Every myth carries a truth older than the civilization that told it.
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Hayagriva, “the Horse-Necked One” — a fierce horse-headed wrathful deity and dharma-protector of Tibetan Buddhism whose neighing cry shatters delusion and
Vajrakilaya (Dorje Phurba), “the Diamond Dagger” — a supremely wrathful meditational deity of Tibetan Buddhism whose essence is the three-edged phurba
Palden Lhamo, “the Glorious Goddess” — the great wrathful protectress of Tibetan Buddhism and the only female of the Eight Great Dharmapalas, who rides a
Pehar, the spirit-king of Tibetan Buddhism — chief of the worldly gyalpo spirits, bound by Padmasambhava as a protector of the dharma, and the deity who
Mandarava, the Indian princess and enlightened consort of Padmasambhava — who renounced a royal marriage for the dharma, whose love survived the pyre that
Milarepa, the greatest of Tibet’s yogi-saints — a man who began as a murderer steeped in black magic and, through repentance, brutal trials and superhuman
Machig Labdron, “the Singular Mother” — the great female master and founder of the Chöd (“Cutting”) tradition, an enlightened Tibetan woman who developed
Green Tara, the swift saviouress and “Mother of all the Lord Buddhas” — the most beloved active form of Tara in Tibetan Buddhism, the embodiment of compassion
Vajrasattva, “the Diamond Being” — the buddha of purification in the Vajrayana, a radiant white deity whose practice and hundred-syllable mantra cleanse
Vajrayogini, “the Diamond Yogini” — the supreme female tantric deity of Tibetan Buddhism, a fierce and dazzling red dakini who embodies the wisdom of
