In the Yungdrung Bön religious tradition, one of the principal enlightened protectors is the Queen of Existence, Sipé Gyalmo. She has countless manifestations and emanations. The external manifestation of the Queen of Existence is Zangza Ringtsun. The internal manifestation is Tukjé Jamma. And the secret manifestation is Sipé Gyalmo.

Sipé Gyalmo manifests riding a red mule, riding a black mule, and standing with a hundred heads and thousands of arms and legs. Her Body emanations are the Six Manifestation of Day and Night who each arise during a particular cycle of time during every twenty-four hour period. These six manifestations are White Sipé Gyalmo of Dawn, Golden Sipé Gyalmo of Sunrise, Red Sipé Gyalmo of Mid-day, Maroun Sipé Gyalmo of Sunset, Black Sipé Gyalmo of Evening, and Dark-blue Sipé Gyalmo of Midnight.

There is an often-used divination practice that relies upon the clairvoyance of these six manifestations. For a practitioner to be qualified to perform this divination, they must undergo a strict Sipé Gyalmo yidam retreat for at least seven days, or continue longer until they have received the clear signs of being empowered by Sipé Gyalmo. The manifestation that is practiced in this retreat is her manifestation who stands majestically with a hundred heads and thousands of arms and legs.

Yeshé Walmo and Drak Ngak Walmo are both manifestations of Sipé Gyalmo and are similar in appearance. However, Drak Ngak Walmo wears an ornament of a skull mala and dances upon a human-like figure that represents all negative forces. She has a practice specifically for protecting against contagious illnesses and pandemics.

SO MA MA DZA JO✶

Emaho!

Mother of the vast expanse of the Bönku, which is primordially pure and free from elaboration,

in order to establish the Bön teachings in the Land of Snow,

merely by calling out to you Single Mother Sipé Gyalmo,

wherever you are, please come!

Protect me from bridges, boats, and narrow passageways, as well as from contagious illnesses!

— excerpt from Alphabetical Praise of the Supreme Mother Sipé Gyalmo contained within the book Sacred Smoke: The Ritual Practice of Fumigation and Offering in the Yungdrung Bön Religious Tradition by Raven Cypress Wood

✶ This is the general short mantra for Sipé Gyalmo.

Having performed Mother Sigyal’s practice in successive previous lifetimes,

you have lovingly protected me like a mother protects her very own child.

Like the body with its shadow, you surround me with your love and affection.

I supplicate to you single-pointedly from my heart!

Never being separated and through your loving compassion,

protect me well with your four kinds of peaceful, expansive, powerful and wrathful activities!

Without hesitation and with no exceptions, please act to accomplish whatever goal or intention that I wish for!

Sigyal’s Entrusted Activity composed by Shardza Tashi Gyaltsen Rinpoche

For more information about Sacred Smoke: The Ritual Practice of Fumigation and Offering in the Yungdrung Bön Religious Tradition, see previous post: https://ravencypresswood.com/2021/11/19/new-book-release-sacred-smoke-the-ritual-practice-of-fumigation-and-offering-in-the-yungdrung-bon-religious-tradition/

Translations from Tibetan by Raven Cypress Wood ©All Rights Reserved. No content, in part or in whole, is allowed to be used without direct permission from the author.

Don’t want to miss a post? Scroll to the bottom and click “Follow this blog.”

Want to join the mandala of Nine Ways supporters? Follow this link https://ravencypresswood.com/donate/