Simhamukha in Nyingma and Sakya Tradition: Exploring the Differences in Origin

Senge Dongma: The Fierce Protector of Nyingma and Sakya Buddhism

Simhamukha, known in Tibetan as Senge Dongma, is a fierce female deity in the Vajrayana tradition. She is considered a fully enlightened dakini, awakened wisdom in its wrathful form, and she is known to eliminate obstacles, reverse curses, and neutralize black magic. Although her iconographic look, which comprises a blue-black body, a roaring lion-head, and a dancing pose, is similar across schools, her historical and spiritual roots vary greatly between the Nyingma and Sakya traditions.

Simhamukha in Nyingma Tradition: The Secret Form of Guru Rinpoche

In the Nyingma, also known as "Treasure" tradition, Simhamukha’s origin is closely connected with the life of Guru Padmasambhava.

A Secret Manifestation:

In the Nyingma School of the outer, inner, and secret manifestations, Simhamukha is considered the "secret" form of Padmasambhava himself. Instead of being considered as an independent deity, she is the most secret essence of the Guru, the fully enlightened dakini who embodies awakened wisdom in a highly wrathful form to defeat the inner enemies of delusive thinking.

Origin Story:

According to texts, when black magicians threatened Bodh Gaya and Nalanda University, Padmasambhava meditated on Simhamukha. The wisdom dakini presented herself to him and showed him a powerful practice and mantra which the bodhisattva Vajrapani had earlier hidden in the past as something which was to be practiced on future time. Empowered by those blessings, Padmasambhava assumed his own wrathful form, Guru Senge Dradok ("The Lion's Roar"), to successfully neutralize the hostile forces.

Mythological Subjugation:

Another narrative describes an ancient lion-faced demoness named Tramen Sengdongma who thrived on destruction. To control her, enlightened beings manifested a wisdom dakini in an identical form. This wisdom dakini entered the "Controlling the Maras" concentration and subdued the demoness, who then took an oath to protect the Dharma.

Transmission:

Her practice in this school is primarily preserved through terma (revealed treasure literature).

Simhamukha in the Sakya Tradition: The Sarma Lineage of Bari Lotsawa

The Sakya tradition (and other Sarma schools like Kagyu and Gelug) classifies Simhamukha within the Anuttarayoga "wisdom" classification.

Indian Tantric Roots:

In this tradition, she arises from the Chakrasamvara cycle of Tantras and is often viewed as an attendant dakini within the mandala of Vajrayogini.

Lineage of Bari Lotsawa:

The lineage is traced back to the 11th-century translator Bari Lotsawa. After becoming a target of black magic, Bari Lotsawa traveled to India and was initiated by the master Vajrāsana. During his practice, Simhamukha appeared in a visionary mandala and revealed her fourteen-syllable mantra to him.

Establishment in Tibet:

Bari Lotsawa neutralized the magical attacks and transmitted the practice to Sachen Kunga Nyingpo, the founder of the Sakya tradition, ensuring its place in the bka’ ma (oral transmission).

Read More About The Enigmatic Simhamukha Dakini: Lion-Headed Wisdom from Enlightenment

Key Differences of Simhamukha in the Nyingma and Sakya Traditions

The major difference between the Nyingma and Sakya schools of thought in relation to Simhamukha is her position and the origin of her existence. At the Nyingma school, Simhamukha is strongly attached to the life and teachings of Guru Padmasambhava, who is seen as a secret form of the Guru himself. This interpretation underscores her importance in the Nyingma school’s esoteric teachings and practice of terma. She is not a separate goddess but a manifestation of the wisdom of Padmasambhava to defeat delusion and defeat internal enemies. Such an interpretation highlights how significant she is to the esoteric teachings of the Nyingma school and the practice of terma.

On the other hand, in the Sakya tradition, Simhamukha is considered an influential self-sufficient goddess independently, as well as her contribution to safeguarding the Dharma and the practitioner against external dangers. Although both traditions acknowledge that she has a wrathful aspect and a strong force, the Sakya school focuses more on her practical use in rituals, where she is summoned to clear obstacles and neutralize negative forces.

Regardless of these variations in origin and understanding, Simhamukha shares a common role in both traditions as a protector and a guide, helping practitioners overcome obstacles on their path to enlightenment. Her transformative power and ability to eliminate harmful energies make her an essential figure in the practice of Vajrayana in different schools of Tibetan Buddhism.

Notably, the Nyingma master and Nyingma Nyer Nyangral Nyima Ozer proposed that the Nyingma version of Simhamukha was in fact a Sarma tradition, founded by Bari Lotsawa. No matter these historical differences, the two traditions highlight her as the Great Ferocious Dakini who helps practitioners to guard against the inner enemies of delusive thought and the outer enemies of harmful magic.

Simhamukha's primary role in the Nyingma and Sarma traditions

Although the iconography of Simhamukha (the Lion-faced Dakini) is almost the same throughout Tibetan Buddhism, her theological and historical role and origin vary immensely between the Nyingma and Sarma (Sakya, Kagyu, Gelug) schools. Despite these origin differences, her functional role is consistent across all schools. She is worshipped as a great protector and completely enlightened dakini. Her primary roles include:

Neutralizing Negativity: She is renowned for her ability to quickly eliminate the obstacles and reverse the curses or black magic.

Internal Victory: Beyond external protection, she is invoked to overcome the inner demons of delusive belief and mental clouds.

Iconography: In both traditions, she typically has a blue-black, roaring lion head, and a curved knife and skull-cup, and is in a burning blaze of unrestricted awareness dancing.

Function and Practice: Protecting the Modern Practitioner

The practice of Siṃhamukha is renowned in the modern era for its swiftness and efficacy in addressing both external and internal challenges. She is a very strong protector who is often called upon to take away bad things and reverse bad states as misfortune, diseases, and spirit disturbances. She specifically specializes in defending and reversing curses or magical strikes directly aimed at a practitioner.

However, her role extends far beyond that of a guardian spirit. In the Vajrayāna tradition, she is a fully enlightened dakini who embodies awakened wisdom in a wrathful form. Her practice is meant to destroy the inner enemies, which are delusive thoughts and mental obscuration that cannot allow a person to awaken. For this reason, her sadhanas (liturgical practices) are considered complete paths to realization, guiding the practitioner toward full enlightenment rather than serving merely as a protective ritual. Engaging in her practice is said to ensure success in both spiritual and secular activities while increasing positive energies and helping one overcome life's challenges.

Conclusion: One Face, Many Lineages

The history of Siṃhamukha depicts a fascinating historical interplay between the ancient and the "new" schools of Tibetan Buddhism. Although the Sarma traditions (Sakya, Kagyu, and Gelug) and the Nyingma tradition maintain distinct origin stories, they share a common devotion to this lion-faced figure.

 It is also interesting that the Nyingma master Nyangral Nyima Ozer admitted this cross-pollination, and it was this Nyingma version of Simhamukha that was, in fact founded on the Sarma tradition of Bari Lotsawa. This emphasizes the manner in which these powerful teachings circulated across generations in order to ensure their survival and effectiveness.

Finally, Simhamukha has been an enduring symbol of courageous wisdom. She is the wrath of the enlightened mind, whether considered to be a secret form of Guru Padmasambhava or a wisdom deity of the Chakrasamvara Tantras, the roar of truth which slays ignorance and fear to save and liberate all beings.