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Meeting Padmasmbhava

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It was during a spiritual retreat, in the new castle, with the entire retinue of serving women turned nuns, that Mandarava and her retinue met Padmasambhava.[23]

Mandarava's father was fearful of the contamination of the royal bloodline and what he perceived as Mandarava's apostasy. Thus, her father endeavoured to have both Mandarava and Padmasambhava purified by immolation through the flames of a pyre. Instead of finding their corpses incensed and charred, Vihardhara finds that the fire of the pyre has been transformed into Lake Rewalsar near Mandi (Zahor) in Himachal Pradesh, India, out of which arises a blooming lotus supporting the unharmed Mandarava and Padmasambhava. In this process, they achieve their secret names of Vajravarahi and Hayagriva, respectively. It is then that Mandarava's father blesses their relationship.

[24][25]

Incarnations and Emanations

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Some of her manifestations in Tibet have included: the yogini Mirukyi Gyenchen (who's name means "Adorned with Human Bone Ornaments") during the time of Marpa; Risulkyi Naljorma during the time of Nyen Lotsawa; and Drubpey Gyalmo during the time of Rechungpa. Chushingi Nyemachen, the spiritual consort Maitripa, is also considered to be an incarnation of Mandarava.



Spiritual friendships with other yoginis

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Along with bringing at least 800 women to the spiritual path her youth (see above), Mandarava is also known for her spiritual friendships with the other female spiritual adepts who were among the five primary consorts of Padmasambhava.

For example, Mandarava and Yeshe Tsogyal had an ongoing spiritual friendship and they exchanged teachings as a equals. Mandarava also visited with Yeshe Tsogyal in vision just before Tsogyal's death.[1]

Mandarava also had important spiritual relationships with other consorts of Padmasambhava. For example, Mandarava found the young Kalasiddhi (of Nepal) (also known as Belwong Kalasiddhi) in a charnal ground sucking at her dead mother's breasts. Mandarava rescued her and raised her to adulthood.[2] Kalasiddhi later became another of Padmasambhava's consorts as well as one of Yeshe Tsogyal's disciples.[3] Other sources though, show that it is Yeshe Tsogyal found the young Nepali woman, named her Kalasiddhi, and instructed her in meditation practices.[4]

  1. ^ Keith Dowman. Sky Dancer: The Secret Life and Songs of the Lady Yeshe Tsogyel. pp. 147-150.
  2. ^ http://yoniversum.nl/dakini/kalasiddhi.html
  3. ^ Sky Dancer: The Secret Life and Songs of the Lady Yeshe Tsogyel. p. 150.
  4. ^ Keith Dowman, translator. Sky Dancer: The Secret Life and Songs of the Lady Yeshe Tsogyal. Routledge, Kegan, and Paul, London. (1984). p. 119.