], the one who is undefeatable by others,
Composed of the essence of the radiant, beautiful, and
thoroughly perfect full moon,
Pacify all adverse conditions—both those that arise from humans
and nonhumans—
And bestow all well-being without exception.
Please protect us forever
Through your activity of repelling harm so that we are never
injured,
Especially by sorcery, curses, bindings of the three doors, and the
like
Caused by other disturbing beings’ negative thoughts and deeds.
Colophon:
These praises and requests, which pacify the most severe signs of harm, evil
knowledge-mantras’ curses, sorcery, and so forth cast by disturbing beings,
were added to the Sitātapatrā praises by Śākya Bhikṣu Lozang Kelsang Gyatso
for the purpose of recitation.
Praises and Repelling Practices of Sitātapatrā 27
Repellence in Dependence on Uṣṇīṣa-Sitātapatrā
Assembly of deities of Bhagavātī Sitātapatrā,
Powerful and unhindered,
Through the power of your compassionate aspiration,
In accordance with my supplications,
Spread the teachings of the Buddha
And set all sentient beings in happiness.
Please repel the damage and despair aimed at generous
benefactors and their retinue!
Repel bad indications in dreams!
Repel bad signs and evil omens!
Repel the negative thoughts and deeds of enemies and piśācas!103
Repel the eighty-four evil omens!
Repel the 360 obstacles!
Repel the 404 types of illness!104
Repel the 80,000 obstructers!
Repel the eight kinds of untimely death!
Repel the disturbing māras above!
Repel the arising rākṣasas below!
Repel the negative [karma] inscribed on the forehead!105
Repel the arising of charnel ground spirits of ancestors!
Repel the diseases transmitted among humans!
Repel those that damage cattle!
Repel all misfortune that comes from the sky!
Repel the shaking poisonous arrow of the earth!
Repel the negative parkha106 and mewa!107
Repel hindrances and calamities!
28 Practices of Ārya Sitātapatrā (White Umbrella Deity)
Colophons:
This repellence in dependence on Uṣṇīṣa-Sitātapatrā was written by
Mahāsiddha Lekyi Dorje.
Colophon for Praises and Repelling Practices of Sitātapatrā:
Translated by Joona Repo from gdugs dkar bstod pa dang zlog pa in dpal ‘og
min byang chub chos gling grwa tshang gi zhal ‘don thub bstan dga’ tshal,
Kathmandu: Kopan Library, 2012 edition, pp. 416–420. Several other editions of
the text were also consulted. Translation reviewed by the Sera Jey Translation
Committee, 2014. Edited by FPMT Education Services, 2014. Revised by Joona
Repo, February 2021 and September 2023.
29
Notes
1 Tib. chos bzang lha’i mdun sa, a heavenly hall on the southwestern section
of Mt. Meru where the god Indra teaches the Dharma.
2 Tib. gtsug tor rnam par lta ba.
3 Tib. rgyun du zhugs pa, Skt. śrotāpanna. This refers to those who have
entered the path of liberation.
4 Tib. lan cig phyir ‘ong ba, Skt. sakradāgāmin. This refers to those who will
take one more rebirth in the desire realm before attaining liberation.
5 Tib. phyir mi ‘ong ba, Skt. anāgāmin. This refers to those who will not have
to take another rebirth in the desire realm. They will attain liberation in
that life or they will be reborn in a pure land and attain liberation there.
6 Tib. legs ldan drag po dka’ thub zlog pa’i bdag po. According to a
commentary by Rongtha Lozang Damcho Gyatso, “legs ldan drag po”
(Excellent Wrathful One) is an epithet for Śiva and “dka’ thub zlog pa’i dag
po” (Lord Who Repels Asceticism) an epithet for his consort, Umā (rong
tha blo bzang dam chos rgya mtsho, p. 220).
7 Nārāyaṇa (Tib. sred med kyi bu) appears as one of the Thirty-Five Buddhas
of Confession, but is also one of the names and manifestations of the
Hindu god Viṣṇu, who is referred to here (rong tha blo bzang dam chos
rgya mtsho, p. 220). The “Five Great Mudrās” are most likely Viṣṇu’s five
divine weapons. Nārāyaṇa is also mentioned in the Kāraṇḍavyūha Sūtra,
along with several other Hindu gods and goddesses.
8 Tib. ma mo. This refers to a variety of different types of female beings and
goddesses, although here it refers to those who inhabit cemeteries and
serve as the retinue of wrathful protector deities.
9 Tib. dpa’ brtan pa’i sde mtshon cha’i rgyal po, Skt. Dṛḍha Śura Sena
Praharaṇa Rāja.
