THE LADY OF THE MANDALAMarici in the Path of Vairocana and Samantabhadra
(by Dale Goodyear
All the Bodhisattvas of the Samantabhadra mandala present themselves in Masculine form. That is
characteristic of the Sutra tradition of Mahayana, which never speaks of feminine Bodhisattvas or
Buddhas. However, even with the rise of the Mantrayana (Vajrayana) tradition, these--Vairocana,
Manjushri, Samantabhadra, and the Two Healing Kings--have normally manifested in Masculine mode.
So, who then is the Lady of the Mandala? Who shall hold the Feminine pole of
Bodhisattva/Buddhahood with these Masculine-pole Bodhisattvas, the Yin to their Yang?
I meditated on this, and the answer was obvious. It is the great Bodhisattva (and Buddha) called
Marici (mah-ree-chee), who serves also under the Dhyani-Buddha Vairocana. Her name means "Ray
of Light."
In her various guises, Marici--though less familiar--is equally as important as Tara in the Mantrayana
traditions.
For one, she is the Lady of the Dawn--the dawn of Enlightenment and Liberation in each of us.
Also, she is the Queen of the complete Bliss of integration, the ultimate union of the masculine and
feminine polarities in ourselves that leads to Buddhahood. In the Vajrayana practices that pursue this
integration, she is known most often by her other names, Vajravarahi or Vajrayogini. In this
manifestation, she can be considered the Feminine aspect of Vairocana himself. So just like Tara, she is
both Bodhisattva and Buddha.
The symbolism of Marici is very ancient, and goes all the way back to the thousands-year-old Rig
Veda, where it was already old.
And Marici surfaces also in very ancient Chinese Taoist traditions, especially the yogic/alchemical
paths, where they preserve aspects of her that got lost from the Buddhist Sutra and even Tantra
teachings.
In Buddhist art, Marici is depicted in a vehicle drawn by 7 pigs. This pig symbol also appears when
she is called Vajravarahi or Vajrayogini. Whatever the significance of the animal -- and in Chinese, the
syllable xi can mean "pig" 豨 and also "daylight, early dawn" 曦, "bright, glorious" 凞, or "bright,
warm" 熹 -- the number 7 seems to be associated with the 7 stars of the Big Dipper.
In Taoism, this was clearly brought forth, where Marici's Chinese name actually means the "Dipper
Mother" (Dou Mu). And Taoists teach that she resides in the star Polaris, the Pole Star which is the
Gateway of supreme liberation and spiritual immortality, and the source of those blessings for
humanity. In Taoism, the Pole Star rules the stars of the Big Dipper; just as Marici drives the chariot
drawn by 7 pigs.
Now, in Taoist alchemical yoga, the Pole Star is spiritually a violet or purple star. We already know
from ancient Buddhist traditions I've described elsewhere that this royal-purple or violet energy equals
Freedom (for example, the "Purple Lotus Flower" of Kuan Yin).
So Marici, the Pole Star Lady and Dipper Mother, is a Queen of Freedom for humanity, and her
radiance descends from the Pole Star where she resides and enters our beings to bring about our
Liberation from karma and samsara, to bring us to the state of genuine Wholeness and Immortality
which is Buddhahood.
Where then does Marici place herself in the Mandala? We can see her in the center, in the very Heart
of Vairocana if we like. And we can experience a royal-purple Star or Sun, a replica of the Pole Star,
and the Lady Marici standing or seated within it and pouring out her Freedom to us, bringing the dawn
of Buddhahood to each one of us, both as violet-purple and also as rose-red (another color
characteristic of her, and associated in Taoism with the Dipper stars).
The mantra I use is simple, and ends with the same key syllable Om of Vairocana:
Om Marici Om
(om mah-ree-chee om)
This mantra belongs to everyone, as a gift from Marici. Use it, and see what happens for you in the
integration of the poles of being, see what transpires for you to set you free from limitations and
burdens. This Mother Bodhisattva-Buddha is very powerful.
Pole Star
and
Seven Big Dipper Stars
Marici