serkyem of the eight classes

Editor's note: This manuscript is intended for people who received this transmission or wish to receive it in the future. Manuscript version v.1.2

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(k k&{-0W+-0%}=-*0=-#ao0=-=$=-W=-9{-

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k#={:-[{1=-#2$-1-8+m-06{=-;k ser kyem tsang ma di zh la

Please accept this pure Golden Drink k0+#-#m-8+}+-+},-au0-_p-#=};k dak gi di dn drup tu sl

Please accomplish my aspirations!

k[-9m-+0$-.}-0W-Am,-+$-k lha yi wang po gya jin dang

Mighty Lord of Devas, Indra k[-1m,-+0$-.}-*#=-07$-:m=k lha min wang po tak zang ri

Mighty Lord of Asuras, Vemacitra kPt-9m-+0$-.}-+#8-0}-+$-k lu yi wang po gawo dang

King of Nagas, Gawo 1

k1m-81-%m-V},-K-1#}-%,k mi am chi jn ta go chen

The Great horse-headed Miam Chijon

k#,}+-^m,-#$-0-07$-.}-+$-k n jin gang wa zang po dang

Yaksha Purnabhadra (Gangwa Zangpo) k1"8-Xm$-#={:-1m#-8=m;-0-+$-k kha ding ser mig kyil wa dang

Garuda Sermig Kyilwa ('scintillating golden eye') kNm,-.}-;$-!-1E m,-0%t-+$-k sinpo lang ka drin chu dang

Ravana, the King of Rakshasas, 2

k&}=-[}$-1->-!-;-+$-k ch kyong ma ha ka la dang

Mahakala, Protector of the Doctrine, kHm-7-7v:-/v+-T-.-=}#=k dri za zur p nga pa sok

Dri Za Zurpu Ngapa,The King of Gandharvas ('with hair tied in five knots'), and all the others, k@m-9m-&{-0W+-8"}:-0%=-;k chi yi d gy khor ch la

To the Outer Eight Classes with their retinues k1&}+-.-+1-.-8+m-80v;-;}k ch pa dam pa di bl lo

We are offering this sacred offerings k#={:-[{1=-#2$-1-8+m-06{=-;k ser kyem tsang ma di zh la

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Please accept this pure Golden Drink k0+#-#m-8+}+-+},-au0-_p-#=};k dak gi d dn drup tu sl


k90-#%m#-0`o+-I{-,#-.}-+$-k yap chik d j nak po dang

Yabcig Dd Je Nag Po ('the only father, the black lord of the Dd') kP,-W;-91-co+-+1:-.}-+$-k tsen gyel yam sh mar po dang

The King of Tsen, Yamshud Marpo ('the red Yamshud'),

k9v;-[-h-=$=-Pt-N=-+$-k yl lha cha sang lu s dang

The local deity, Cha Sang, the son of Nagas kN}#-0+#-W;-.}-$m$-8Am,-+$-k sok dak gyel po nying jin dang

Sogdag Gyalpo Nying Jyin ('tearing out the hearts'), k&}=-[}$-#,}+-^m,-+1:-.}-+$-k ch kyong n jin mar po dang

The Dharma Protector, Njyin Marpo ('red Yaksha') k[-1}-8'm#=-.8m-Q }#-8Am,-+$-k lha mo jik p lok jin dang

The Goddess Jigpe Logjyin ('throwing terryfying thunderbolts') 3

k+#{-0${,-L}-I{-;{#=-.-+$-k g nyen dor j lek pa dang

The Virtuous Dorje Legpa (Vajrasadhu) k+!:-1}-(m-S-*}+-J{$-=}#=k kar mo nyi da t treng sok

Karmo Nyida Th Treng ('white sun and moon, necklace of skulls'), and others k,$-#m-&{-0W+-8"}:-0%=-;k nang gi d gy khor ch la

To the Inner Eight Classes with their retinues k1&}+-.-+1-.-8+m-80v;-;}k ch pa dam pa di bl lo




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k0`o+-.}-"-*v,-:5-+$k d po kha tn raksha dang

Dd, Khathun Raksha 4

k#

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k!:-1&}#-D1-

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k1#}-0}-Nm,-.}:-cu;-.-+$k go wo sin po trl pa dang

Head - the Emanations of Sinpo (Raksha) k1'v#-1-+1v-:v-cu;-.-+$k jug ma mu ru trl pa dang

Lower part of the spine - the Emanations of Mu

k;#-#9=-#

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k1#},-.}-0`o,-%t-P-T-+$k gn po dn chu tsa nga dnag

