Vajrayogini, Naro Khechari (Tibetan: dor je nal jor ma, na ro kha cho).

Sanskrit: Vajrayogini Tibetan: Dor je nal jor ma

Red in colour with one face, three eyes and two hands the left holds aloft a white skullcup from which she drinks and on the shoulder rests a very detailed vajra tipped katvanga staff. The right hand is extended downward holding a curved knife with a gold vajra handle. Adorned with a tiara of skulls, various bone ornaments, girdle, bracelets and a necklace of freshly severed heads - each with a different expression she stands atop the bodies of pink Kalaratri and black Bhairava. Above an ornate sun disc and pink lotus seat she stands completely surrounded by the multi-coloured flames of pristine awareness.

At the top center is the primordial buddha Vajradhara, blue in colour, with the two hands crossed at the heart holding a vajra and bell, in a seated posture. At the left is the Indian mahasiddha Tilopa, holding a skullcup in the right hand and a fish upraised in the left. At the right side is a seated Tibetan yogi wearing a white cotton upper robe and a yellow meditation belt. Holding a skullcup in the left hand he is seated on a deer skin.

At the bottom left is the wrathful deity Humkara, blue, with one face and two hands holding a curved knife and skullcup, standing atop a corpse. Very fierce, he is adorned with all the wrathful vestments, an elephant skin upper garment and a tiger skin below. On the right is Yu Dronma (Turquoise Lamp), a female deity of Tibetan origin and one of the 'Tanma Chunyi,' with one face, three eyes and two hands holding what appears to be a large drum (usually a mirror) in the right hand and a stick in the left. Richly attired in variously coloured garments she sits on a moon disc above a lotus. The names of these last two figures are printed with fine gold lettering below each lotus seat.

Vajrayogini belongs to the 'wisdom class' of Anuttarayoga Tantra and arises specifically from the Chakrasamvara cycle of Tantras. When Vajrayogini is portrayed in this appearance with the left hand raised and the two feet firmly planted she is commonly referred to as the Naro Khachodma however this does not always mean she is from the special Naropa lineage of the Sakyapa tradition. This painting appears to be Kagyu in origin based on the grouping of figures and Eastern Tibetan style of painting.

Lineage: Vajradharma, Vajrayogini, Mahasiddha Ghantapada, Tengipa, Antarapa, Tilopa, Naropa, etc.

Jeff Watt 7-1998

This painting in particular is special because Dechen Wangmo had the religious object consecrated by her teacher, Kunzig Chonang (1768-1822), the 8th Great Lama of the Drugpa Tradition, a famous religious leader. As a special blessing he composed the verses inscribed on the back of the painting and then placed his own handprints, dipped in a saffron wash, onto the back, accompanied by a colophon naming both the donor and the consecrator.

Jeff Watt 5-2005