10 Tib. sman gyi bla be+e D’ur+ya’i ‘od kyi rgyal po, Skt. Bhaiṣajyaguru
Vaiḍūrya Prabharāja.
11 Tib. s+A la’i dbang po me tog kun tu rgyas pa, Skt. Saṃpuṣpita Sālendrarāja.
12 Tib. rin po che tog gi rgyal.
13 Tib. gdugs dkar po can, meaning “Possessing a White Umbrella.”
30 Practices of Ārya Sitātapatrā (White Umbrella Deity)
14 Tib. ‘byung po’i gdon. Both bhūta and graha are also often used to refer to
separate types of negative demonic spirits.
15 Tib. rig sngags thams cad gcod. This has a connotation of exorcising and
removing black magic caused by mantras.
16 Tib. gnod sbyin gyi gdon.
17 Tib. srin po’i gdon.
18 Tib. rgyu skar nyi shu rtsa brgya, Skt. aṣṭaviśatīnāṃ nakṣatra, the twenty-
eight lunar mansions of Vedic astrology.
19 Tib. gza’ chen po brgyad, Skt. aṣṭanām mahāgrahānāṃ, the eight great
planets of Vedic astrology.
20 According to Rongtha Lozang Damcho Gyatso, this practice frees one
from the harm of all four elements: earth, water, fire, and air (rong tha blo
bzang dam chos rgya mtsho, p. 223).
21 Tib. gzhan gyis mi thub drag shul che. Note that the division of the names
of the deities follows the Tibetan according to Rongtha Lozang Damcho
Gyatso’s commentary in which he lists these as being the seventeen
mandala deities of the goddess (rong tha blo bzang dam chos rgya mtsho,
p.224–225).
22 Tib. gtum pa chen mo stobs chen mo.
23 Tib. ‘bar ba chen mo gzi brjid che.
24 Tib. dkar chen ‘bar ‘phreng gos dkar mo.
25 Tib. ‘phags ma sgrol ma khro gnyer can, a wrathfully-frowning manifesta-
tion of Tārā.
26 Tib. rgyal ba’i rdo rje ‘phreng zhes grags.
27 Tib. pad+ma’i mngon mtshan rdo rje mtshan.
28 Tib. gzhan gyis mi thub phreng ba can, Skt. Mālāceva Aparājita.
29 Tib. rdo rje mchu can rnam sgeg mo.
30 Tib. zhi ba lha rnams kyis mchod ma, Skt. Śanta Vaideva Pūjitā.
31 Tib. zhi ba gser gyi phreng ba.
32 Tib. dkar chen ‘bar ba gos dkar mo.
33 Tib. ‘phags ma sgrol ma stobs mo che, Skt. Ārya Tārā Mahābala.
34 Tib. rdo rje lu gu rgyud gzhan, Skt. Aparā Vajra Śaṅkalā.
35 Tib. rdo rje gzhon du rig ‘dzin ma.
36 Tib. lag na rdo rje rigs gser phreng.
37 Tib. le brgan rtsi dang rin chen ma, Skt. Kusumbhā Ratna.
38 Tib. snang mdzad rdo rje gtsug tor grags. Vairocana Vajra-Uṣṇīṣa is a refer-
ence to all the deities (rong tha blo bzang dam chos rgya mtsho, p.225).
Notes 31
39 According to Rongtha Lozang Damcho Gyatso, the “mudrā” (Tib. phyag
rgya) referred to here is Sitātapatrā and the “mantras,” her maṇḍala
assembly deities (rong tha blo bzang dam chos rgya mtsho, p. 224–5).
40 Tib. de bzhin spyan.
41 Tib. de bzhin zla ba rdo rje ‘dzin.
42 According to Rongtha Lozang Damcho Gyatso, “knowledge” (Tib. rig pa)
refers to Sitātapatrā and “mudrās” (Tib. phyag rgya) to the retinue deities
whose names are listed in this verse (rong tha blo bzang dam chos rgya
mtsho, p. 228).
43 This is the protective mantra of the eleven goddesses composed of
Sitātapatrā and her ten-deity retinue (ibid.).
44 Tib. lha’i gdon.
45 Tib. rlung lha, Skt. maruta.
46 Tib. dri za, a smell eater.
47 Tib. mi’am chi, a celestial being that is part human and part horse or bird.
48 Tib. lto ‘phye chen po, a serpent-like earth deity.
49 Tib. sha za, a type of flesh-eating demon.
50 Tib. grul bum, a type of demon with a snake’s head (rong tha blo bzang
dam chos rgya mtsho, p. 232).
