THE LADY OF THE MANDALAMarici in the Path of Vairocana and Samantabhadra

(by Dale Goodyear

d_good_year@hotmail.com)

All the Bodhisattvas of the Samantabhadra mandala present themselves in Masculine form. That is

characteristic of the Sutra tradition of Mahayana, which never speaks of feminine Bodhisattvas or

Buddhas. However, even with the rise of the Mantrayana (Vajrayana) tradition, these--Vairocana,

Manjushri, Samantabhadra, and the Two Healing Kings--have normally manifested in Masculine mode.

So, who then is the Lady of the Mandala? Who shall hold the Feminine pole of

Bodhisattva/Buddhahood with these Masculine-pole Bodhisattvas, the Yin to their Yang?

I meditated on this, and the answer was obvious. It is the great Bodhisattva (and Buddha) called

Marici (mah-ree-chee), who serves also under the Dhyani-Buddha Vairocana. Her name means "Ray

of Light."

In her various guises, Marici--though less familiar--is equally as important as Tara in the Mantrayana

traditions.

For one, she is the Lady of the Dawn--the dawn of Enlightenment and Liberation in each of us.

Also, she is the Queen of the complete Bliss of integration, the ultimate union of the masculine and

feminine polarities in ourselves that leads to Buddhahood. In the Vajrayana practices that pursue this

integration, she is known most often by her other names, Vajravarahi or Vajrayogini. In this

manifestation, she can be considered the Feminine aspect of Vairocana himself. So just like Tara, she is

both Bodhisattva and Buddha.

The symbolism of Marici is very ancient, and goes all the way back to the thousands-year-old Rig

Veda, where it was already old.

And Marici surfaces also in very ancient Chinese Taoist traditions, especially the yogic/alchemical

paths, where they preserve aspects of her that got lost from the Buddhist Sutra and even Tantra

teachings.

In Buddhist art, Marici is depicted in a vehicle drawn by 7 pigs. This pig symbol also appears when

she is called Vajravarahi or Vajrayogini. Whatever the significance of the animal -- and in Chinese, the

syllable xi can mean "pig" 豨 and also "daylight, early dawn" 曦, "bright, glorious" 凞, or "bright,

warm" 熹 -- the number 7 seems to be associated with the 7 stars of the Big Dipper.

In Taoism, this was clearly brought forth, where Marici's Chinese name actually means the "Dipper

Mother" (Dou Mu). And Taoists teach that she resides in the star Polaris, the Pole Star which is the

Gateway of supreme liberation and spiritual immortality, and the source of those blessings for

humanity. In Taoism, the Pole Star rules the stars of the Big Dipper; just as Marici drives the chariot

drawn by 7 pigs.

Now, in Taoist alchemical yoga, the Pole Star is spiritually a violet or purple star. We already know

from ancient Buddhist traditions I've described elsewhere that this royal-purple or violet energy equals

Freedom (for example, the "Purple Lotus Flower" of Kuan Yin).

So Marici, the Pole Star Lady and Dipper Mother, is a Queen of Freedom for humanity, and her

radiance descends from the Pole Star where she resides and enters our beings to bring about our

Liberation from karma and samsara, to bring us to the state of genuine Wholeness and Immortality

which is Buddhahood.

Where then does Marici place herself in the Mandala? We can see her in the center, in the very Heart

of Vairocana if we like. And we can experience a royal-purple Star or Sun, a replica of the Pole Star,

and the Lady Marici standing or seated within it and pouring out her Freedom to us, bringing the dawn

of Buddhahood to each one of us, both as violet-purple and also as rose-red (another color

characteristic of her, and associated in Taoism with the Dipper stars).

The mantra I use is simple, and ends with the same key syllable Om of Vairocana:

Om Marici Om

(om mah-ree-chee om)

This mantra belongs to everyone, as a gift from Marici. Use it, and see what happens for you in the

integration of the poles of being, see what transpires for you to set you free from limitations and

burdens. This Mother Bodhisattva-Buddha is very powerful.

Pole Star

and

Seven Big Dipper Stars

Marici