Namgyalma (Ushnishavijaya): The Goddess of Longevity, Purification, and Victory Over Death

Have you ever heard of a goddess whose power could guide you through life’s toughest moments, helping you find peace in chaos and clarity in confusion? Meet Namgyalma.

A goddess of transformation, protection, and spiritual awakening, Namgyalma offers much more than ancient wisdom. She invites you to discover how embracing her teachings can change your journey. 

Curious? Read on to uncover the mysteries of this powerful goddess and what she can reveal about your path forward. 

Who is Namgyalma? 

Namgyalma, known in Sanskrit as Ushnishavijaya, is one of the most profound and widely practiced female deities in Vajrayana Buddhism. She is a fully enlightened deity who emanates directly from the Ushnisha of Buddha Shakyamuni. 

In Mahayana and Vajrayana Buddhism, emanations of the ushnisha represent the Buddha's most exalted enlightened activities, particularly those related to protection, purification, and liberation. 

The name Namgyalma means “The Completely Victorious One,” symbolizing her power to overcome ignorance, karmic obstacles, untimely death, and even the endless cycle of samsara.

She is regarded as an awakened Buddha in female form whose compassionate function is to remove the karmic causes of shortened life, illness, and rebirth in lower realms. Her practice is therefore deeply integrated into tantric lineages and ritual systems concerned with long life, healing, and death-awareness.

Across Tibetan, Himalayan, and Mahayana traditions, her practice is considered essential for overcoming life-threatening obstacles and ensuring the continuation of spiritual practice. 

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Origin and Mythological Significance

Namgyalma emerges from the elevated Ushnisha of Shakyamuni Buddha, manifesting as a female deity within the Kriya Tantra classification to overcome the impermanence of life and karmic obstacles.  

According to sacred texts like the Namgyalma Tantra, her origin is rooted in a prophecy where the Buddha radiates her light to liberate beings from the suffering of samsara, particularly those facing an untimely death due to heavy negative karma. 

As a result, Namgyalma became a powerful deity in Buddhist tradition, especially for those seeking protection from illness, misfortune, and negative influences. Her practice was historically directed for:

• Healing serious illness
• Counteracting repeated accidents or misfortune
• Purifying karma after near-death experiences
• Extend the lives of spiritual teachers and elders. 

Historically, her worship gained prominence in 8th-century Tibet through terma revelations and integrations into Nyingma and Kagyu lineages, where masters like Padmasambhava emphasized her dharani for national protection and personal longevity. 

Namgyalma as the Supreme Goddess of Longevity 

In Vajrayana Buddhism, longevity is valued not for attachment to life, but for preserving the opportunity to practice the Dharma and advance toward enlightenment. Namgyalma’s blessings support both physical vitality and the conditions necessary for spiritual awakening.

She also stands as one of the Three Bodhisattvas of Long Life, alongside Amitayus and White Tara. However, Namgyalma is particularly revered for her ability to purify the karmic roots that shorten life, offering a deeper and more transformative form of protection than mere temporary relief. 

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Iconography and Symbolism of Namgyalma

Namgyalma is instantly recognizable in thangkas and statues by her distinctive, serene form traditionally depicted with three faces and eight arms. Each aspect of her form conveys precise Vajrayana symbolism rooted in tantric iconography. 

1. Three faces: Her central face is white, representing the pacification of sickness and obstacles. The right face is yellow, signifying the increase of merit, wisdom, and prosperity. The left face is blue, symbolizing the power to subdue negative forces and delusions. Together, they embody the three enlightened actions: pacifying, increasing, and subjugating. 

2. Eight arms: Her multiple arms represent her skillful means (upaya) to benefit countless beings simultaneously.

• First right hand: Double viswa-vajra (crossed thunderbolts) at heart level, destroying ignorance and representing indestructible compassion-wisdom union in four directions.
• Second right hand: White lotus bearing Amitabha Buddha, signifying rebirth in Sukhavati Pure Land and transition to Buddhahood. 
• Third right hand: Arrow of perceptive wisdom piercing ultimate truth.
• Fourth right hand: Varada mudra (supreme generosity), fulfilling physical and spiritual aspirations.
• First left hand: Vajra lasso (noose) for mind control and binding negative forces.
• Second left hand: Bow channeling focused wisdom to strike naras (demonic obstacles).
• Third left hand: Abhaya mudra (fearlessness and protection) against harm.
• Fourth left hand: Long-life vase (kalasha) filled with amrita (immortal nectar), bestowing health, prosperity, and victory over death.
  

