Natural Liberation of Negativity and Obscuration through [Enactment of] the Hundredfold Homage to the Sacred Enlightened Families

This practice reinforces the previous meditation, taking the form of a physical prostration to each of the Peaceful and Wrathful Deities in turn. This Hundredfold Homage can be done on its own or immediately after the practice of the Natural Liberation of Habitual Tendencies. It can also be practised whenever feast-offerings1 are performed in conjunction with The Natural Liberation of Feelings or whenever the practitioner makes offerings of incense, flowers and butter-lamps to the deities.
Practitioners should make these prostrations while clearly visualising before them the form of the deity, in perfect detail, and while experientially cultivating the deity’s nature and the inner meaning of the symbolism. Also, as the colophon recommends, the practitioner should concurrently: ‘mentally admit and feel remorse for all one’s negativities and obscurations, which have been, are being and will be accumulated.’
Herein is contained an ancillary chapter of the Liberation by Hearing in the Intermediate States2 entitled Natural Liberation of Negativity and Obscuration through [Enactment of] the Hundredfold Homage? [which is an extract from] the Peaceful and Wrathful Deities: A Profound Sacred Teaching, [entitled] Natural Liberation through [Recognition of] Enlightened Intention.3
I respectfully bow down to Samantabhadra and Mahottara,
To the assembly of Peaceful and Wrathful Deities,
And to the assembly of the hundred sacred enlightened families.
Having purified all negativity and obscurations,
May I act so as to guide all beings to the pure buddha fields!
I [now] present this Natural Liberation of Negativity and Obscuration through [Enactment of the Hundredfold] Homage, a method for performing a hundredfold homage to the infinite Peaceful and Wrathful Deities of the hundred sacred enlightened families, by which negativity and obscuration may be purified. Cherish your zeal in this [practice] throughout the three times!
NAMO!4
I bow down to5 Samantabhadra, the Buddha-body of Reality,
Father of all buddhas, the natural purity of mental consciousness,
The primary buddha, unchanging body of light,
Sky [blue], and seated in the posture of meditative equipoise.
I bow down to Samantabhadn, the supreme consort,
Natural purity of the sensory spectrum of phenomena,6
Stainless white, like crystal,
Mother of all buddhas of past, present and future,
Joyously embracing her consort, in supreme bliss.
I bow down to Vairocana, [manifestation of] supreme buddha-body,
The natural purity of the aggregate of form,
Pure without renunciation of delusion,
Conch [white], holding a wheel and a bell,
[Seated] on an exalted throne supported by lions,
The [resplendent] pristine cognition of reality’s expanse.
I bow down to Vajrasattva, [manifestation of] supreme buddha-mind,
The natural purity of the aggregate of consciousness,
Pure without renunciation of aversion,
Azure [blue], holding a vajra and a bell,
[Seated] on an exalted throne supported by elephants,
The [resplendent] mirror-like pristine cognition.
I bow down to Ratnasambhava, [manifestation of supreme] buddha attributes,
The natural purity of the aggregate of feeling,
Pure without renunciation of pride,
Golden [yellow], holding a jewel and a bell,
[Seated] on an exalted throne supported by horses,
The [resplendent] pristine cognition of sameness.
I bow down to Amitabha, [manifestation of] supreme buddha-speech,
The natural purity of the aggregate of perceptions,
Pure without renunciation of attachment,
Copper [red], holding a lotus and a bell,
[Seated] on an exalted throne supported by peacocks,
The [resplendent] pristine cognition of discernment.
I bow down to Amoghasiddhi, [manifestation of supreme] buddha activities,
The natural purity of the aggregate of motivational tendencies,
Pure without renunciation of envy,
Turquoise [green], holding a crossed-vajra and a bell,
[Seated] on an exalted throne supported by civamcivaka birds,
The [resplendent] pristine cognition of accomplishment.
I bow down to Dhatvlsvarl, the supreme consort,
The mother of the Buddha Family, natural purity of space,
Moonlike [white], holding a wheel and a bell,
Joyously embracing her consort, in supreme bliss.
I bow down to Buddhalocana, the supreme consort,
The mother of the Vajra Family, natural purity of earth,
Beryl [blue], holding a vajra and a bell,
Joyously embracing her consort, in supreme bliss.
