Vajranairatmya

Vajranairatmya : Diamond Selflessness; Lady of Emptiness; She Who has Achieved Selflessness

Vajranairatmya is a path to enlightenment and a primary Tantric deity. She is the spirit of freedom, the goddess of “non-self”. Vajranairatmya achieved enlightenment and is now called the Ego-less One. She travels with a retinue of eight dakinis.

ALSO KNOWN AS:

Nairatmya; Vajra Nairatmya

ORIGIN:

Tibet

CLASSIFICATION:

Buddha

MANIFESTATION:

Vajranairatmya appeared to the sage Virupa in the guise of an older, gaunt, low-caste woman with very dark, blue-black skin.

ICONOGRAPHY:

Vajranairatmya wears a crown of small skulls over her red hair. Her hair is otherwise ornamented with a five-pronged vajra. She wears a tiger-skin skirt. She is envisioned in sublime union with Hevajra or by herself as a seated yogini. In her four-armed guise, she dances within a halo of flames.

ATTRIBUTE:

Vajra, bowl formed from a skull

Emblem:

Downward-facing triangle

Consort:

Hevajra

COLOUR:

Blue

SEE ALSO:

• Buddha
• Dakini
• Vajra
• Vajravetali

SOURCE:

Encyclopedia of Spirits: The Ultimate Guide to the Magic of Fairies, Genies, Demons, Ghosts, Gods & Goddesses – Written by : Judika Illes Copyright © 2009 by Judika Illes.