Dechen Choekhor “Pacifying the Blaspheme of Mamo Puja”
(According to the recording of Drukpa Choegon Rinpoche’s oral teaching in Tibetan; compiled and translated to Chinese by Dondup Pema Namgyal on July 7th, 2020)
The Reason for Holding the Puja of “Pacifying The Blaspheme of Mamo”
In order to pray that the severity of the Covid-19 pandemic and various disasters in the world can be quickly quelled, under Jetsun Choekyi Gonpo’s instruction and guidance, Dechen Choekhor Mahavihara, Kullu, has initiated a three-day “Pacifying the Blaspheme of Mamo Puja” from July 17th to 19th, 2020.
The Palden Lhamo Dudsolma of the Drukpa Kargyu Lineage.
The “Smoky-Charcoal Goddess," also known as The Auspicious Goddess (Palden Lhamo or Mahakali in general; or more specifically, Vetali in Sanskrit, or Dudsolma in Tibetan), is the lord of the masses of the ten million Mamos (female gods) and the lord of The Eight Classes of Gods and Demons. Although she is the master of the worldly gods and spirits, she is not an arrogant worldly god. Her appearance is the compassionate manifestation of the nature of emptiness arise from the unshakable state of Dharmata. Therefore, she is also renowned as the "Bhagavan Smoky-Charcoal Goddess." She has outer, inner and secret, different levels of identity and meaning. Externally, she is the “Smoky-Charcoal Goddess," manifested as a wisdom Dharma protector. In fact, she is a Bodhisattva that has already attained the tenth Bhumis. Innerly, she is the Supreme Mother Tara, Parnashavari, Vajravarahi and Krodikali. Secretly, she is Prajnaparamita, the true nature reality, the ultimate state of Dharmata.
It is said that if people desecrate Mamos, it angered the Momos, and then brings forth diseases and disasters to the world. There are many causes that anger the Mamos, "ignoring the karma cause and effect" is the main reason. Other including: practitioners and monks who do not keep the pratimoksha vows, the Bodhisattva vow, and the Samayas of the Secret Mantrayana, or easily let the vows and precepts to decline, being violated or destroyed. Lay persons disregarding the karma cause and effect, committing the ten unwholesome actions or the five sins with immediate retribution, etc. All these consider the blasphemy against the Mamos.
In order to quell the calamities caused by the blasphemy of Mamos, on top of paying attention to the karma cause and effect, repent sincerely and mend one's mistaken ways, we should also rely on the Lord of Mamos, "The Smoky-Charcoal Goddess," making offerings, praises, confession to her. Only through calming and appeasing the desecration of Mamos, the catastrophes and diseases can be pacified. And, mankind can be at peace, with favorable weather and conditions, and abundant harvest of all food crops and successes. As practitioners of Vajrayana, in order to achieve the benefit of all living beings, we should rely on “Dudsolma – The Smoky-Charcoal Goddess", practice her offering and confession ritual accordingly, this is what we should do as our own practice.
In the face of the epidemic, Tibetan Buddhism placed great importance in the rituals of offering, remedial, and confession to “Dudsolma.” Properly initiated puja in accordance with the tradition is able to pacify 404 types of diseases, 21,000 kinds of adversities or misfortunes, and mollify the devastations caused by 360 kinds of spirits and demons, as well as the 80,000 hostile forces. This is the reason why Dechen Choekhor holding this puja.
Brief Introduction on Palden Lhamo Dudsolma
(The following is the external meaning of Dudsol Lhamo, the Smoke Charcoal Goddess – – that is from the perspective of her as a goddess and wisdom Dharma protector. As for now, we will not touch on her role and meaning as a meditational Yidam.)
Teaching written in Tibetan by Drukpa Choegon Rinpoche. Compiled and translated into Chinese by Dondup Pema Namgyal. Retranslated into English based upon the Chinese text.
