Dorje Shugden of Sakya Lineage

[Namdrol]

Found these Dorje Shugden thangka pics of Sakya lineage, interesting to note that the is no snow lion.

[thor]

From the website:
The snow lion that Dorje Shugden rides on is an emanation of his fearlessness that arose when he gained victory over ignorance, attachment and hatred. This snow lion tramples enemies, the greatest ones being the afflictive emotions which arise from the self-grasping and self-cherishing mind.

Why isnt there a snow lion in the old Sakya thangkas? i dont know but perhaps a hint can be found in Music Delighting the Ocean of Protectors:

Then, having gone toward Tashi Lhunpo in Tsang,
Because of a slight inauspicious occurrence,
You immediately went to Sakya in a wrathful manner,
And were enthroned as a senior Dharma protector, praise to you!

The text then goes on the describe how Dorje Shugden made his way to Sakya, from remembering his imprints from the time of his incarnation as Sakya Pandita. Dorje Shugden then manifested himself to the then head of the Sakyas, Dagchen Dorje Chang Sonam Rinchen and proclaimed himself to be a samaya spirit of a Ganden practitioner, and requested to be enthroned as a Dharma protector. Dorje Shugden further requested for hand symbols and implements from this head of the Sakyas.

The Sakya head then proceeded to give Dorje Shugden the enemy heart, (which in current day depictions is still there, held in Dorje Shugden's left hand) and enthroned him as a protector of the Sakyas and composed rituals and prayers to him.

In Music Delighting, it also says:

In the monastery of Sakya Mugchung there are extremely vast basal substances such as a three dimensional protector palace of Gyalchen where, every year, Dagchen Rinpoche went to offer the periodic tormas, make requests and offerings.  Furthermore, in most Sakya monasteries there is a tradition of performing
Gyalchen fullfilment offering ritual and propitiation, up to the present day.

So it is no surprise that thangkas of Dorje Shugden from the Sakya lineage exist, seeing that up till the time of the Great Trijang Dorjechang, Dorje Shugden was still widely propitiated by the Sakyas and their monasteries. And this perhaps, gives a hint as to why the snow lion is not depicted in the Sakya thangkas, particularly if they were drawn during the early days of Dorje Shugden where he only had the implements and ritual items given by Dagchen Rinpoche.

I would be curious to know when the snow lion of Dorje Shugden first appeared. The praise composed by the 5th Dalai Lama does mention his mounts (see below). Would anyone know?

Robes of a monk, crown adorned with rhinocerous leather hat,
Right hand holds ornate club, left holds a human heart,
Riding various mounts such as nagas and garudas,
Who subdues the mamo's of the charnal grounds, praise to you!

[DharmaDefender]

From the website:
The snow lion that Dorje Shugden rides on is an emanation of his fearlessness that arose when he gained victory over ignorance, attachment and hatred. This snow lion tramples enemies, the greatest ones being the afflictive emotions which arise from the self-grasping and self-cherishing mind.

Why isnt there a snow lion in the old Sakya thangkas? i dont know but perhaps a hint can be found in Music Delighting the Ocean of Protectors:

Then, having gone toward Tashi Lhunpo in Tsang,
Because of a slight inauspicious occurrence,
You immediately went to Sakya in a wrathful manner,
And were enthroned as a senior Dharma protector, praise to you!

The text then goes on the describe how Dorje Shugden made his way to Sakya, from remembering his imprints from the time of his incarnation as Sakya Pandita. Dorje Shugden then manifested himself to the then head of the Sakyas, Dagchen Dorje Chang Sonam Rinchen and proclaimed himself to be a samaya spirit of a Ganden practitioner, and requested to be enthroned as a Dharma protector. Dorje Shugden further requested for hand symbols and implements from this head of the Sakyas.

The Sakya head then proceeded to give Dorje Shugden the enemy heart, (which in current day depictions is still there, held in Dorje Shugden's left hand) and enthroned him as a protector of the Sakyas and composed rituals and prayers to him.

In Music Delighting, it also says:

In the monastery of Sakya Mugchung there are extremely vast basal substances such as a three dimensional protector palace of Gyalchen where, every year, Dagchen Rinpoche went to offer the periodic tormas, make requests and offerings.  Furthermore, in most Sakya monasteries there is a tradition of performing
Gyalchen fullfilment offering ritual and propitiation, up to the present day.

