dPAL-lDAN LHA-MO
The godess dPal-ldan lha-mo, wrathful slayer of the enemies of religion, as depicted in a thangka (scroll painting on canvas) from the Potala Palace, Lhasa. The ferocity of the imagery is typically Tibetan.
Centuries before buddhism came to tibet, a shamanistic culture held swayu over both tibet & mongolia. The earliest myths tell how the world is created and sustained by many gods and demons who reside in countless special places on earth, in the heavans and in subteranean labyrinths. Such spirits were honoured with offerings on the mountain passes to ensure safe passage. Their assistance was called upon before the start of any undertaking, and they were exorcised by priestly rituals whenever they caused trouble, stagnation or sickness. Only a shaman in trance had the ability to travel the three realms and understand the intricate workings of the universe. He could divine the causes of illness and misfortune, or retrieve lost souls abducted by spirits. It was he who recommended the appropriate sacrifice, typically the weaving of a "thread cross" (mdos) and the presentation of a ransom to the offended or malicious spirit. In Tibet the ancient mythology of shamanism was overthrown when teh 8th centure king, Khri Srong-lde'u-btsan, made up his mind that the most potent civilising forse was buddhism. Full of admiration for the sophisticated cultures of his buddhist neighbours, Khri Srong-lde'u-btsan sent messengers to India in search of the most learned men of his day. He was afdvised to send for a 'tantriks' (practitioner of occult religion) known as Padmasambhava. Honoured by the king's gift of gold, Padmasambhava accepted the invitation to Tibet and with the help of local spirits established the "inconceivable" (bSam-yas) temple. Modelled on Buddhist concepts of cosmology, the three-stored central tower represented the world mountain Sumeru, while around it were shrines in the positions of the minor continents of the world, and the sun and moon. In the adjacent monastery Buddhist texts were translated from Sanskrit to Tibetan. Padmasambhava resided in a nearby cave with his closest disciples. When the time came for his departure from Tibet, he promised that he would return there every month, on the tenth day of the waxing moon, in order to bless anyone who called out his name.