I bow down to Mamakl, the supreme consort,
The mother of the Ratna Family, natural purity of water,
Minium [orange], holding a jewel and a bell,
Joyously embracing her consort, in supreme bliss.
I bow down to Pandaravasini, the supreme consort,
The mother of the Padma Family, natural purity of fire,
Fire-crystal [red], holding a lotus and a bell,
Joyously embracing her consort, in supreme bliss.
I bow down to Samayatara, the supreme consort,
The mother of the Karma Family, natural purity of wind,
Sapphire [green], holding a crossed-vajra and a bell,
Joyously embracing her consort, in supreme bliss.
I bow down to Ksitigarbha, male bodhisattva who acts for the benefit of beings,
The natural purity of visual consciousness, transcendent of renunciation,
Snow-mountain [white], holding a seedling and a bell.
I bow down to Maitreya, male bodhisattva who acts for the benefit of beings,
The natural purity of auditory consciousness, transcendent of renunciation,
Cloud-white, holding a blossoming orange bush and a bell.
I bow down to Samantabhadra, male bodhisattva who acts for the benefit of beings,
The natural purity of olfactory consciousness, transcendent of renunciation,
Amber [yellow], holding a grain-sheath and a bell.
I bow down to Akalagarbha, male bodhisattva who acts for the benefit of beings,
The natural purity of gustatory consciousness, transcendent of renunciation,
Burnished golden [yellow], holding a sword and a bell.
I bow down to Avalokitesvara, male bodhisattva who acts for the benefit of beings,
The natural purity of tactile consciousness, transcendent of renunciation,
Coral [red], holding a lotus and a bell.
I bow down to Manjusrlkumarabhuta, male bodhisattva who acts for the benefit of beings,
The natural purity of mental consciousness, transcendent of renunciation,
Minium [orange], holding a lily and a bell.
I bow down to Nivaranaviskambhin, male bodhisattva who acts for the benefit of beings,
The natural purity of the ‘ground-of-all’ consciousness, transcendent of renunciation,
[Green] as the night-flowering lotus, holding a book and a bell.
I bow down to VajrapSni, male bodhisattva who acts for the benefit of beings,
The natural purity of ‘defiled’ consciousness, transcendent of renunciation,
Emerald [green], holding a vajra and a bell.
I bow down to white Lasya, [female bodhisattva] whose offerings [delight] The eyes of [all] Those Gone to Bliss, past, present and future,
The natural purity of visual phenomena, transcendent of renunciation,
Quartz [white], holding a mirror and a bell.
I bow down to white Puspa, [female bodhisattva] whose offerings delight
[The minds of all] Those Gone to Bliss, past, present and future,
The natural purity of past conceptual thoughts, transcendent of renunciation,
Pearl [white], holding a white lotus and a bell.
I bow down to yellow Malya, [female bodhisattva] whose gestures delight
[The minds of all] Those Gone to Bliss, past, present and future,
The natural purity of indeterminate conceptual thoughts, transcendent of renunciation,
Saffron [yellow], holding a garland and a bell.
I bow down to yellow Dhupa, [female bodhisattva] whose offerings [delight]
The noses of [all] Those Gone to Bliss, past, present and future,
The natural purity of fragrance, transcendent of renunciation,
Golden [yellow] in colour, holding sweet-smelling incense and a censer.
I bow down to red Glta, [female bodhisattva] whose offerings [delight] The ears of [all] Those Gone to Bliss, past, present and future, The natural purity of sound, transcendent of renunciation, Marsh mallow [pink], and playing a lute.
I bow down to red Aloka, [female bodhisattva] whose offerings [delight]
The eyes of [all] Those Gone to Bliss, past, present and future,
The natural purity of future conceptual thoughts, transcendent of renunciation,
Lotus [pink], and holding a glowing butter lamp.
I bow down to green Gandha, [female bodhisattva] whose offerings [delight]
The bodies of [all] Those Gone to Bliss, past, present and future,
The natural purity of present conceptual thoughts, transcendent of renunciation,
Poppy [green], holding a perfume-filled conch.
I bow down to green NartI, [female bodhisattva] whose offerings [delight]
The tongues of [all] Those Gone to Bliss, past, present and future,
The natural purity of taste, transcendent of renunciation,
Marine [green], holding a [deliciously] nutritious food-offering.
