Female Deities: List of female Buddhas and Bodhisattvas

Vajrayogini

Yidam - the queen of Dakinis

Vajrayogini (Tib. Dorje Naljorma, Adamantine Female Practitioner) is the principal female yidam of Highest Yoga Tantra of the New Translation schools of Tibetan Buddhism.

She is a slightly wrathful red female figure shown holding a curved knife in her right hand, a skullcup in her left and a khatvanga (trident or staff) in her left elbow.

The Naro form of Vajrayogini, most commonly seen in the Sakya and Geluk traditions, is shown standing with her face turned upwards and to the left, with the skullcup held up to her mouth and the curved knife pointing to the ground.

The Vajravarahi form of Vajrayogini, generally more frequent in Kagyu, is shown in dancing pose with the right leg bent; this form holds the curved knife up in the air and the skullcup to her heart.

Vajravarahi, whose name means Adamantine Sow, is usually shown with a small sow's head, representing triumph over ignorance, emerging over her right ear.

Books:

• Vajrayogini Sadhana and Commentary, by Geshe Ngawang Dhargey (Library of Tibetan Works & Archives, ISBN: 81-85102-84-8)
• Vajrayogini: Her Visualizations, Rituals, and Forms (Studies in Indian and Tibetan Buddhism), by Elizabeth English (Wisdom Publications, 2002, ISBN: 086171329X)
• Sublime Path to Kechara Paradise: Vajrayogini's Eleven Yogas of Generation Stage Practice As Revealed by Glorious Naropa, by Sermey Geshe Lobsang Tharchin (Mahayana Sutra and Tantra Press, 1997, ISBN: 0918753139)