51 Tib. srul po, a type of dangerous earth-owning ghost.
52 Tib. lus srul po, a type of hungry ghost with a rotting and stinking body.
53 Tib. skem byed. Rongtha Lozang Damcho Gyatso notes that this refers to
the god Skanda, also known as Kārttikeya, and other similar beings (rong
tha blo bzang dam chos rgya mtsho, p. 232). This is also known to be a
type of demon that causes drought and other miseries.
54 Tib. brjed byed, a type of demon that causes forgetfulness.
55 Tib. smyo byed, a type of demon that causes insanity and epilepsy.
56 Tib. grib gnon, a type of demon that pollutes and causes bad dreams.
57 Tib. gnon po, a type of demonic being.
58 Tib. mkha’ ‘gro. Here, this refers to unenlightened ḍākinīs.
59 Tib. nam gru, a demon associated with an astrological constellation.
According to Rongtha Lozang Damcho Gyatso, this is a goddess associated
with the retinues of other negative beings (rong tha blo bzang dam chos
rgya mtsho, p. 232–3).
60 Tib. bya’i gdon, birds who are evil omens and the manifestations of
demons (rong tha blo bzang dam chos rgya mtsho, p. 233).
61 Tib. ma mo dga’ bar byed. Despite the name, this also refers to a type of
demoness.
32 Practices of Ārya Sitātapatrā (White Umbrella Deity)
62 Tib. kun tu ‘gro ba, a type of demon which, according to Rongtha Lozang
Damcho Gyatso, takes away the power of beings (rong tha blo bzang dam
chos rgya mtsho, p. 233). The name suggests that they have the power to
go anywhere.
63 Tib. tsher ma ‘don, meaning “removers of thorns.”
64 Tib. phur bu, Skt. kīlaya.
65 According to Rongtha Lozang Damcho Gyatso, this refers to a specific type
of wandering non-buddhist yogi or ascetic.
66 Tib. nag po chen po, Skt. Mahākāla. Here, this appears to refer to the
Hindu god Śiva, who, like the Buddhist protector deity, is also known by
the name Mahākāla. Rongtha Lozang Damcho Gyatso writes that this
refers to Viṣṇu (rong tha blo bzang dam chos rgya mtsho, p. 237).
67 Tib. mi’i thod pa can, Skt. Kāpālika. According to Rongtha Lozang Damcho
Gyatso, this name, meaning “Holder of Human Skulls,” refers to the
name of a goddess (ibid.). Although here the above interpretation has
been followed, the name “Kāpālika” is more commonly associated with
practitioners of an ascetic Indian Shaivite tantric cult that worshipped
tantric goddesses.
68 Tib. rgyal bar byed pa, i.e., The One Who Makes Conquerors. According to
Rongtha Lozang Damcho Gyatso (ibid.), Jayakarā, Madhukara (Tib. sbrang
rtsir byed pa, i.e., The One Who Makes Honey), and Sarvārtha Sādhaka
(Tib. don kun grub pa, i.e., The One Who Accomplishes All Goals) are three
ṛṣi-brothers.
69 Tib. srin mo bzhi, Skt. catur bhaginī.
70 Tib. tshogs kyi bdag po. Gaṇapati is Śiva’s son. According to Rongtha
Lozang Damcho Gyatso, both Nandikeśvara (Tib. dga’ byed dbang phyug)
and Bhṛṅgiriṭi (Tib. b+hring gi ri ti) are members of Śiva’s retinue (rong tha
blo bzang dam chos rgya mtsho, p. 237).
71 Tib. dge sbyong gcer bu, Skt. nagna śramaṇa.
72 Tib. dge sbyong mgo reg.
73 Tib. dgra bcom pa, Skt. arhat, arhanta. “Arhanta” refers to the Hindu god
Śiva, who is known by this name, and “arhat” can also refer to a realized
being in both Buddhism and Jainism. Rongtha Lozang Damcho Gyatso’s
commentary states that here this refers to “great beings who have over-
come all afflictions” (rong tha blo bzang dam chos rgya mtsho, p. 237–8).
74 Tib. ‘dod chags dang bral ba, Skt. vītarāga. “Vītarāga” is an epithet used
to refer to Hindu deities, most commonly Śiva, as well as for spiritual
Notes 33
practitioners who are free of attachment. Rongtha Lozang Damcho
Gyatso, however, says this refers to never-returners (rong tha blo bzang
dam chos rgya mtsho, p. 238).
75 Tib. ‘jig rten dbang phyug. Although the name is commonly used to refer
to the bodhisattva of compassion, Avalokiteśvara, the name, which means
“Lord of the World,” is also used to refer to the Hindu god Śiva.
