SIMHAMUKHA YOGINI

SIMHAMUKHA YOGINI
Simhamukha or Senge Dongma can be translated into English as Lion-Faced Dakini. According to the Indian traditions followed by the Sarma schools, the dakini Simhamukha is a tutelary deity arising out of the Chakrasamvara cycle of Tantras and belongs to the Anuttarayoga ‘wisdom’ classification. The Sarma schools’ Simhamukha is unrelated to the deity of the same name and appearance which arose in the later indigenous Tibetan Nyingma ‘terma’ (treasure) traditions, where she is regarded as the secret form of Guru Rinpoche (Padmasambhava). According to the Nyingma school, this dakini and female tantric Buddha is the principal dakini teacher and one of the principal fierce manifestations of Padmasambhava, the 8th Century mahasiddha, claimed to be the founder of the same school. As such, she is connected with many ceremonies of the Dzogchen tradition. A fierce dakini, she is also one of the Phramenma, a group of female deities from the Bardo Thödol, or ‘Tibetan Book of the Dead’. The female lama Jetsun Lochen (1865- 1951) founded a Simhamukha practice lineage.

INTRODUCTION TO THANGKA
A thangka, also known as tangka, thanka, or tanka, is a vibrant and intricate Tibetan Buddhist painting that serves as a visual representation of spiritual teachings. Crafted with meticulous detail on cotton or silk appliqué, thangkas depict a wide range of subjects including Buddhist deities, sacred scenes, mandalas, and narrative stories. These sacred artworks are traditionally kept unframed and rolled up for storage, resembling ancient scrolls. To protect their delicate nature, thangkas are mounted on textile backings and often adorned with a silk cover on the front. Proper preservation in dry environments is crucial to maintain the integrity and longevity of the silk.