I bow down to [Trailokya-]Vijaya, [male gatekeeper] whose wrathful presence
Guards against obstacles at the eastern gate,
The natural purity of eternalist views, transcendent of renunciation,
White, holding a cudgel and a bell.
I bow down to Yam§ntaka, [male gatekeeper] whose wrathful presence
Guards against obstacles at the southern gate,
The natural purity of nihilistic views, transcendent of renunciation,
Yellow, holding a skull-club and a bell.
I bow down to Hayagrtvaraja, [male gatekeeper] whose wrathful presence
Guards against obstacles at the western gate,
The natural purity of egotistical views, transcendent of renunciation,
Red, holding an iron chain and a bell.
I bow down to Amrtakundalin, [male gatekeeper] whose wrathful presence
Guards against obstacles at the northern gate,
The natural purity of substantialist views,7 transcendent of renunciation,
Green, holding a crossed-vajra and a bell.
I bow down to Vajrarikusa, [female gatekeeper] whose immeasurable compassion
Guides the six classes [of beings] away from [their mundane] realms,
White, holding an iron hook that attracts,
She embraces her wrathful consort in blissful union.
I bow down to Vajrapasa, [female gatekeeper] whose immeasurable loving kindness
Acts [ceaselessly] on behalf of beings,
Yellow, holding a noose that lassoes,
She embraces her wrathful consort in blissful union.
I bow down to Vajrasphota, [female gatekeeper] whose immeasurable sympathetic joy
Embraces [each and every] living being,
Red, holding an iron chain that binds,
She embraces her wrathful consort in blissful union.
I bow down to Vajraghanta, [female gatekeeper] whose immeasurable equanimity
Transcends discrimination between living beings,
Green, holding a bell that summons,
She embraces her wrathful consort in blissful union.
I bow down to Indrasakra, [sage] whose emanational buddha form
Acts [ceaselessly] on behalf of beings,
The natural purity of pride, and guide of the god realms,
White and holding a lute.
I bow down to Vemacitra, [sage] whose emanational buddha form Acts [ceaselessly] on behalf of beings,
The natural purity of envy, and guide of the antigod realms, Green, holding armour and a weapon.
I bow down to Sakyamuni, [sage] whose emanational buddha form
Acts [ceaselessly] on behalf of beings,
The natural purity of attachment, and guide of the human realms,
Yellow, holding a begging bowl and staff.
I bow down to Sthirasimha, [sage] whose emanational buddha form
Acts [ceaselessly] on behalf of beings,
The natural purity of delusion, and guide of the animal realms,
Blue, and holding a book.
I bow down to the transcendent Jvalamukha, [sage] whose emanational buddha form
Acts [ceaselessly] on behalf of beings,
The natural purity of miserliness, and guide of the anguished-spirit realms,
Red, and holding a bejewelled casket.
I bow down to Dharmaraja, [sage] whose emanational buddha form
Acts [ceaselessly] on behalf of beings,
The natural purity of aversion, and guide of the hell realms,
Black, and holding a warming flame and cooling water.
I bow down to Mahottara Heruka, who has three faces,
Dark brown, white and red; and six arms:
A vajra, khatvanga, and small drum in his right hands,
And a bell, blood-filled skull, and noose of entrails in his left.
I bow down to Buddha Heruka, who has three faces,
Dark brown, white and red; and six arms:
A wheel, axe, and sword in his right hands,
And a bell, ploughshare, and blood-filled skull in his left.
I bow down to Vajra Heruka, who has three faces,
Dark blue, white and red; and six arms:
A vajra, blood-filled skull, and axe in his right hands,
And a bell, blood-filled skull, and ploughshare in his left.
I bow down to Ratna Heruka, who has three faces,
Dark yellow, white and red; and six arms:
A jewel, khatvanga, and mace in his right hands,
And a bell, blood-filled skull, and trident in his left.
I bow down to Padma Heruka, who has three faces,
Dark red, white and blue; and six arms:
A lotus, khatvanga, and cudgel in his right hands,
And a bell, blood-filled skull, and small drum in his left.
I bow down to Karma Heruka, who has three faces,
Dark green, white and red; and six arms:
A sword, khatvanga, and cudgel in his right hands,
And a bell, blood-filled skull, and ploughshare in his left.
I bow down to Krodhesvari, wrathful Queen of [Reality’s] Expanse,
Dark blue, holding a vajra,
Offering a blood-filled skull to her consort’s mouth,
She joyously embraces him, in supreme bliss.
I bow down to Buddhakrodhesvarl, the Buddha Queen of [Reality’s] Expanse,
Red-brown, holding a wheel,
Offering a blood-filled skull to her consort’s mouth,
She joyously embraces him, in supreme bliss.
I bow down to Vajrakrodhesvarl, Vajra Queen of [Reality’s] Expanse,
Pale blue, holding a vajra,
Offering a blood-filled skull to her consort’s mouth,
She joyously embraces him, in supreme bliss.
I bow down to Ratnakrodhesvan, Ratna Queen of [Reality’s] Expanse,
Pale yellow, holding a jewel,
Offering a blood-filled skull to her consort’s mouth,
She joyously embraces him, in supreme bliss.
I bow down to Padmakrodhesvarl, Padma Queen of [Reality’s] Expanse,
Pale red, holding a lotus,
Offering a blood-filled skull to her consort’s mouth,
She joyously embraces him, in supreme bliss.
I bow down to Karmakrodhesvarl, Karma Queen of [Reality’s] Expanse,
Pale green, holding a crossed-vajra,
Offering a blood-filled skull to her consort’s mouth,
She joyously embraces him, in supreme bliss.
I bow down to Gaurl of the eastern direction,
Acting on behalf of living beings as one of the Matarah,
Wrathful, white, and aloof on her throne of human corpses,
Brandishing a human corpse as a cudgel
To destroy the conceptual landscape of cyclic existence.
I bow down to Caurl of the southern direction,
Acting on behalf of living beings as one of the Matarah,
Wrathful, yellow, and aloof on her throne of human corpses,
Shooting an arrow from a bow
To bind indivisibly skilful means and discriminative awareness.
I bow down to Pramoha of the western direction,
Acting on behalf of living beings as one of the Matarah,
Wrathful, red, and aloof on her throne of human corpses,
Holding a crocodile victory-banner
To resist [the seductions of] cyclic existence.
I bow down to Vetall of the northern direction,
Acting on behalf of living beings as one of the Matarah,
Wrathful, black,8 and aloof on her throne of human corpses,
Holding a vajra and a blood-filled skull
[To sustain recognition of] the unchanging reality.
I bow down to PukkasI of the south-eastern direction, Acting on behalf of living beings as one of the Matarah, Wrathful, red-yellow, and aloof on her throne of human corpses,
[Clutching and] devouring entrails
To draw [sentient beings] free from the dissonant realms.
I bow down to Ghasmarl of the south-western direction,
Acting on behalf of living beings as one of the Matarah,
Wrathful, green-black, and aloof on her throne of human corpses,
Drinking blood from a skull
To consume [the turning circle of] cyclic existence.
I bow down to Candall of the north-western direction,
Acting on behalf of living beings as one of the Matarah,
Wrathful, pale yellow, and aloof on her throne of human corpses,
Tearing apart the head and body of a bloated corpse To sever erroneous thoughts [at their roots].
I bow down to SmasanI of the north-eastern direction,
Acting on behalf of living beings as one of the Matarah,
Wrathful, blue-black, and aloof on her throne of human corpses,
Tearing apart [the head from] a human corpse
To sever the buttresses of cyclic existence.
I bow down to brown-black, lion-headed Simhamukhl,
Acting on behalf of living beings in the form of a Pisaci,
Carrying a corpse in her mouth, and shaking her mane
To stir cyclic existence to its depths.
I bow down to red, tiger-headed Vyaghnmukhi,
Acting on behalf of living beings in the form of a Pisaci,
With her two arms crossed, and staring with bulging eyes
To overwhelm attachment to cyclic existence.
I bow down to black, fox-headed Srgalamukhl,
Acting on behalf of living beings in the form of a Pisaci,
Brandishing a razor, and devouring lungs and a heart
To purify dissonant mental states in their basic nature.
I bow down to blue-black, wolf-headed Svanamukhl,
Acting on behalf of living beings in the form of a Pisaci,
Tearing apart a corpse, and staring with bulging eyes
To stir the pit of cyclic existence.
