Female Deities in Mongolian Buddhist Votive Paintings

Pages	61–74
Keywords	Tibetan Buddhism, Mongolia, female deities, Dharma protectors, iconography, Vajrayoginí, Palden Lhamo, Dākinī
Type of Article	Peer-reviewed
Citation	HEROLDOVÁ, Helena. Female Deities in Mongolian Buddhist Votive Paintings. Annals of the Náprstek Museum. Prague: National Museum, 2015, 36(1), 61–74. ISSN 0231-844X (print), 2533-5685 (online). Also available from: https://publikace.nm.cz/en/periodicals/aotnpm/36-1/female-deities-in-mongolian-buddhist-votive-paintings

Annals of the Náprstek Museum | 2015/36/1

The present article focuses on iconography of peaceful and wrathful female deities in Tibetan Buddhism in Mongolia. The female deities in Tibetan Buddhism play various roles in everyday practice. Besides the bodhisattvas in female form, they represent personal deities, various protectors and local deities. The following examples depict various types of female deities. Vajrayogini belongs among the Dakinis, the female deities assisting in spiritual development, and worldly Dharma protectors. The most important among the protectors is Palden Lhamo. Mo lha belongs to protective spirits. Sitatapatra with a parasol symbolizes the spiritual protection. Usnisavijaya represents one of the popular Long-life Deities.

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