Beautiful Deity of the Dawn - Marici or Özer Chenma

The Goddess of the Dawn or Marici in Sanskrit Özer Chenma ('od zer can ma) in Tibetan, which mean the 'Lady of (Sun's Golden) Lightrays' can be depicted in many different forms. Sometimes she rides a white horse through the sky, banishing the darkness and driving back the night with the orb of the sun in the outstretched right hand, more commonly she is

Marichi (Ozer Chenma) is reddish-gold with 8 arms. Two of her hands hold a needle, and thread. Her most widely found image is the one with three faces, one of which is that of a sow, in which she drives a cart pulled by seven swine. She may represent the Vedic goddess Ushas, as the dawn deity was named.

In ancient times, it seems the sun appeared rather differently, accompanied by lesser lights. Marici's seven-swine cart may derive from the Indian myth that describes Surya's vehicle as drawn by seven horses.

Or, the seven smaller animals may represent the Pleiades, a constellation of stars known as the Seven Sisters in many cultures -- in Japan, they are the Subaru.

yellow or red in color, with three or more faces and six to twelve arms, seated on a chariot drawn by seven pigs, or horses, removing all obstacles to happiness and well-being. Her mood can be either peaceful or wrathful. The metaphor for spiritual practice and meditation is light, light overcoming darkness.

The embodiment of the first rays of dawn, Marichi is invoked by travelers for protection from robbers and other hazards of the road: Om Marichi svaha.

Tantric Buddhists tell of this bodhisattva's determination in the manner of Tara, Taoists see her as Queen of Heaven, and the Japanese, Amaterasu, the sun goddess.

Her origin lies in early Indian scriptures such as The Laws of Manu (Skt.: Manava Dharma Shastra) and the Puranas, where Marichi is one of 10 Prajapatis or primal parents /chief of the Maruts produced from the mind of Brahma.

In this male aspect, Marichi is father of Surya, the sun and (with his wife Sambhuti) and also of Kashyapa 'Old Tortoise Man' one of the seven primordial sages. Thus, Marici, the beam of divine light that initiates creation of the physical world is not only illumination in a physical but also in the spiritual sense.

This 'illuminating' aspect of Marichi (Ozer Chenma: Queen of Light) is emphasized in an 18th century tangka of the Karma Kagyu at Tibet Art where she is crowned by a stupa, and instead of driving, she is seated on a great sow with its piglets. The accompanying Sakya verse emphasizes her ability to dispel the fears of the night.

Sometimes, other animals may be depicted drawing her chariot.

Marichi has another popular form in which she is depicted standing while threading her needle.

The third (male) incarnation of the Jain founder is also called Marichi.

She is an important deity invoked to heal children's diseases, small pox, protect travelers, etc. especially in the morning glory of the rising sun as she is associated with his moment of the day and the powerful might of the first rays of the day dispelling the darkness of one's conflicting inner thoughts, emotions, and perceptions as well as the outer

obstructions, hindrances, obstacles and phenomenal appearances. Ultimately as a Anuyoga practice as transmitted by Chögyal Namkhai Norbu in the secret aspect You realize the Nature of Your Mind, the base and starting point of these particular ancient tantric tradition which is the self-perfected primordial purity of the Natural State, Dzogchen.

however, in general the compendium of practices known as the Bari Gyatsa contains five different descriptions of Marichi. The Drub Tab Gyatso has six descriptions (see an example). The Nartang Gyatsa and Rinjung of Taranata describe a single form of Marichi. Both the Vajravali and Mitra Gyatsa describe a single mandala of Marichi with twenty-five surrounding figures.

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