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Sumbharaja: Function & Appearance
Written by Administrator
Friday, 02 July 2010 10:25
Sumbharaja's Place in the Sadhana{highslide type="img"
url="SumbharajaAW.jpg" width=200 captionText='Sumbharaja
Line Drawing by Andy Weber
(www.andyweberstudios.com)'}{/highslide}
Click on image to enlarge
Sumbharaja (Tib: gnod mdzes) is one of the divine forms we
transform ourselves into during the
main session of the (long) Single- or 13-Deity Yamantaka
sadhanas. The forms we go through
during the self-generation process are (in sequence): (1) Sahaja
Vajrabhairava (1 Face, 2
Arms); (2) Sumbharaja ; (3) Vajrasattva (3 Faces, 6 Arms); (4)
Vairochana (3 Faces, 6 Arms);
(5) Manjushri (1 Face, 2 Arms); and finally (6) Vajrabhairava (9
Faces, 34 Arms). We appear as
Sumbharaja right after we have generated the mandala of the four
elements and the protection
wheel, transforming from the HUM syllable in the center of that
wheel. This light blue HUM,which is in the nature of our own mind,
dissolves into light from which we arise as Sumbharaja.
Sumbahraja's Appearance
He is dark blue in color; has a light-blue main, a white right,
and a red left face; the side faces
protrude beyond the ears; each of those faces has three eyes.
Their expression is wrathful. The
orange-colored hair is bristling upwards. He has six arms: the
first two embrace a consort
similar to himself; the second right hand holds a
wish-fulfilling jewel, the third an iron hook. Thesecond left hand
holds a lotus, the third a noose. He stands in a posture with right
leg drawn
and the left extended. His consort looks like him, having three
faces, six arms, etc.
Sumbharaja's Function in the Vajrabhairava and
Guhyasamaja Practices
The Uncommon Protection Wheel in the Vajrabhairava practice is
often compared or referred to
the one found in the Guhyasamaja practice. Despite the same name
there are differences thatrelate directly to the visualization and
function of Sumbharaja. Whereas in the Guhyasamaja
practice Sumbharaja is one of the 10 Wrathful Ones, here he is
not. In fact he is the one who
steers the Protection Wheel and commandeers the Ten Wrathful
Ones. In the Guhyasamaja
practice Akshobhya is in command and Sumbharaja is his
subordinate. In the Guhyasamaja
practice Sumbharaja is part of the mandala retinue and single;
in the Vajrabhairava practice he
has a consort - and does not appear as mandala deity.
The Ten Wrathful Ones
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