Why is Vajravarahi Practice so Powerful? Vajravarahi Vajrayogini Practice and Mantra: Practicing Buddhist Wisdom and Method Without Renouncing the Worldly

Vajravarahi, Queen of Dakinis, also known as Vajrayogini, is the Enlightened Wisdom of all the Buddhas, applied in daily life as activity. It is for this reason, Vajrayogini practices are so popular today. How can her practice be both the deepest and most profound of practices, but also the most approachable? We answer this question in this short Buddha Weekly feature (or alternate video format embedded below), and end with the beautifully chanted mantra of Vajravarahi 27 times. For the full 8 lines praise, see the linked video on the 3 Gems Band channel, also embedded below!

The great Lama Yeshe described Vajrayogini as the ultimate method for modern daily life:

“The Vajrayogini yoga method is extremely powerful. It is just what we need in these degenerate times, with our delusions running rampant and our minds grasping at concretized sense pleasures. Therefore, a method such as this, which has the wisdom to transform delusions, is of the utmost need, especially as it has the profound property of becoming more powerful as delusions become stronger.”

Of all the Vajrayana meditative deities, Vajrayogini, perhaps better known as Vajravarahi, is credited with being the one practice for our busy, hectic, terrifying times which can lead us, in one lifetime, to Enlightenment.

Video version of this feature:

How is that possible?

Simply put, Vajravarahi’s visualization, her appearance, her mantra, her sadhana, are all designed to counter our modern obstacles — especially the obstacles of our degenerate times which are so focused on greed, attachment, clinging and ego. Her shining red color symbolizes her power over attachment.

Her dancing or standing form, a dynamic pose, symbolizes that her practice is all about activity and getting into our daily lives.

Vajrayogini Practice in Modern Times

In our modern age, when we have no time, when life is always in the way of practice, when we struggle with many fears — terrorism, global warming, wars, paying the bills, healing our sickness — these are all the reasons to consider her practice.

Vajrayogini or Vajravarahi manifests in her fiery red, passionate, stunning beautiful and energetic form. Fast action. Fast practice. An appearance that is instantly modern and relatable.

This is one reason why Lama Yeshe, and many modern teachers recommended Vajravarahi or Vajrayogini.

On the one hand, she is more accessible to modern busy lives. When we dive deep into her practice, we find our teacher’s guide us with 11 yogas which incorporate her practice right into our daily, modern lives. With Vajravarahi and Vajrayogini we have no need to retreat to a cave for years.

Dont’ miss the 3Gems Band full 8 Lines of Praise with English praise and all 8 mantras in Sanskrit!:

This is illustrated in the 3 Gems Band song, linked at the information icon, with the second verse mentioning the monk Kushali. In the ancient story, Kushali was a novice monk who felt pity for an old woman with leprosy that his own master had ignored on the side of the road. He carried the old lady on his back, and was instantly rewarded when she transformed into glorious Vajravarahi. The goddess carried him to Kechara Pureland, her paradise, where he attained realizations.

Ordinary Generous Acts are Her Practice

This illustrates that ordinary, generous acts of merit and kindness are her daily practice, one of her yogas. Although the practice does require a teacher, empowerment and training, we can practice her praises and her acts of kindness now, in our every day lives, just as Kushali showed us. Vajravarahi is sure to notice.

Fortunately, some teachers, such as His Eminence Garchen Rinpoche, offer the Vajrayogini empowerment online with their blessing — which we have linked at the information icon. By attending the empowerment online, you draw closer to her practices.

Playlist for online Empowerment for those interested, with His Eminence Garchen Rinpoche:

For now, until we receive that wonderful empowerment, we can bring Vajravarahi Vajrayogini energy, activity and wisdom into our lives by praising her attributes with her 8 Lines of Praise or with her mantras. We can dedicate the merit of our praises and mantras to the future opportunity for empowerment.

In the chanted praise sung by 3 Gems Band, which is musically chanted in English first, followed by Sanskrit, they sing the entire eight lines plus the mantra at the linked video.

At the end of this presentation we have only the Vajravarahi mantra. This praise and mantra is a meritorious daily practice, especially if you dedicate the merit to benefit of all beings and also to the opportunity for you, yourself to practice Vajravarahi or Vajrayogini. Bookmark the 3 Gems Band video with the praise for daily practice.

Vajravarahi Praise Mantra

Her main mantra which is repeated many times throughout the praise, and which we present 27 times at the end of this video, is:

oṃ namo bhagavati vajravārāhi vaṃ huṃ huṃ phaṭ

This more or less translates as:

Praise to Bhagavati Vajravarahi, please cut the obstacles to Enlightenment with your great essence “Vam”.

Vam is the seed syllable or essence syllable for Vajravarahi or Vajrayogini. In Tibetan this is phonetically Bam but in Sanskrit Vam.

The second line of praise is:

oṃ nama āryaparājite trailokyamāte mahāvidyeśvari huṃ huṃ phaṭ

This translates as: “I prostrate to you, Exalted Lady, queen of Wisdom, invincible in the three realms, please cut the obstacles to Enlightenment.”

The third line of praise is:

oṃ namaḥ sarvabhūtabhayāvahe mahāvajre huṃ huṃ phaṭ

This means: “I prostrate to you who destroy all evil spirits with your great vajra, please cut obstacles to Enlightenment.”

The fourth line of praise is:

oṃ namo vajrāsane ajite’parājite vaśaṃkari netrabhrāmiṇi huṃ huṃ phaṭ

This translates as: “I prostrate to You who are invincible, with overpowering eyes. Please cut the obstacles to Enlightenment.”

The fifth line of praise is:

oṃ namaḥ śhoṣaṇi roṣhaṇi krodhani karālini huṃ huṃ phaṭ

This more or less means: “I prostrate to your wrathful form, who reveals all illusions and cuts the obstacles to Enlightenment.”

The sixth line of praise is:

oṃ namaḥ saṃtrāsani māraṇi suprabhedani parājaye huṃ huṃ phaṭ

This means: “I prostrate to You who conquers all opponents by terrifying and desiccating demons and by cutting the obstacles to Enlightenment.”

The seventh line of praise is:

oṃ namo jaye vijaye jambhani mohani huṃ huṃ phaṭ

This translates as “I prostrate to You who vanquish all those that stupefy, paralyze, and confuse us.”

The final, or eighth line of praise is:

oṃ namo vajravārāhi mahāyogini kāmeśhvari khage huṃ huṃ phaṭ

This more or less means:

“I prostrate to Vajravarahi, the great yogini, dakini-queen of desire who cuts the obstacles to Enlightenment.”

Listen now (inset video above) as the 3 Gems Band chants Vajravarahi’s Praise mantra.