The 75 Protectors (75 Emanations of Mahakala) k9v;-8+m8m-#6m-0+#-*1=-%+-+$k yl dii zhi dak tam ch dang

All the local deities (owners) of this area k/}-[-+E-[-N}#-[-+$k po lha dra lha sok lha dang

Po-lha (Male deities), Dra-Lha (Warrior deities), Sog-Lha (Life-force deities) k1}-[-1}-*,-;-=}#=-.k mo lha mo men la sok pa

Mo-lha (Female deities), Mo-men (Local Goddesses), and all the others k'$-Nm+-&{-0W+-8"}:-0%=-;k nang si d gy khor ch la

To the Worldly Eight Classes with their retinues k1&}+-.-+1-.-8+m-80v;-;}k ch pa dam pa di bl lo




={:-0-Ns$-0k Nm8v-#=}-0k 1+}=-Qt+-0)$-0k 7}:-8/{,-.-;-=}#=-;=-#$-A{+-

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Notes: 1 Omitted in most texts. 2 Omitted in some texts. 3 Some texts have ma mo (class of Mamo) instead of lha mo -goddess 4 Some texts have 'Yaksha' instead of 'Raksha' 5 Some texts have dmar nag: red-black instead of dmar po: red 6 Some texts have dkar: white, instead of skar: stars 7 some texts have 'Yaksha' instead of 'Raksha' 8 Some texts have chu so: genitals, instead of mchu so: mouth and teeth 9 Some texts have mchin pa: liver instead of mche ba: teeth, fangs 10 Some texts have Go Ra (the name of the class of Nagas) insted of gdol pa: 'outcast'

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&{-0W+-#={:-[{11=i

Serkyem of the Eight Classes (by Dudjom Rinpoche)

+!},-1&}#-#=v1-+$-P-#=v1-&}=-[}$-3~#=i kn chok sum dang tsa sum ch kyong tsok

Three Jewels and Three Roots and Gathering of Protectors, @m-9m-&{-0W+-,$-#m-&{-0W+-+$i chi yi d gy nang gi d gy dang

Outer Eight Classes and Inner Eight Classes, #=$-08m-&{-0W+-1&}#-#m-&{-0W+-+$i sang w d gy chok gi d gy dang

Secret Eight Classes and Supreme Eight Classes, cu;-08m-&{-0W+-'$-Nm+-&{-0W+-=}#=i trl w d gy nang si d gy sok

Emanation Eight Classes and Worldly Eight Classes and others,

cu;-0-9$-cu;-0!8-&}+-K,-#9}#-0%=i trl wa yang trl ka d dren yok ch

Emanations and re-emanations and those bound by oaths,

8+m:-#

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Pacify obstructing forces and spontaneously accomlish all meaningful wishes!

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Explanation about the Eight Classes1

chi yi de gye - Outer Eight Classes brgya byin: Indra lha min dbang po thags bzang: a king of the Asuras (lha ma yin or lha min). His body is black, he has one face and four hands, in which he holds a shield, sword, jewel, and a chopper. His vehicle is a chariot. klu'i dbang po: apparently only a title; it was not possible to ascertain which deity occupies this place. In most works the klu'i dbang po is omitted from the enumeration of the phyi yi sde brgyad. mi 'am ci ljon rta mgo: a Kimnara 3, with a green horse-head, wearing a red garment and playing a vina 4. gnod sbyin gang ba bzang po: the mountain god, dwelling on the mountain gnod sbyin gang zang near Gyantse, the famous companion of Vaishravana rnam thos sras, the protector of the North, who guards and administers the riches from the treasury. mkha' lding gser mig 'khyil ba: a Garuda having a body of a bird, sky-blue in colour. His horns, beak, and claws are of meteoric iron, his three eyes are fiery like the sun. He is accompanied by five Naga-subduing Garudas, a white, red, blue, yellow, and a green one. srin po lang ka mgrin bcu: Raksha from Lanka, Ravana, King of Raksha, omitted from some versions of the text chos skyong ma ha ka la: Glorious Lord of Pristine Awareness, Black Neuter (not: 'eunuch', as sometimes translated! In here 'Neuter' refers to the primordial state before division into genders and duality.) with a body blue-black in colour, one face and two hands. Holding aloft in the right, pointed to the sky, a flaming lance, and in the left a poisoned heart and lasso. With three round red eyes, a curled tongue and hanging black snakes for hair. Having a crown of five dry skulls and a necklace of fifty fresh heads. Adorned with a garland of hearts and piles of snakes, dressed in silk cloaks, black and layered. Having a gold belt and a girdle of fresh human skin. From the three doors of a great stick of sandalwood, fastened at the waist, an army of snakes is dispersed. Decorated with varieties of colourful flowing streamers and all the frightful ornaments. Standing with the left leg extended atop a corpse seat..." dri za zur phud lnga pa: the king of the Gandharvas 5, called also 'the king of Water Spirits' or the 'Lord of the Great Eight Secret Places of Tibet'. He is described as beautiful man of white colour with five turquoise locks of hair. He wears a mantle of white silk and a shell for a hat. In his right hand he holds a reed cane, with a left he swings a short spear with a silk banner he is riding a white horse who can fly, with eves like Zi (onyx) and a turquoise mane. nang gi sge brgyad - Inner Eight Classes