I bow down to white-yellow, vulture-headed Grdhramukhl,
Acting on behalf of living beings in the form of a Pisaci,
Clawing a bloated corpse, and extracting the entrails
To sever the three poisons from their roots.
I bow down to red-black, kite-headed Kankamukhl,
Acting on behalf of living beings in the form of a Pisaci,
Carrying a bloated corpse, draped over her shoulder
To extract [beings] from the pit of cyclic existence.
I bow down to black, crow-headed Kakamukhl,
Acting on behalf of living beings in the form of a Pisaci,
Brandishing a sword, and drinking blood from a skull
To consume and liberate dissonant mental states.
I bow down to blue-black, owl-headed Ulukamukhl,
Acting on behalf of living beings in the form of a Pisaci,
Holding an iron hook,9 and carrying a blood-filled skull
To draw [beings] free from the false mentality of cyclic existence.
I bow down to horse-headed Ankusa at the eastern gate,
Acting on behalf of living beings in the form of a female gatekeeper,
Horse-headed, white, and holding an iron hook,
The force of her immeasurable compassion
Guiding [those trapped in] cyclic existence away from the lower realms.
I bow down to sow-headed Pa§a at the southern gate,
Acting on behalf of living beings in the form of a female gatekeeper,
Sow-headed, yellow, and holding a noose,
The force of her immeasurable loving kindness
Constricting the false mentality [of beings].
I bow down to lion-headed Sphota at the western gate,
Acting on behalf of living beings in the form of a female gatekeeper,
Lion-headed, red, and holding an iron chain,
The force of her immeasurable sympathetic joy
Shackling the dissonant mental states generated by ignorance.10
I bow down to snake-headed Gantha at the northern gate,
Acting on behalf of living beings in the form of a female gatekeeper,
Snake-headed, green, and holding a bell,
The force of her immeasurable equanimity
Subduing the cognitive resonances of the five poisons.11
I bow down to the Projectress who Casts a Noose,12
Manifestation of the natural purity of reality,
Clothed in flayed hides, she unites the three levels of existence
With the [pure buddha] fields, however these may manifest,
And casts her noose of solar rays,
Projecting [beings of] the trichiliocosm into higher rebirths.
I bow down to the Projectress who Casts a Pike,13
[Holding] a blood-filled skull, and casting a pike,
She purifies the five dissonant mental states
To dispel permanently the diseases of conceptual thought,
The force of her compassion, rich in skilful means,
Projecting human beings into higher rebirths.
I bow down to the Projectress who Rings a Bell,14
Holding to her heart a blood-filled skull,
She subjugates the entire trichiliocosm
To secure ignorant sentient beings in [reality’s] expanse,
The resonance of her charisma
Projecting [beings of] the chiliocosm into higher rebirths.
I bow down to the Projectress who Carries a Garuda,15
Her body an exquisite white-yellow,
[Signifying] her proficiency in the rites of pacification and enrichment.
Holding to her; heart a blood-filled skull,
To overpower the five sensory desires,
She carries a vajra and a large garuda,
Projecting the gods into higher rebirths.
I bow down to the Projectress who Casts a Shooting Star,16
Her awesome body an exquisite blue-black,
[Holding] a vajra and casting a shooting star
To avert the intensity of ‘The Great Battle’,17
She drinks blood from a skull,
Projecting the antigods into higher rebirths.
I bow down to the Projectress who Holds a Thunderbolt-garland,18
Her body part red and part black,
[Signifying proficiency in the rites of] subjugation and wrath,
Her facial expression fixed in domination.
To purify and ease outer and inner obscurations,
[She wields] a vajra and thunderbolt-garland,
Projecting anguished spirits into higher rebirths.
I bow down to the Projectress who Wields an Eagle-feathered Banner,19
Her body part white and part black,
[Signifying] her proficiency in the rites of pacification and wrath,
Drinking blood from a skull
To dissolve delusion [into emptiness],
[She holds] a vajra and wields an eagle-feathered banner,
Projecting animals into higher rebirths.
I bow down to the Projectress who Holds a Sword,20Her body part yellow and part black, [Signifying] her proficiency in the rites of enrichment and wrath,
Drinking blood from a skull
To dissolve the hells into emptiness,
[She holds] a vajra and a sword,
Projecting the hell-beings into higher rebirths.