So it is no surprise that thangkas of Dorje Shugden from the Sakya lineage exist, seeing that up till the time of the Great Trijang Dorjechang, Dorje Shugden was still widely propitiated by the Sakyas and their monasteries. And this perhaps, gives a hint as to why the snow lion is not depicted in the Sakya thangkas, particularly if they were drawn during the early days of Dorje Shugden where he only had the implements and ritual items given by Dagchen Rinpoche.

I would be curious to know when the snow lion of Dorje Shugden first appeared. The praise composed by the 5th Dalai Lama does mention his mounts (see below). Would anyone know?

Robes of a monk, crown adorned with rhinocerous leather hat,
Right hand holds ornate club, left holds a human heart,
Riding various mounts such as nagas and garudas,
Who subdues the mamo's of the charnal grounds, praise to you!

Speaking of the enemy heart, ive seen depictions of Dorje Shugden with a wish-fulfilling gem instead of the enemy heart.

I dont know myself when Dorje Shugden started appearing on a snow lion, but to further complicate things...heres a depiction of him in his Dulzin form, on a horse! It was made by the 5th Dalai Lama...so at what point did he get off his horse, appear without any mount, and then appear on a snow lion?

[psylotripitaka]

Visualization of Dorje Shugden in his fire puja

You may find it of interest that in the transcript I have that describes the fire puja of Dorje Shugden, we alter the visualization to the exact image shared by Namdrol. You will notice that Dorje Shugden holds a club in the right hand and a vajra noose (rather than a heart) in the left, and that he is not seated on a snow lion. Therefore, it is not only the Sakyas who rely upon the Great King in this aspect.

[yontenjamyang]

I dont know myself when Dorje Shugden started appearing on a snow lion, but to further complicate things...heres a depiction of him in his Dulzin form, on a horse! It was made by the 5th Dalai Lama...so at what point did he get off his horse, appear without any mount, and then appear on a snow lion?

Hope this helps to answer the question.

In the middle of a whirling palace of black wind… is the Great King with a body red-black in colour, one face two hands, the right holds a club aloft to the sky and the left a skull cup filled with blood and a human heart. On the head a lacquer hat is placed, riding a black horse surrounded by inconceivable emanations… to the Dhamapala King Shugden Tsal, together with attendants… ~ Sakya kangsol, based on an earlier text from the 19th century.

[psylotripitaka]

Visualization of Dorje Shugden in his fire puja

You may find it of interest that in the transcript I have that describes the fire puja of Dorje Shugden, we alter the visualization to the exact image shared by Namdrol. You will notice that Dorje Shugden holds a club in the right hand and a vajra noose (rather than a heart) in the left, and that he is not seated on a snow lion. Therefore, it is not only the Sakyas who rely upon the Great King in this aspect.

My mistake, it is not a vajra noose, but merely a noose with a hook and a ring. This aspect of the Protector is clearly explained in Trijang Dorjechang's Dorje Shugden fire puja unifying the pacifying, increasing, and controlling actions.

[grandmapele]

http://www.dorjeshugden.com/all-articles/features/dorje-shugden-on-a-black-horse/

Thought you might be interested in this article on this very own website. There are also very beautiful pictures of Dorje Shugden on a black horse in the Sakya lineage.

"Dorje Shugden was first practised by the Sakyas in the early 17th century, beginning with the Sakya Kangsol written by Morchen Kunga Lhundrub (1654–1728), who was Sakya’s most precious Tantric and Lamdre Lineage holder. "

"Morchen Kunga Lhundrub was also the first to describe Dorje Shugden as being seated on a lion throne. Prior to this, the Sakya Kangsol refers to Dorje Shugden as Dorje Shugden Tanag, or Dorje Shugden Riding a Black Horse, one of the forms of Dorje Shugden unique to the Sakyas."

Hope it helped.

[fruven]

Thank you for sharing the earliest history of Dorje Shugden. Knowing this Dorje Shugden does protect other lineages, not just the Gelugpa, one can gain more faith of this protector. There are much misinformation being spread around leading people to think negatively on Dorje Shugden.

[blacksmith]

Someone knows some monasteries and lamas of the Sakya School performing rituals to Dorje Shugden? If DS is so powerful and good, because other schools as Kagyupa, and Bon Nyngma not follow his teachings? Thank you