Dharma Protectors Series

• Serkyem Offering to Drikung Achi Chödrön by Jamyang Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö

A 'golden drink' (gser skyems) offering to Drikung Achi Chökyi Drolma, here called Chökyi Drönma, the deified great-grandmother of Jikten Sumgön (1143–1217).

• Brief Petitionary Offering to the Five Achi Sisters by Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo

A brief three-verse liturgy to accompany offerings to Achi Chökyi Drolma and her retinue of sisters.

• Offering Prayer to Changshönma, Protectress Riding upon a Wolf by Lodi Gyari Rinpoche

Lodi Gyari Rinpoche composed this brief offering prayer to Changshönma (spyang zhon ma), the wolf-riding protectress, in Pemayangtse, Sikkim in 2006.

• Brief Offering Prayer to Durtrö Lhamo, Mistress of the Charnel Ground by Fifth Dzogchen Rinpoche

A four-line prayer to accompany an offering to the protectress Durtrö Lhamo (dur khrod lha mo), Mistress of the Charnel Ground.

• Brief Offering Prayer to Durtrö Lhamo, Mistress of the Charnel Ground by Mipham Rinpoche

A four-line prayer to accompany an offering to the protectress Durtrö Lhamo (dur khrod lha mo), Mistress of the Charnel Ground.

• Golden Drink (Serkyem) and Torma Offering by Dudjom Lingpa

A brief liturgy to accompany the offering of serkyem (gser skyems), or golden libation, and torma, to the eight classes of spirits.

• Restorative Offering to the Eight Classes by Nubchen Sangye Yeshe

Attributed to the ninth-century master Nubchen Sangye Yeshe, this offering of 'golden drink' (gser skyems) to the eight classes (sde brgyad) of gods and spirits is considered an essential preliminary to various apotropaic rites.

• Brief Offering Prayer to Ekajaṭī by Mipham Rinpoche

A four-line prayer to accompany offerings to Ekajaṭī, protectress of the Dzogchen teachings.

• Offering to the Five Mentsün Sisters, Guardians of the Earth by Mipham Rinpoche

A four-line prayer to the Five Mentsün Sisters (sman btsun mched lnga), who are also known as the Five Sisters of Long Life, together with a mantra, composed in 1892.

• Brief Dharmapālas Offering by Dodrupchen Jigme Trinle Özer

A brief text for making offerings to the dharma protectors, especially Ekajaṭī, Gönpo Maning, Vajrasādhu (alias Dorje Lekpa), Rāhula, Durtrö Lhamo (Goddess of the Charnel Ground), Tseringma and the sisters of long-life and Dorje Yudrönma (Goddess of the Turquoise Lamp).

• Brief Protectors Practice by Fifth Dzogchen Rinpoche

A five-line prayer of offering addressed to the principal dharmapālas of the Dzogchen tradition.

• Entrusting Activity to the Dharmapālas by Jamyang Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö

A general liturgy for entrusting activity (phrin las bcol ba) to the oath-bound guardians of the teachings.

• Expeditious Activity Torma Offering by Jamyang Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö

A simple torma offering which was requested by Khandro Tsering Chödrön (1925–2011) for her daily recitations and composed in the protectors' temple at Sakya Monastery, Tibet.

• General Offering to Local Deities by Jamyang Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö

A generic four-line offering liturgy that can be adapted and addressed to any local deity.

• Wayfaring Offering by Jamyang Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö

A simple offering to various deities, especially dharma protectors and local guardians, requesting their protection from bandits and robbers while travelling, composed in 1955.

• A Practice of Fulfilment and Confession to an Ocean of Oath-bound Protectors by Jigme Lingpa

A simple rite of confession to amend any impairments and breakages of samaya and to purify actions that upset the dharma protectors.

• Entrusting Activity to the Oath-Bound Dharma Guardians by Jigme Lingpa

A well-known text for entrusting activity to the Dharma protectors, so that they may ensure the flourishing of the Buddhadharma, especially the Vajrayāna, and protect practitioners from every form of harm.

• Damchen Chitor: A Brief Practice of Torma Offering to the Oath-Bound Guardians by Minling Terchen Gyurme Dorje

This rite for offering to the dharma protectors, headed by Mahākāla in various forms, is among the most popular liturgies in the Nyingma tradition.

• Concise General Offering to the Female Protector-Goddesses by Mipham Rinpoche

A four-line liturgy to accompany offerings to the female protectors, including Ekajaṭī, Rematī and Makzor Gyalmo.

• Concise General Offering to the Male Protectors by Mipham Rinpoche

A four-line liturgy to accompany offerings to the male protectors, especially Mahākāla in his various forms.

• As Those Individuals Who Possess Bodhicitta… by Patrul Rinpoche

This three-verse exhortation to the dharmapālas, which is regularly recited by followers of the Longchen Nyingtik tradition, was composed for Tsamtrul Rinpoche, the incarnation of Jigme Gyalwai Nyugu, when he was about to travel through the bandit-plagued land of Golok.

