NAIRATMYA YOGINI

NAIRATMYA YOGINI
Iconography
Nairatmya is typically depicted as a black-skinned figure with one face and two hands. She is often seated in a lotus position, with her right hand holding aloft a curved knife and her left hand holding a skullcup to her heart. She may also be depicted with a katvanga (a ritual staff) in the bend of her elbow. Nairatmya’s three eyes represent her ability to see the past, present, and future, and her bared fangs represent her fierce determination to overcome ignorance and delusion. The crown of skulls represents the death of the ego, and the skullcup represents the nectar of wisdom.

History
The cult of Nairatmya originated in India, where she was first worshipped as a yogini. She was later introduced to Tibet, where she became one of the most important deities in the Buddhist pantheon. Nairatmya is often seen as a patron deity of tantric practitioners, and she is frequently depicted in mandalas and thangkas.

Temples and Monasteries
There are no temples dedicated specifically to Nairatmya in Nepal, but she is often worshipped in temples dedicated to other deities, such as Hevajra and Vajrayogini. There are also a number of monasteries in Nepal where Nairatmya is worshipped, such as the Sakya Monastery in Kathmandu and the Gyume Tantric Monastery in Dolpo.