Dukkar: A Powerful Deity That Dispels Evil Spirits
Dukkar (Main figure)
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(Top to bottom): Buddha Shakyamuni, Dukkar, Dorje Shugden and the Three Mahakala Lords.
Deity: Dukkar (Tibetan)
Alternative names: Sitatapatra (Sanskrit); White Parasol (English)
The awe-inspiring Dukkar is an extremely efficacious female deity. According to scriptural sources, her all-powerful form emerged from the ushnisha or sacred crown protuberance of Buddha Shakyamuni, while he was in deep meditative absorption amidst the assembly of the gods in the Heaven of the Thirty-Three. Hence, Buddha Shakyamuni is depicted above Dukkar in this thangka. Her supreme practice was popular in ancient India and has managed to retain its popularity to this day because it is extremely potent in averting obstacles for Buddhist practitioners.
In fact, Dukkar is invoked to protect practitioners from a wide range of problems and calamities ranging from attacks from malevolent spirits to unjustified legal suits. Her mantra is also said to repel negative interferences and purify negative defilements. Furthermore, her long mantra or dharani is traditionally worn in an amulet for protection, even in extremely dangerous circumstances, and it also has the power to alter adverse weather conditions. The protective blessings of Dukkar are invoked in a number of rituals such as her torma offering, fire puja, the creation of a protective circle, drawing of her mandala and her dharanis, which are often inserted into stupas and statues as highly sacred items.
The most commonly depicted form of Dukkar has 1,000 heads, 1,000 arms, 1,000 legs and thousands of eyes that oversee sentient beings. With her two central hands, she holds a Dharma wheel and a white parasol from which she takes her name. In her other hands she holds a multitude of various weapons. Her skin is radiant white in colour and her body is adorned with the various accoutrements of a bodhisattva.
Deity: Three Mahakala Lords
At her sacred feet lie the ’Three Brother Lords’ – three Mahakalas that hold wooden sticks who are associated with Dukkar’s practice and often depicted together with her. They are said to protect all those who practise Dukkar sincerely.
Deity: Dorje Shugden
Dorje Shugden, who is a highly powerful protector of the Dharma, accompanies the Buddha above Dukkar. Relied upon by masters of all traditions for the past 350 years, Dorje Shugden is a worthy accompanying deity to Dukkar’s protective practice.
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Thank you for creating one minute stories for the busy schedule of others such as me.
This is really great one minute knowledge too.
I simply love Lord Dukkar. HE Tsem Rinpoche few years back told me to do her mantras to help ward of spirits that were disturbing my father, and within a week, the disturbances were gone. Really powerful and great protection.
Since then, has been doing her mantras occasionally.