76 Tib. lag na rdo rje. Rongtha Lozang Damcho Gyatso writes that although
here Lokeśvara, Vajrapāṇi, and so forth, have the same names as
enlightened beings, it is not the enlightened beings who are being targeted
here. It should also be noted that in the Purāṇas, the name Vajrapāṇi is
also used to refer to the Vedic god Indra, who holds a vajra.
77 Tib. mi ‘phrod pa za ba’i tshogs kyis byas pa.
78 Tib. ku sman da’i gdon.
79 Tib. re lde ‘don pa.
80 Tib. snying na. This may also refer to an illness of the heart.
81 That is, all the smaller limbs and appendages of the body, including fingers,
toes, etc.
82 One yojana is roughly equivalent to eight miles (13 kilometers).
83 Tib. ro langs, a type of zombie.
84 Tib. me dbal, meaning “blade tips of fire.” This refers to shingles, erysipelas,
and other infectious skin conditions.
85 Tib. g.yan pa, skin diseases such as ringworm or herpes.
86 Tib. lhog pa, diseases such as anthrax and diphtheria.
87 Tib. dug sbyar ma. This poison is made from stones and wood and is used
in black magic (rong tha blo bzang dam chos rgya mtsho, p. 250).
88 Tib. byad, a type of evil spirit or curse.
89 Tib. bdud.
90 Tib. sbrang bu trya ma bu ga.
91 Tib. tre la ta.
92 Tib. dred.
93 Tib. ma ka ra. This term could refer to a crocodile or a mythical hybrid
water creature.
94 Tib. mtshams bcing bar bgyi’o.
95 Tib. bgegs, Skt. vighna. This can refer to anything that creates obstacles,
including hindrances in the form of negative beings.
96 The number in Tibetan is given as bye ba khrag khrig brgya stong phrag
brgyad cu rtsa bzhi. Literally, it is “ten million times one hundred billion
times one hundred thousand times eight-four.”
34 Practices of Ārya Sitātapatrā (White Umbrella Deity)
97 Tib. smyung ba ma byas pa yang smyung ba byas par ‘gyur ro. The
kriyātantra classification to which Sitātapatrā belongs emphasizes the
importance of a specific controlled vegetarian diet as well as ritual fasting
practices. Rongtha Lozang Damcho Gyatso also suggests that this refers
to observing a fast on auspicious days (rong tha blo bzang dam chos rgya
mtsho, p. 256).
98 Tib. rig sngags ‘chang, Skt. vidhyāmantradhāra.
99 Tib. drag po ri sras.
100 Tib. legs ldan nag po gdung bdun.
101 Tib. rgyu skar, Skt. nakṣatra.
102 Tib. gdon chen, Skt. mahāgraha. This is also an epithet for Rāhu.
103 Tib. ‘dre.
104 A traditional Tibetan classification of diseases resulting from imbalances
of the three humors and their combinations.
105 Tib. dpral ba’i gshed du brkos pa. There is a belief in Tibet that one’s karma
somehow manifests on one’s forehead, a belief expressed in several
popular Tibetan sayings. The line could thus also be translated as “Repel
misfortune due to bad karma.” Thanks to R. Gullu for his help in clarifying
this line and to N. Gullu for help in rendering it in English.
106 Tib. spar kha, eight trigrams used in Tibetan astrological readings.
107 Tib. sme ba, nine numerical squares used in Tibetan astrology.
Care of Dharma Materials
Dharma materials contain the teachings of the Buddha and thus protect
against lower rebirth and reveal the path to enlightenment. Therefore,
they should be treated with respect.
Printed Dharma materials, as well as phones, tablets, laptops, and hard
drives containing Dharma, should be kept off the floor, beds, chairs,
meditation cushions, and all other places where people sit or walk.
Dharma materials should not be stepped over or put in places where
the feet or buttocks will point at them. They should be covered or
protected for transporting and kept in a high, clean place separate from
more mundane materials. Other objects, including statues, stūpas, ritual
implements, mālās, reading glasses, and so forth, should not be placed
on top of Dharma books and devices containing Dharma materials.
Avoid licking the fingers to turn the pages of Dharma texts.
If it is necessary to dispose of printed Dharma materials, they should be
burned rather than thrown in the trash. When burning Dharma texts,
visualize that the letters transform into an A (ཨ) and the A absorbs into
your heart. Imagine burning blank paper. As the paper burns, recite OṂ
ĀḤ HŪṂ or the Heart Sūtra, while meditating on emptiness.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche recommends that images of holy beings, deities,
and holy objects not be burned. Ideally, if undamaged, they should be
put in a stūpa. Otherwise, put them high up in a tree inside a well-sealed
structure, something like a bird house, so that the images are protected
from the weather and do not end up on the ground.
Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition