The 5 Long Life sisters
White Tara
Tseringma Sisters -The Five Long-life Sisters
Tibetan mountain spirits living on the Tibet-Nepal border the Five Long-life Sisters were subjugated by Guru Padmasambhava in the 8th century and they became avowed protectors for Buddhism.
They traveled to India and received further Buddhist instruction. In the 11th century, wishing to test the resolve of the great yogi Milarepa they created apparitions for the purpose of distracting him from meditation.
Unable to cause any real harm due to the vows made to Guru Rinpoche they failed and three days later returned and humbled themselves before the yogi Milarepa.
Again vowing to protect the Buddhist Dharma they offered up their life-essence in the form of mantras and requested the teachings.There were three encounters between Milarepa and Tseringma.
From the students of Milarepa arose many diverse lineages of practice which have permeated through all the schools of Tibetan Buddhism down to the present day.
The central figure, Tseringma, is white in colour with one face and two hands. The right holds upraised a gold vajra and the left placed at the heart cradles a gold long-life vase.
Youthful in appearance, adorned with gold ornaments and various coloured garments, she rides the mythical white snow lion of Tibet; white with a green mane and fringe.
In the upper left corner is 'Miyo Lozangma' (Immovable Noble Mind), yellow in colour, offering savory foods with the right hand and holding a gold bowl filled with foodstuffs in the left - riding on a large young tiger.
At the right is 'Chopen Drinzangma' red in colour holding a treasure chest in the right hand and a wish-fulfilling jewel in the left - riding on a hornless stag.
At the bottom left is 'Tingyi Shal Zangma' (Fair Blue-faced One), blue in colour, holding a mirror in the right hand and a stick with fluttering silk streamers in the left - riding on a wild ass.
At the right is 'Tekar Drozangma' green in colour clutching a bunch of 'durva' grass in the right hand and a snake lasso in the left - riding on a blue dragon which grasps wish-fulfilling jewels in the claws.
