Flying Vajrayogini in Patan, Nepal
My students and friends have been in Kathmandu (Nepal) on a pilgrimage. JP (Head liaison of Tsem Ladrang) is leading a group of 7 people, where for 4 of them it is their first time to Nepal. Together with him is Adrian, Phoebe, William (from Penang study group), Wee Liang (Kechara House member), Jace (Producer of Kechara In Motion), Jean Mei (personal assistant blogger), Christine and Lina (both from Shanghai).
Today they went to a very holy site called Mahabuddha (also pronounced and can be spelt as Mahabouddha) which is located in Patan (a district in Kathmandu). There stands a very tall stupa, which is totally hidden from the main streets as it is covered by the surrounding residential, town buildings. The temple is modeled after the Mahabouddha Temple in Bodhgaya, India, where Buddha Shakyamuni gained enlightenment.
The temple structure is such that one would walk through the doors into a courtyard where there is a stupa surrounded by buildings. It’s quite a small courtyard as the stupa is quite big, so in order to see the other Buddha statues on one of the many levels of the stupa, you would have to go into the surrounding buildings to the 1st or 2nd floor and look out of the window.
What most pilgrims or visitors don’t know is that there is actually a Vajrayogini chapel in one of those buildings!!
My students and friends on pilgrimage in Nepal were lucky enough to visit the VERY very holy Vajrayogini chapel. The chapel has been taken care of by a family from generation to generation..for many, many years. They never allow the public to enter, only serious practitioners and sangha members are allowed inside.
Inside the chapel is a flying Vajrayogini statue enshrined in a room. With the help of a translator, the caretaker told my students and friends that the statue has been there for 545 years. He elaborated to say that there was an old lady who had come to Mahabuddha temple. Upon arrival, she told the people that Vajrayogini resided there, and that they should build a Vajrayogini chapel.
At that time, the temple was very unstable and in quite a bad shape. The people had wanted to rebuild the temple, but the old lady told them that they did not need to, that it would be ok. Mahabuddha was ok after her chapel was built inside.
This was told to my students and friends by the caretaker himself…where his father was the caretaker…and his father was the caretaker etc.
It has never been allowed to ever take a photo of this sacred and very holy statue, but my students were very lucky enough to be able to take them!! So here I am to share this with all of you.
Tsem Rinpoche
Vajrayogini’s sacred chapel
My students and friends offered butterlamp offerings to Vajrayogini
Close-up shot of Vajrayogini
Vajrayogini
Woh…. Amazing ! ! So lucky to have see this now. Tantric Buddhism is really unique from other form / schools of Buddhism as i see it. But was wondering why even certain images or statues of Buddhas or Dakinis be kept secret and not shown to others. Its higher practices are kept secret is understandable but why even the images ? ? Just curious. I think Lord Sakyamuni would have been very fond if everyone sees it so that connection can be made in this life or future life’s.
Dakini is rendered khandroma which means ‘she who traverses the sky’ or ‘she who moves in space’. To me, presentation is very important. A female embodiment of enlightened energy in space got to be a female Guru who travel a lot by airplane from place to place to teach the Dharma or to delivery a message of enlightenment. So, what is her image in your mind.
Dear Rinpoche, thank you for sharing with us the holy picture of the sacred Vajrayogini statue. Thank you very much!
Simply stunning and glorious Vajra Queen in all Her splendor!!! Thank you for posting such rare images!!! You guys have done it again…
hi dear rimpoche guru thanks to share about our flying bajrayogini im from the patan its different city from the distric called lalitpur not kathmandu its the city of art i am a guy of this place
Beautiful/powerful/serene, thank you so much for sharing this photos!
When I met Rinpoche in 1992 he introduced me to Vajrayogini which was the normal Vajrayogini that we see. I didn’t know there were so many version of Vajrayogini. Then during one of my trips to visit Rinpoche there happen to be a Vajrayogini Initiation. Rinpoche was so kind to encourage us and have teachings translated into English and explained to us. All I knew there was only one type of Vajrayogini. I was surprised when Paul of Kechara discovery came up with the Vajrayogini coffee table book and there was so many types of Vajrayogini. I am sure it has broadened the knowledge of people about the various types of Vajrayogini.
This is the VY chapel that I missed visiting in my first trip to Kathmandu in April 2009. I really want to go and pay my respects to the Flying VY statue in Patan. She is so glorious in every way. Thank you so much for sharing this precious photos here, Rinpoche. I feel most fortunate just to be able to view them all.
With folded hands
Thank you for sharing these pictures. We are so lucky to even look at these pictures of the beautiful Holy Lady, Vajroyogini. I hope that one day when I visit Nepal I will have the merits to visit this wonderful chapel and make an offering to the Red Lady herself.
Rinpoche, no words to say thank you for enabling us to enter this holy sanctum with you. We are blessed to behold this sacred vision in our hearts. My gratitude also to your students who had the merit to make this pilgrimage, and honour Vajrayogini with prayers and beautiful offerings. May all their aspirations be fulfilled
Dear Rinpoche,
The trip to Nepal was one of the best trips I ever had. Before that, I never liked traveling with big groups (more than 4 people); I never liked visiting temples (especially when there are many people in it). Then I had this trip with a group of kind, patient & fun people and visiting temples Every Day!!! And I was happy every moment. I was VERY lucky to see all these holy chapels.
A lot of things have changed since I met Rinpoche last November. I am a member of Kechara now; I am a Buddhist now; I am still not a strict vegetarian but I don’t cook or order meat dishes as before. And I am happy and content with my life because I know how to make it meaningful- To help others find their happiness in their lives.
Love,
Christine
Dear Christine, What a beautiful comment you left. The comment is from your heart and real. I like it very much. You have just started on your spiritual journey. You have so much to learn and understand in the future that will quench your thirsty intelligence. You are very intelligent for sure. You use your intelligence for something higher and that is beautiful. I am very happy for you. I wish you to please go all the way with your spiritual practice. And bring it to many in Shanghai. Sacrifice yourself for the many. Sacrifice means to work for others tirelessly. It is the purpose of life. Tsem Rinpoche
Dear Rinpoche,
Thank you Rinpoche for the kind words.I shall do exactly as Rinpoche said. I am aware that sometime I slip, but I’ll just stand up again. We will make it happen in Shanghai. It will be a reality rather than only a hope!
Love,
Christine
Thank you Rinpohe for sharing these sacred pictures here. I feel blessed even just by looking at these pictures. I believe being there physically will give any person a powerful impression of Vajrayogini (VY).
A BIG THANK YOU to the team as well for I believe there may have been some efforts spent before they were allowed to take pictures.
I just step onto the path of spirituality, but I know through reading that one can control his/her rebirth if he/she does practices on VY. Practices on VY can be so powerful!
I have always like travelling, it always gives me chances to see how diverse our world is. I would love to have a time when I can be on a pilgrimage tour. I believe it will be a journey that will give both a powerful as well as an enriching experience for my spiritual practices.