3. White complexion: Her white body color symbolizes purity, the cleansing of all defilements, and the radiant nature of the Dharma.

4. Posture: Seated in vajra or padmasana (lotus posture) on a multicolored lotus, moon disc, and sun disc throne, denoting purity over the three poisons and triumph over samsara

5. Adornments: Youthful form with silken garments, jeweled ornaments, a five-pointed crown symbolizing the five Dhyani Buddha’s wisdom, and a topknot or diadem evoking the Ushnisha (Buddha’s crown protrusion). 

Namgyalma Mantra (Ushnishavijaya Dharani)

Namgyalma possesses several powerful mantras in Tibetan Vajrayana Buddhism, each tailored for longevity, purification, and liberation from lower realms. 

Her mantra, “Om Bhrum Soha Om Amrita Ayur Da Dai Soha,” is believed to cleanse negative karma, prolong life, heal illness, and guide beings toward rebirth in the Pure Land of Sukhavati.

The mantra is traditionally believed to:

• Purify heavy negative karma accumulated over lifetimes
• Protect against untimely death and serious illness
• Restore life-force and vitality 
• Prevent rebirth in lower realms
• Support a peaceful death and favorable rebirth 
• Create conditions for long life devoted to Dharma practice

It is said that even those who hear the mantra, including animals, receive its blessings, as it removes obstacles and nurtures wisdom. 

Displayed below is the Namgyalma thangka, accompanied by the Five Dhyani Buddhas and other Buddhist deities. 

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Namgyalma in Practice: Blessings, Thangkas, and Modern Relevance

Namgyalma (Ushnishavijaya) is more than a goddess of long life; she is the embodiment of purification, protection, and the transformative potential of all well-lived life. Her practice and sacred thangkas help cultivate both spiritual and physical vitality. 

Key aspects include:

• Sacred thangkas: Namgyalma thangkas serve as focal points for visualization, mantra recitation, and devotion. It is traditionally used in meditation, healing spaces, and longevity rituals or offered for the long life of teachers and family. Authentic thangkas radiate continuous blessings of purification and longevity.
  
  
• Daily practice: Recitation of her mantra and contemplation of her image help cultivate resilience, inner stability, gratitude for life, reduced fear of illness and death, and confidence grounded in spiritual refuge. 
  
  
• Modern relevance: Namgyalma’s teachings emphasize that true longevity is meaningful only when aligned with wisdom, compassion, and ethical living.

Thangkas crafted with traditional methods and lineage instructions act as silent teachers, transmitting blessings, purifying karma, and fostering fearlessness. Ultimately Namgyalma demonstrates that a life purified, protected, and understood becomes the most powerful path to awakening. 

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is Namgyalma, and what does it symbolize in Tibetan Buddhism?

Namgyalma, also known as Ushnishavijaya, is a revered goddess in Tibetan Buddhism associated with longevity, purification, and victory over death. She symbolizes the overcoming of karmic obstacles, illness, untimely death, and the cycle of samsara, offering practitioners both spiritual protection and the opportunity to live a meaningful life for Dharma practice. Namgyalam is considered one of the Three Long Life Deities, alongside Amitayus and White Tara, and is specially known for purifying negative karma at its root. 

2. What is the meaning of the Namgyalma mantra?

The Namgyalma mantra, “Om Bhrum Soha Om Amrita Ayur Da Dai Soha,” is believed to purify negative karma, extend lifespan, heal illness, and guide beings toward rebirth in the Pure Land of Sukhavati. Reciting this mantra also benefits others, including animals, by removing obstacles, promoting wisdom, and fostering spiritual protection. It is considered a powerful tool for both longevity and karmic purification in Vajrayana practice. 

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