Vajrayogini is Quintessence of a Selfless Dakini, says Guru Vajracharya

 Dr Rabin Man Shakya

Portland, (Nepal Oregon News): An eight week live online course "Sacred Buddhist Dance of Nepal: Vajrayogini" is being organized by Yangchenma Arts & Music from June 5 - July 31, 2021.

In an online press release, Yangchenma Arts & Music said:"We are excited to continue on in our series of sacred Buddhist dance of Nepal courses with Prajwal Vajracharya. In our course, beginning June 5th, Prajwal will teach the complete dance of Vajrayogini, the beautiful and powerful red dakini."

(Co-founder of Nritya Mandala Mahavihara Helen Appell performing Vajrayogini charya nritya dance.)

The press release added:"Charya Nritya dance is a unique Newari Buddhist tradition that teaches us how to use the physical body to awaken the mind through the unification of movement, visualization and awareness."

It further said:"In this course, Prajwal teaches the foundational movements and exercises to train the body and wake up the subtle channels, as well as the complete dance of Refuge, 16 Offering Goddesses, Avlokiteshvara, and Green Tara. This course lays the groundwork for all future deity dances."

35 participants from 15 different countries are taking part at the two-month long Vajrayogini dance course which is held each Saturday for one and half hour, said Prajwal Vajracharya, a veteran Charya Guru. Each class every week kicks off with a short Dharma talk by Guru Vajracharya.

Giving some introductory details about Vajrayogini nritya, Prajwal said that this dance is named after the Goddess Vajrayogini, adding that this is one of the ancient classical dances of Nepal Mandala.

According to Newah Tantric Buddhism, there are several yoginis or Tantric Goddesses in the Kathmandu valley. Vajrayogini dance is performed especially as a ritual devotion to the Goddess Vajrayogini, he said.

The co-founder of Portland's Nritya Mandala Mahavihara went on saying:" Back in the good old days, the Kathmandu Valley was known as Nepal Mandala. The word Nepal is derived from Niyam Palan, because people living in this valley were very law abiding."

Speaking about different forms of Yogini, he remarked that in the Nepal Mandala there are several temples dedicated to powerful Yoginis: Vajravarahi, Vajrayogini, Khadgayogini, Aakashyogini, Nairatma (Guheshori).

Vajrayogini is one of the most important Tantric Goddesses of the Kathmandu valley who is revered as the  Goddess of Yogic practices. Khadgayogini temple is located at the small city of Sankhu whereas Vajrayogini temple is in Pharping, not far from Kathmandu, said the senior priest of the Nepalese Buddhist temple in Portland, USA.

Vajrayogini is the quintessence of a selfless dakini who always works for the happiness and prosperity of the sentient beings, Guru Vajracharya said. 

Laying emphasis on Vajrayogini as most important among the dakinis, Guru Vajracharya said:"Vajrayogini is a main female Buddha. She is semi-wrathful and bright-red, dancing joyfully, without shame or fear and glorifying in her femaleness. She drinks the nectar that fuels her in the intensity and clarity of an uncompromising motivation to cut through ignorance while embracing all accessible energies."

( Nepal Oregon News reporter Rabin Man Shakya is a Newah journalist in America)