Ekajati
The Single Braided Mother
Mamo Ekajati – Ngak-srung Ral gÇigma (sNgags srung ral gCig ma) the Single Braided Mother or ‘Non-dual Queen’ is the most important protector – according to every lineage of the Nyingma tradition. She is also known as Pal-ngak kyi Srungma (dPal sNgags kyi srung ma) – the ‘Splendorous Protectress of Secret Awareness-spell’.
Khandro
Déchen comments:
This powerful thangka is painted in the style of ‘nak-thang’. This means that
it is painted on a black ground – a style which is reserved for the most
wrathful Tantric ‘awareness imagery’. The portrayal is all the more striking,
because Ekajati is correctly proportioned in terms of her stance. Often Ekajati
is shown in a form which is too thin and tall, and
the power of her stance is thereby lost. In the Aro gTér there is a yidam form
of Yeshé Tsogyel manifesting as Ekajati in which she is slim and taller
according to dakini proportion, but her stance is also different. The cemetery
ornaments in this thangka are beautifully portrayed in great detail – showing
the chö-khors at the wrists, ankles, and chest. This form of
ru-gyan is rarely seen today.
