Ekajati or Ekajata (Tibetan: ral chig ma. English: One Braid of Hair), one of the 21 Taras, is a peaceful female bodhisattva in Tibetan Buddhism. The name Ekajati literally means “one whose hair is arranged in single chignon. Ekajati is most often portrayed as a ferocious goddess and is one of the most powerful goddesses of Tibetan mythology, her awesomeness being emphasized by the pronounced and only eye in the center of the forehead.
Ekajita is of a blue skin tone, with a high, red chignon ("she who has but one chignon" is another one of her titles). She has one head, one breast, two hands and a third eye. However, she can also be depicted with more body parts; up to twelve heads and twenty four arms, with different tantric attributes (sword, knife, blue lotus axe, vajra)
In her most common form she holds an axe, drigug (cleaver) or khatvanga (tantric staff) and a skull cup in her hands. In her chignon is a picture of Akshobhya.
Her demeanour expresses determination. With her right foot she steps upon corpses, symbols of the ego. Her laugh bares a split tongue and a single tooth. She is dressed in a skull necklace and with a tiger and a human skin. She sits in the vajra position on a lotus and is surrounded by flames representing wisdom.
Ekajati is the supreme protectress of the Nyingmapa practices. She also functions as guardian of mantras - preventing them from being disclosed to those unworthy to use them, and ensuring that those who have been empowered to use them do so for appropriate purposes. She guards them in a more general sense as well, preventing them from losing their power and efficacy, or from being lost altogether.......................................................................................................................................................................................................... |