• Petitionary Offering to Norbu Dradül Tsal by Jamyang Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö

A brief prayer to accompany offerings to Gesar Norbu Dradül Tsal (‘Foe-Subduing Jewel’) and to request his protection against obstacles and harmful forces.

• Brief Offering Prayer to Gesar by Mipham Rinpoche

A short, four-line prayer to accompany offerings to Gesar.

• Brief Offering Prayer to Gesar by Shechen Gyaltsab Gyurme Pema Namgyal

A short, four-line prayer to accompany offerings to Gesar.

• Sweet Melody to Delight the Glorious Deity: In Praise of Śrī Kālīdevī by Jamyang Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö

Written in Kolkata, a city associated with Kālī, these verses of praise identify the goddess as having "a hundred names and thousand attributes" and as being one with Samantabhadrī, Prajñāpāramitā, Ekajaṭī and many other prominent female deities in the Tibetan Buddhist pantheon.

• Brief Offering Prayer to Mahādeva and Consort by Mipham Rinpoche

A four-line prayer to accompany offerings to Mahādeva and consort, the protectors associated with the activity of magnetizing.

• Swift Enlightened Activity: A Concise Ceremony of Offering and Prayer to Mahākāla and Consort by Jamyang Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö

This brief practice of Mahākāla and consort was composed in the presence of the sacred Mahākāla image at Sakya Monastery, most likely in 1956, at the request of three close disciples, including the young Sogyal Rinpoche.

• The Fulfilment of All Wishes: Prayer and Entrustment of Activity to the Glorious Guru Mahākāla Pañjaranātha by Jamyang Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö

This appeal to Mahākāla Pañjaranātha for his assistance in overcoming obstacles during turbulent times and progressing on the Dharma path was composed at Bodhgaya, site of the Buddha's enlightenment.

• Bestower of Supreme Accomplishment: A Torma Offering to Mahākāla by Paksam Wangpo

A simple torma offering rite addressed to Four-Armed Mahākāla, together with his consort and retinue, according to the Drukpa Kagyü tradition.

• Brief Petitionary Offering to Nechung by Khenchen Jigme Phuntsok

A four-line liturgy to accompany offerings to Nechung, composed at Nechung Dorje Drayang Ling, Hawaii in 1993.

• Pacifying the Turmoil of the Mamos: A Concise Liturgy by Shechen Gyaltsab Gyurme Pema Namgyal

This is an extremely concise version of a longer liturgy for appeasing the mamos (mātṛkā) and overcoming the environmental disturbances and disease that they can create. It was composed in 1921.

• Brief Prayer for Pacifying the Turmoil of the Mamos by Tertön Sogyal

A four-line practice of confession and offering in order to appease the wisdom and mundane mamos, who could otherwise incite sickness and misfortune.

• A Brief Petitionary Offering to the Mātṛkā Pukkasī, Local Protectress of the Jarung Kashor Stūpa by Dudjom Rinpoche

A brief petitionary offering (gsol mchod) to the mātṛkā Pukkasī, who is the local protectress of the sacred Jarung Kashor stūpa in Boudha, Nepal.

• Brief Offering Prayer to Za Rāhula by Mipham Rinpoche

A four-line prayer to accompany offerings to Za Rāhula, a major protector of the Nyingma teachings.

• Serkyem (Golden Libation) Offering to the Guardians of the Tradition by Tertön Sogyal

A simple rite for offering golden libation (gser skyems) to the dharma protectors of Tertön Sogyal's own tradition (rang lugs).

• Sweet Song of the Kalaviṅka: In Praise of Tseringma by Jamyang Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö

Composed in Darjeeling in 1958, these verses in praise of the goddess Tseringma are in abecedarian form, meaning that each line begins with successive letters of the Tibetan alphabet (ka, kha, ga, nga, and so on).

• Brief Offering Prayer to Tsiu Marpo by Mipham Rinpoche

A four-line prayer to accompany offerings to Tsiu Marpo, the special protector of Samye Monastery.

• A Song to Delight Vaiśravaṇa: Praise of the Great King Vaiśravaṇa by Jamyang Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö

Verses in praise of Vaiśravaṇa, the guardian of the northern direction, who is associated with wealth and prosperity, together with the eight principal figures in his retinue, known as the eight masters of the horses (rta bdag brgyad).

• Brief Offering Prayer to the Oath-Bound Vajrasādhu by Mipham Rinpoche

A four-line prayer to accompany offerings to Vajrasādhu (Tib. Dorje Lekpa), a major protector of the Nyingma teachings.

• Yarlha Shampo Sang Offering by Jamyang Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö

A brief incense smoke (bsang) and serkyem offering rite to the protective mountain deity Yarlha Shampo, composed in 1956.

• Gesar Series

• Torma Offering