The Cult of Tara

52
MAGIC AND RITUAL IN TIBET
Fig. 12. The "ancient" protectors: Damchen Doje legpa, the oathbound
excellent diamond. From an iconographic sketch by Tendzin
yongdii.
Ranking as high as the Lord as a protecting deity is the Glorious
Goddess, riding upon a mule covered with the flayed skin of her own
son, adorned with skulls and the signs of ferocity. She guards the
Dragon Kajii in her emaciated, four-handed form of Smoke-eater;
a different four-handed form, the Self-born Lady, is propitiated by
the Karma Kajii, and a two-handed form, Magic Weapon Army, by
the Gelug and Sacha. Here too we may include Ekajata of the
ancient sect; and another Glorious Goddess, Firm Diamond Lady, is
often included in this standard series as the special protectress of the
teachings of Butbn.
Some of this sectarian information may be tabulated as shown
below. We must recognize, of course, that this sort of mechanical breakdown
is not quite accurate. We have already seen that the Dragon