Namgyalma Unveiled: Harnessing Divine Grace for Longevity
Ushnishavijaya embodies long life and emerges as a ray of hope at the center of Buddhist doctrine. She is an excellent symbol of longevity and protection for the devotees all around. This respected figure is prominent in spiritual practices and artistic representations and is frequently shown with a calm expression and distinguishing characteristics. She is referred to as Namgyalma in Tibet.
She is also a potent tantric meditation divinity with a renowned healing mantra. She is a Bodhisattva known in Buddhism as The Divine Mother, associated with long life, karmic purification, and enabling everyone to achieve enlightenment.
Origins of Ushnisavijaya (Namgyalma)
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In Trayastrimsa Heaven, Ushnisavijaya's commencement takes place. Shakyamuni Buddha resided there while giving a sermon to the gods and goddesses. These heavenly gods were living long lives and unaware of the prospect of dying at some point.
A carefree young god was troubled while he was in heaven. A voice in the sky told him he would die in seven days and have seven reincarnations. Indra, the supreme god, was consulted by the horrified deity. Indra verified the information with the use of his insight. The young god would soon die and reincarnate as a dog, fox, monkey, snake, vulture, crow, and blind man, he also said.
When Indra saw this vision, he was terrified. He placed the offerings out at Shakyamuni's feet and bowed before him. Shakyamuni was asked to free him from this type of misery. Buddha's crown of light radiated magnificent rays. He restored the purifying radiance after purifying the entire billion-world universe. He subsequently started to instruct people in Ushnisavijaya practice. Ushnishavijaya originates from the word "ushnisha," which refers to the cranial bulge on the Buddha's head, symbolizing his enlightenment. Ushnisavijaya's name thus literally translates to "Victorious Queen of the Crown of Light."
Namgyalma's Role in Longevity & Protection
Namgyalma is a deity of longevity and sports an image of Vairocana in her headdress. She is one of three exceptional long-life deities (Tibetan: tse lha nam sum), alongside Buddha Amitayus and White Tara. All of the major Tibetan Buddhist lineages practice her.
She draws attention with her ethereal beauty, sparking sincere interest in her disciples' efforts to live long and be protected. Practitioners perform numerous rituals and procedures to acquire her blessings as a yearning for a protected and long life grows. The divine energy of Ushnishavijaya inspires commitment to spiritual paths that result in long-lasting well-being and motivate action.
The idea of longevity has been woven into the spirit of Namgyalma. Her presence illustrates the pursuit of a life that is not only temporally extensive but also spiritually profound. Individuals strive to extend their existence while fostering inner growth through the practice of devotion to her and rituals associated with her. Her blessings are believed to increase vitality and well-being, helping adherents to live happy lives.
The shielding aura of Namgyalma protects from difficulties and obstacles. Her guardian-like caring spirit helps practitioners navigate the challenges of life's path. In times of adversity, devotees adhere to the deity for comfort, believing in her capacity to ease pain and open the door to a brighter future. Her presence provides comfort and stability, enabling individuals to handle life's ups and downs more resiliently.
The Secrets Within Namgyalma's Iconography
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Namgyalma is usually portrayed with three faces and eight arms. Her three heads stand for her practice's ability to cure all illnesses and eliminate obstacles in the three realms (Skt: Trailokya). Her eight arms and middle face are white, signifying her power to put an end to disasters. Her blue face on the left represents her wrath in slaying demons, and her yellow face on the right represents her power to grant longevity. Her third eye on her forehead reflects her compassion, desire, and ability to see all suffering. Her nine eyes signify the ability to guide us to liberty. Plus, it showcases her ability to reach the nine stages of enlightenment.
- She is seated in padmasana, the lotus position of the Buddhas, on a lotus blossom as a symbol of her purity and enlightenment. She also wears a five-pointed crown to represent the wisdom of the five Dhyani Buddhas.
- She is holding a double Dorje (viswa-vajra) in her first right hand, which is at her chest, representing total internal and outer harmony. The four-pointed thunderbolt or diamond is the destroyer of ignorance. It represents the enlightened virtues of compassion and wisdom. The two vajras cross each other at a 90-degree angle to create a cross representing the four cardinal directions and balance, as seen in the mandala's center.
- She holds a white lotus with Buddha Amitabha seated on it with her second right hand. This represents the ability of her devotees to transition from human existence to Buddhahood and indicates that upon death, you will ascend to heaven to reside in the Pure Land of Sukhavati.
- She holds an arrow in her third right hand, representing perceptive wisdom that illuminates the ultimate truth. She can meet physical and spiritual demands by placing her fourth right hand in the mudra of supreme generosity.
- Her first left-hand holds a vajra lasso, signifying mastery of her mind control. Her second left hand is holding a bow, which, when used with great focus, enables the arrow of wisdom to strike its target.
- Her third left hand is making the mudra of offering protection, while her fourth is holding a long-life vase filled with healing nectar, ambrosia, amrit, or the elixir of immortality. The treasure pot represents the realization of wishes for prosperity, longevity, and good health. Still, it also serves as a metaphor for space, the ultimate container where all phenomena occur.
Namgyalma Mantra Benefits
'Om Dhrum Soha, Om Amrita Ayur Dade Svaha'
It is believed that reciting this potent mantra has numerous benefits, including helping individuals who do so—or even those who hear it, including animals—achieve higher states of existence within the cycle of samsara and, ultimately, nirvana.
One is said to be able to eradicate evil acts, lengthen life, cure life-threatening illnesses, and increase wisdom by reciting her mantras. This mantra's primary goal is to purify the negative energy, liberate beings from the lower realms, and purify it.
It removes karmic obstacles, changes fixed karma, extends life, cures various illnesses, encourages marital harmony, protects against physical harm, calms natural disasters, fosters wisdom, blesses beings in the three lower realms and promotes the attainment of full enlightenment.
She is invoked swiftly through The Thousandfold Worship (rNam -rgyal sTong-m chod), a ceremony dedicated to her. She receives offerings of flowers, incense, banners, butter lamps, flour sculptures, and mantras. Also created in sets of 1,000 are circumambulations.