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yab gcig bdud rje nag po: a god of the rnying ma pa pantheon, dressed in black and riding a black horse. His left hand is set in the tarjani mudra (sdig 'dzub, sdigs mdzub- threatening finger, mudra like of Vajrapani) and holds a snare, the right hand brandishes a sword. The deity's long black hair hangs loosely down and it is not covered by any head-dress. btsan rgyal yam shud dmar po: He dwells at a place lying towards the West, where he resides in a red castle of copper, surrounded by red mountains, red valleys, and red rivers. yam shud dmar po rides a red horse of the kind called bse rta (also: bsve rta). He wears a red armour, a brilliant helmet of leather, and his right hand brandishes a red lance, the bse yi mdung dmar, with fluttering streamers reddened with blood, or a stick of seng ldeng wood. His left hand holds a human heart and a red btsan snare, which he thrusts against his enemies. It is his task to cut the life of men and horses. He eats human flesh and horse meat; when thirsty, he drinks the blood of horses and men. He dispatches nine naked men as his messengers. yam shud dmar po is accompanied on the left side by nine riders, on the right by nine swift red men, and in front creeps stealthily a life-destroying wolf of copper. yul lha chag sangs klu sras: no information was available on the iconography of this deity. srog bdag rgyal po snying sbyin: this deity is regarded as an emanation of Pehar. chos skyong gnod sbyin dmar po: another name for the dharmapala tsi'u dmar po. He is the chief leader of all btsan demons. This dharmapala is usually represented in the following way: Yaksha, the king of the dgra lha, fierce and horrible, produces dreadful shrieks. His forehead is contorted in anger, his upper teeth gnaw the lower lip. He possesses all marks of a hero.With his right hand he brandishes a banner of red silk, in his left he holds the snare of the btsan demons - sparkling like the rays of the sun, which he throws with the speed of lightning at the enemies, catching with it their 'life-breath'. Also with the fourth finger of his right hand he whirls a red snare. On his right side he carries a quiver of tiger-skin and on his left side a bow-case made from the skin of a leopard, and he rides a black horse with white heels. On his head he wears a helmet of leather, adorned with an aigrette of vulture-feathers, and on his body he carries a cuirass covered with the shells of scorpions. He is surrounded by hundred thousand unvanquishable war-battalions of the btsan, by twenty thousand groups of klu, numberless the'u rang, and countless falcons and eagles, tigers, leopards, monkeys, etc. Furthermore, he is accompanied by monks wearing bse theb hats, wielding their rattling-staffs and carrying begging-bowls; five hundred of them, saying prayers solemnly, march in front. On the right side walk five hundred magicians who pronounce horrible mantras. They wear black hats, garments with broad sleeves, and brandish demon-daggers and skull-cups. On the left side march, speaking courageous words, five hundred armed men, wielding swords and shields. In the back are walking five hundred black women, who say curses while shaking out their garments. His consort is lha mo grol mo spyan gcig ma. She is dark-brown, naked, has one face, and her two hands hold a chopper and a snare. A single eye stares in a fierce manner from the middle of her brow. ma mo 'jig pa'i glog 'byin: a mamo depicted as a black woman with long protruding teeth; her body is only partly covered by a long, loosely hanging cloak. dge bsnyen rdo tje legs pa: Dorje Legpa. Surrounded by the wild sea of blood lies a castle built of bat-bone, from which a five-coloured rainbow emanates. Up in the sky, poisonous clouds gather and a terrific storm, accompanied by fiercely rolling thunder and by the

