About Ekajati

Known as Ral Chig Ma in Tibetan, Ekajati is a wrathful emanation of Tara in the form of a Dharma Protector. She is the main guardian of the Dzogchen teachings, all secret mantras, and all terma or revealed teachings. Although primarily practised in the Nyingma school, she is included alongside Chenrezig and Green Tara as one of the three deities in the Gelug tradition’s Chenrezig Ngesung Kundrol practice, albeit in a different form.

She has the power to eliminate obstacles, black magic, harmful influences and all manner of negative energy. She is also invoked for healing of illness or diseases, overcoming obstacles to our peace of mind and to combat emotional distress.

Black or dark blue in colour, Ekajati has one braid of hair which flows upwards like a flame, from which she derives her name - ‘one braid of hair.’ She has one eye, one long and sharp tooth which bites down over her lower lip, and one breast. She is adorned with a crown made of five skulls, earrings, necklace, bracelets, armlets and anklets. She wears a scarf of smoke around her neck and a flayed tiger skin skirt. In some representations, she uses a flayed human skin as a cloak as well.

She stands in a dancing posture atop a prostrate human figure which represents obstructors, obstacles and our negative karma. In her right hand, she holds aloft a stick impaled with a human corpse. In her left hand, she holds a human heart that is dark red in colour. The position of the heart depends on which terma she is protecting. In some representations, the heart is replaced with a noose.

Further Reading

• Black Tara – The Wrathful Protectress
• Chenrezig Ngesung Kundrol | 普度三恶趣观音
• 21 Taras of Tara Walk
• Suryagupta’s 21 Taras

• Material: Copper, gold plated
• Height: 228 mm (9-in)
• Width: 160 mm (6.3-in)
• Depth: 90 mm (3.5-in)
• Weight: 1.5 kg (3.4 lb)