The Lord of all Dharma protectors in Tibetan Buddhism is no other than the two chief protectors – – Mahakala (The Great Black One) and Palden Lhamo. The two of them have continued to practice the Dharma in the ancient past, and at the same time promised to act as Dharma protectors, protecting the teachings and practitioners, safeguarding them from obstacles.
At the present time, our Dharma protector, Palden Lhamo is divided into two categories. Many kalpas ago, the celestial beings in the God realm and the demigods of the Asura realm had waged battle ceaselessly over the ownership of the wish-fulfilling tree. When the gods were defeated and the Asuras triumphed, Uma Devi – the skillful means manifestation of Vajrapani, and Mahadeva (Lord Shiva) came into union, jointly blessed the emergence of two siblings – – the two powerful gods. Elder brother is Mahakala, and the younger sister is Mahakali; also known as Tsamönti. The two brothers and sisters went to the Palace of Lord Indra, the King of the Gods, to join the hard battle against the Asura. At that time, the younger sister manifested as Parnashavari.
Another time, the younger sister rescued the people from the harm of the Nagas, and since then she has been widely known as the White Conch-Protecting Nagini. (She is being born as the daughter of the god in this life is the ripening of her merits from the practice of ascetic practice during the time of Krakucchandra Buddha (the first Buddha of this fortunate kalpa).
Another classical allusion is as follows: In Lanka city of the Raksha land, there is a pair of extremely ferocious Raksha brothers and sisters. The brother offered his sister to Mahadeva as a concubine, and both gave birth to a daughter. The incident angered Mahadeva, hence he tries to throw the baby girl into the stove. The baby’s mother could not bear him doing so, she rescued her daughter and brought her up. This girl is what people call Remati.
The elder Raksha brother himself deeply admires the White Conch-Protecting Nagini (Mahadeva’s eldest daughter). He planned to kill himself if he could not marry the White Conch-Protecting Nagini as a concubine. Hence, her Raksha sister, the concubine of Mahadeva, schemed secretly and devise a plot to send her daughter Remati to become the servant of the White Conch-Protecting Nagini. Under the influences of remati’s tricks, the White Guarding Conch Lady eventually became the Raksha's concubine. (The fact that the White Conch-Protecting Nagini became the concubine of Raksha is the result of her sinful karma in the past during the teaching period of Kanakamuni Buddha (the second Buddha of this fortunate kalpa).
The fact that the White Conch-Protecting Nagini became Raksha’s concubine angered the mother of the goddess, Uma Devi. She cursed the White Conch-Protecting Nagini and her servant Remati, turning them into naked women with gloomy bodies, who can only feed on human flesh and quench their thirst with human blood. Because her husband, Raksha, subsequently died, White Conch-Protecting Nagini once chose to commit suicide. Later, the White Conch-Protecting Nagini dressed up as a widow, tied a single braid, and ridding Raksha's white-fronted head red mule.
When it is time for Kashyapa Buddha (the third Buddha of this fortunate kalpa) to demonstrate enlightenment, and turns the Dharma wheel in this world, the two goddesses meet a peaceful and soft-gentle bhikkhu – – whom is our utmost guide, the predecessor of Sakyamuni Buddha. They also seek teachings from Kashyapa Buddha, repented of their past sinful karma, and promised to protect Sakyamuni Buddha's teachings in the future. Finally, when the victorious one, Lord Sakyamuni Buddha went under the Bodhi tree, the goddess and her servant gods came to pay homage to the Buddha, generating the ultimate bodhicitta, and making offerings that representing their own heart and life, obediently listen and follow the Buddha’s teachings, and scrupulously abide by the oath.
Sakyamuni Buddha, the 4th Buddha of this fortunate kalpa
It is praise that:
"In the past, under the wish-fulfilling Bodhi Tree King,
Pledging in front of the great Victorious one,
Guarding the sublime teachings of Lord Buddha,
Homage and praise to the blood drinking Smoky-Charcoal Lady."