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flashing of meteors and lightning, rages there. Around this abode - on whose perimeter lies a circle of black iron hills - blows a black storm, and in the centre of this place comes forth on a "sun-lotus", riding either on a light-brown billy-goat or on a brilliantly white lion, the nobly-born rdo rje legs pa of a dark-red colour, with One face and three eyes, with a gaping mouth and bared teeth, exhaling poisonous vapours. The hair which covers his head, his eyebrows and the hair of his face blaze like fire. His right hand brandishes a nine-pointed thunderbolt of meteoric iron, crushing with it 'he heads of the enemies of religion, with his left he clutches a heart, still warm and dripping with blood, which he lifts to his mouth. His body is covered with a voluminous garment of red silk, and he wears a purple-brown hat. On his right side hangs a quiver made of tiger-skin, and on his left side a bow-case made from the skin of a leopard. His attire is full of splendour, and he is of an overpoweringly horrible appearance. dkar mo'i nyi zla'i thod 'phreng: The hair of this divinity is done in the fashion of the Indian yogis, with the sun and moon fastened at the sides of the central hair-tuft. In another form, the deity has the sun resting on her open right hand, while on the palm of the left hand lies the moon. dkar mo'i nyi zla'i thod 'phreng is represented either as having a white face and body, or with a white body and a red face. gsang ba'i sde brgyad - Secret Eight Classes bdud po kha mthun raksa: no information was available on the iconography of this deity. gshin rje gshed pa dmar po: a red form of Yamantaka represented as the figure of a man dancing on a prostrate corpse; his right hand, which is stretched sideways, holds a chopper, and the left one carries a kapala. klu bdud nagaraja: a general term; it was not possible to ascertain which deity is exactly meant. gnod sbyin shan pa gri thogs: Yaksha 6, represented on paintings with either a red or black body, and brandishing a sword. ma mo srin po'i khram 'debs: a red goddess, wearing an open cloak, one hand brandishes a khram shing (a baton with carved magical symbols), the other holds a sack full of diseases. btsan po yam shud srog len: no information was available on the iconography of this deity. bdud pho re ti 'gong yag: a black figure dressed in black silks and riding on a ferocious black otter. His right hand lifts a sta mo (axe) made of meteoric iron, with which he kills quickly all enemies and obstacle-creating demons, his left hand brandishes a battle-lance with a pendant of black silk. His companions are a multitude of bdud and btsan. srog bdag dung gi thor tshugs: the lord of life-force, with the shell protruding from his hair, that are tied together with two wide pieces of fabric which cross on top of his head mchog gi sde brgyad - Supreme Eight Classes

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gza' mchog rgyal po rahula: the chief of all planetary gods (gza') Rahu or Rahula. He has nine heads, a raven's head on top, and his body is covered by a thousand eyes. He bares his teeth, and a mist of illnesses issues from his mouth. The right hand holds a makara-banner, and the left one clutches a bow and an arrow, the latter being shot into the heart of those who break their religious vows. The lower part of his body is the coiled tail of a snake. Rahu dispatches the klu bdud - beings which originated out of the union of a klu with a bdud - as his messengers. skar mchog khram shing kha 'thor: a god of the stars, whose chief attribute is a baton carved with magical symbols. bdud mchog ma nu yaksha: no information was available on the iconography of this deity. btsan mchog gri btsan 'thu bo: a btsan whose main attribute is a sword. ma mchog lce spyang mdung 'dzin: a ma mo who is armed with a lance which carries the head of a wolf on top. klu mchog klu rgyal dung skyong: represented as a divinity holding a vessel full of jewels in the right hand and a conch-shell in the left one mgon mchog nag po lte dkar: it was not possible to ascertain which particular form of mgon po (Mahakala) is meant.

rgyal mchog li byin ha ra: this is one of the companions of the three-headed and six armed Hayagriva (rta mgrin), he jumps in front of Hayagriva amidst the horde of the demons btsan, swinging their lassos, his hair tied in a knob, from which a shell sticks out. He holds a crystal sword, a lasso made of rays, spear and a bowl of treasures. He wears leather armour and leather helmet.

sprul pa sde brgyad - Emanation Eight Classes dpung g.yas dgra lhar sprul pa- right shoulder - Dra Lha emanation dpung g.yon ma mor sprul pa- left shoulder - Mamo emanation mchu so bdud du sprul pa- left shoulder - Dd emanation mgo bo srin por sprul pa - head - Raksha emanation mjug ma dmu ru sprul pa- back - Mu emanation lag g.yas gshin rje sprul pa - right hand - Yama emanation lag g.yon klu btsan sprul pa- left hand - Lu and Tsen emanation

