The Mandala of Dorje Shugden

The mandala of Dorje Shugden consists of a three-storey celestial mansion emanated through the force of his mind. Residing at the heart of the mandala is Dorje Shugden in his principal emanation on the snow lion, wearing a golden domed hat.

Dorje Shugden manifests as four other recognized emanations, each with their specific functions and purposes. These five forms are also known as the five families of Dorje Shugden.

The ‘five families’ of Dorje Shugden reside in the heart of the first floor. Altogether, the five families are manifestation of his five aggregates, which also correspond to the five Dhyani Buddhas. The five aggregates of form, feeling, discrimination, compositional factors and consciousness correspond to his body and various aspects of his mind.

Attending to Dorje Shugden five families are the nine mothers, eight guiding monks and ten youthful and wrathful deities. Appearing in various guises, these attendants emanate to perform specific functions in relations to the propitiation of Dorje Shugden.

Beyond the thirty-two deities are the two great ministers of Dorje Shugden, Kache Marpo and Namka Bardzin. These are two oath-bound Protectors who have entrusted their very life essence to the King Protector and perform duties similar to that of a minister assisting their monarch in governing their kingdom. They are not emanations of Dorje Shugden but are Dharma Protectors in their own right.

Kyabje Pabongka Rinpoche said that Dorje Shugden’s principle and entourage are actually the 32 deities of Guhyasamaja’s body mandala. Although they appear in the guise of worldly aspects, the emanations and entourage are all purely manifestations of Dorje Shugden’s enlightened mind.

On the level above Dorje Shugden within the mandala is the very swift, strong Protector Setrab, also known as the Powerful Pure One, with his entourage. Setrab’s true nature is the same as Buddha Amitabha but he emanates in the form of a tsen spirit.

Setrab is especially close and very connected to Dorje Shugden because Dorje Shugden’s previous incarnation, Tulku Drakpa Gyeltsen, relied on and practiced Setrap strongly as his main Dharma protector throughout his life. Even when Tulku Drakpa Gyeltsen arose as Dorje Shugden, he immediately sought the assistance of Setrab at Sang Pung.

Later, the many subsequent attempts by high Lamas to destroy Dorje Shugden with deadly rituals all failed, due partly to Setrab’s assistance. Setrab manifested many visions to distract the Lamas away from the rituals, which then allowed Dorje Shugden to “flee” from the rites unharmed.

Finally, on the top most level of this celestial mansion, resides Buddha Amitabha, the original nature of Setrab.