In addition, when the celestial goddess practiced Ekajati – the One Topknot, Mother of all the Buddhas (Tib. Ralchigma) in the Asura Cave, she came face to face with Ekajati, and was bestowed with the title “Mother of the Desire Realm.” She also devoted offered her life to Vajrapani, Avalokiteshvara, Hayagriva, and other deities, and vowed to protect the Buddhadharma. The Eight classes of Gods and Demons such as Mahadeva, Vishnu, Brahma, Raksha King, Yaksha King Vaiśravaṇa, Yama King, etc. all came to make abundant offerings to her. The majesty and power of this goddess can be described as the highest and invincible.
Buddha Shakyamuni has expounded the tantric rituals and accomplishment practice of this goddess. The accomplished Āchārya in the holy land of India and Tibet also placed great importance in the practice of this goddess. They have written many practice rituals and sadhanas of her. During his three visits to India, the great translator Lord Marpa has sought and successfully obtained the complete practice of this goddess from the great Mahasiddha Naropa. The practice of this goddess is so deeply cherished by the him, he has even sung in his Dohas about the seeking and attaining of the practice ritual of the protector, Dudsolma.
Later, Lord Marpa also passed this protector’s practice to Milarepa. Since the time Lord Marpa bestowed this practice to Ngo Choekyi Dorje, this protector has become one of the three great Dharma Protectors of our lineage, known as “Lha-Jag-Gon” (Palden Lhamo, Jagpa Melen, Gonpo Mahakala).
The three main Dharmapalas of Dechen Choekhor: Palden Lhamo, Gonpo Mahakala, Jagpa Melen (Lha-Jag-Gon)
In short, we should know that this protector of ours is the chief female protectors of the secret Tantra that the great Pandita Naropa practiced – Mahakali, also known as Dudsol Lhamo. Dudsolma was originally the daughter of Mahadeva, and later became the concubine of Raksha, and now she is the Mother of the Desire Realm. As for his servant, Remati, is universally recognized as the 'Army Repulsing Queen' (Magzor Gyalmo).
It is due to her good karmas and her aspirations made in the past, during the time of the Krakucchandra Buddha, Kanakamuni Buddha and Kashyapa Buddha, ripening all at once during the time of Sakyamuni Buddha as this black-coloured deity – Palden Lhamo. This goddess born as the daughter to Mahadeva (Lord Shiva) – this is the majestic power of her initial virtues. Then, she became the concubine of Raksha. After Raksha’s death, she tried to commit suicide – that is the negative act of aversion. In the end – that is now, she became the Mother of the Desire Realm and was authorized as the Dharmapala of all the Buddhas, also protecting the teachings of Buddha Sakyamuni.
In the past, in front Kashyapa Buddha, she confessed to the bhikkhu (the predecessor of our guru, Sakyamuni Buddha), repent her sinful karma, and aspired to protect Sakyamuni Buddha’s teachings when he attained Buddhahood. (as mentioned earlier, this was the ripening of her goods karmas accumulated throughout the period of the three Buddhas – Krakucchandra, Kanakamuni and Kashyapa – from practicing the authentic Dharma, and the vast accumulation of merits, all ripened at the time
of Sakyamuni Buddha.
The Smoky-Charcoal Goddess, Dudsolma (Dud = smoke; Sol = Charcoal); also known as Palden Lhamo, Mahakali and The Great Black Goddess.
This goddess can cure all diseases, and is the Mother Buddha who pacified all sicknesses.
As the praise goes:
“ Jho! The glorious Great Secret blazing Dudsolma,
The conqueror of the Three Existences (Desire Realm),
The mere thought of you will protect and thoroughly pacify
The outer, inner and secret obstacles, obstructing spirits, epidemics and so forth.
Now, please compassionately remember your solemn sacred aspirations and oath of the past!”
Composed by Jetsun Choekyi Gonpo. Translated to Chinese by Dondup Pema Namgyal on July 7th, 2020. Sarwa Mangalam.
Should you wish to find out more about this puja, please write to us: web@dechenchoekhor.org
Thank you!