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mig dang snying dang mche ba - eyes, heart and liver - Za and Dd emanation This list reminds somewhat of the distribution of the so-called 'Go ba'i lha lnga, the five guardian-deities of each person, who have their seats within five parts or areas of the human body, from where they are exercise their protective influence. Their usual way of distribution has been listed by Klong rdol bla ma: crown of the head - yul lha right shoulder - dgra Iha right armpit - pho lho left armpit - mo lho heart - srog lha snang srid sde brgyad - Eight Worldly Classes sa bdag hal khyi nag po: he is represented as a creature with a black human trunk which bear the head of a dog, wings of iron, the tail of a snake, and instead of hands, bird's claws, which clutch a lance with a banner. klu bdud sgo ra nag po: no information was available on the iconography of this deity. sa yi lha mo bslan ma (or brtan ma): she belongs to the class of the sa bdag. She is yellow in colour and holds a vessel in front of her heart. phyogs skyong rgyal chen sde bzhi - the Four Directional Guardians: Dhritarashtra, Yulkhor Sung; (yul 'khor srung; 'Defender of the Area') is the Guardian King of the East and chief of the Gandharvas. Virudhaka, Pak Kyepo; ('phags skyes po; 'Noble Birth') is the Guardian King of the South and leader of the Kumbhandas, fierce beings who reside in the desire realms of the heavens. Virupaksha, Chen Mi Zang; (spyan mi bzang; 'Ugly Eyes') is the Guardian King of the West and leader of the Nagas. Vaishravana, Namts; (rnam thos sras; 'Son of He who has Heard Many Things') is the Guardian King of the North and leader of the Yakshas. mgon po bdun cu rtsa .lnga - the Seventy-Five emanations of Mahakala yul 'di'i gzhi bdag than cad : the local protectors and guardians.2 pho lha dgra lha srog lha: pho lha: 'male deity', white, young, dressed in white silk clothes, blue cape and boots. His hair is tightened with silk ribbon into a knot.

In his right hand he holds a wish-fulfilling

jewel and in left he raises a platter, full of precious stones. Pho Lha is also an important

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personal protective deity, and is located in the right armpit. dra lha: 'the enemy deity' appears as smiling young man wearing a turban of white silk and white raincoat and boots, riding on white horse.

On his belt hangs a case for the bow and

quiver. With right hand he is waving a spear with a banner, and in left he holds a lasso. Dra lha is also an important personal protective deity, which dwells in the right shoulder. Dra Lha protects the live of those who worship him, helps to overcome obstacles, destroy the enemies, and also to achieve high social rank. sog lha- 'deity of life-force', appears as a man of strong physique, white skin, on a black horse with white hoofs, wearing helmet and armor of gold, on the side hangs bow and a quiver, in his right hand a spear with silk banner, in his left hand a lasso. mo lha: the female deity, this is the white goddess Machig Palgyi Lhamo, ma gcig dpal gyi lha mo, riding on a deer, she is young and beautiful, clothed in white silk and wearing a mantle of black silk, wearing a diadem, and jewellery, in the right hand she hold divination arrow, in the left a mirror. mo sman; the word mo sman consists of two meanings: a woman and a medicine. In general Men Mo can live in different environments. Some live in the sky, some in great quiet lakes, some on green meadows, some in forests, or in the earth. Notes: 1 Based on: Rene De Nebesky- Wojkowitz 'Oracles and Demons of Tibet, Chgyal Namkhai Norbu 'Serkyem of the Eight Classess Arranged by Nubchen Sangye Yeshe' (Russian Edition, 2001) and some online sources. 2 There are many different kinds of gzhi bdag: sa bdag, Sadag, who dwell in the earth, the klu, Lu who dwell in the water, the btsan, Tsan who reside in the rocks, the gnyan, Nyen who stay in the intermediary space (between heaven and Earth), the gzhi bdag who live on passes, the gzhi bdag who stay on narrow ledges, others who live on boats and bridges, others who dwell on roads (those are called lam lha - 'the road gods'). 3 Kimnara: mi am ci: heavenly musicians, another name for Gandharva, creatures with horse-heads and human bodies. 4 vina - instument similiar to guitar 5 Gandharvas: dri za - a class of beings 'feeding on smells', dwelling in space, also called 'heavenly musicians'.

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6 Yaksha: snod sbyin, 'the evil-doer', the class of demons living in the mountains, in particular in the higher parts, who can, if not pleased, eat the travellers, they are the servants of Kuvera and guardians of his treasures.

8ClassesCoverEditorSangye Yeshe DrawingDe Gye Serkyem Original 2 for printArrangementSadakiManing DrawingRahula DrawingDorje LegpaDrawingExplanation about the Eight Classes1

serkyem of the eight classes

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