I bow down to yak-headed ManuraksasI,
The brownish white yogini, holding a vajra and skull.
I bow down to snake-headed Brahmanl,
The yellowish white yogini, holding a vajra and lotus.
I bow down to leopard-headed Raudrl,
The greenish white yogini, holding a vajra and trident.
I bow down to weasel-headed Vaisnavl,
The bluish white yogini, holding a vajra and wheel.
I bow down to brown bear-headed KaumSrt,
The reddish white yogini, holding a vajra and pike.
I bow down to black bear-headed Indranl,
The white yogini, holding a vajra and noose of entrails.
I bow down to bat-headed Vajra,21
The yellow yogini, holding a jewel and razor.
I bow down to crocodile-headed SantI,
The reddish yellow yogini, holding a jewel and vase.
I bow down to scorpion-headed Amrta,
The reddish yellow yogini, holding a jewel and lotus.
I bow down to hawk-headed SaumI,
The whitish yellow yogini, holding a jewel and vajra.
I bow down to fox-headed Dandl,
The greenish yellow yogini, holding a jewel and cudgel.
I bow down to tiger-headed RaksasI,
The blackish yellow yogini, holding a jewel and blood-filled skull.
I bow down to vulture-headed Bhaksasi,
The greenish red yogini, holding a lotus and club.
I bow down to horse-headed Rati,
The red yoginl, holding a lotus and human torso.
I bow down to garuda-headed Rudhiramadl,
The pale red yoginl, holding a lotus and cudgel.
I bow down to dog-headed EkacarinI,
The red yoginl, holding a lotus and vajra.
I bow down to hoopoe-headed Manoharika,
The red yoginl, holding a lotus and a bow and arrow.
I bow down to deer-headed Siddhikarl,
The greenish red yoginl, holding a lotus and vase.
I bow down to wolf-headed VayudevI,
The bluish green yoginl, holding a crossed-vajra and ensign.
I bow down to ibex-headed Agnayl,
The reddish green yoginl, holding a crossed-vajra and firebrand.
I bow down to sow-headed Varahl,
The blackish green yoginl, holding a crossed-vajra and a noose of fangs.
I bow down to crow-headed Camundl,
The reddish green yoginl, holding a crossed-vajra and an infant corpse.
I bow down to elephant-headed Bhujana,
The blackish green yoginl, holding a crossed-vajra and a bloated corpse.
I bow down to snake-headed Varunan I,
The [bluish] green22 yoginl, holding a crossed-vajra and a noose of snakes.
I bow down to cuckoo-headed Vajra [Mahakall],
The white gatekeeper, holding a vajra and iron hook.
I bow down to goat-headed Vajra [Mahachagala],
The yellow gatekeeper, holding a jewel and a noose.
I bow down to lion-headed Vajra [Mahakumbhakarnl],
The red gatekeeper, holding a lotus and an iron chain.
I bow down to snake-headed Vajra [Lambodara],
The blackish green gatekeeper, holding a crossed-vajra and a bell.
While reciting this prayer, all the male and female yogins present should remove their outer garments and, as they make [successive] full-length prostrations, they should respectfully pay homage [to the deities]. While respectfully narrating this eulogy in a melodious voice and enacting the hundredfold homage, one should mentally admit and feel remorse for all one’s negativities and obscurations, which have been, are being and will be accumulated.
This Natural Liberation of Negativity and Obscuration is an extraordinary [method for] purifying obscurations, by enacting in full the one hundred and ten homages23 to the Peaceful and Wrathful Deities. Whatever other [confessional] practices one may [generally] undertake, such as the Reparation and Confession of the Hells,24 the merits accrued by one who practises in this manner are immeasurable. Therefore, one should persevere diligently with the enactment of this Hundredfold Homage.
May [the influence of this] Natural Liberation of Negativity and Obscuration through [Enactment of] the Hundredfold Homage to the Hundred Sacred Enlightened Families of the Peaceful and Wrathful Deities not be exhausted until cyclic existence has been emptied.
This most profound teaching is an ancillary chapter of the Liberation by Hearing in the Intermediate States, a supporting text to the Reparation and Confession of the Hells, and a synopsis of the three editions [long, medium and short] of the Peaceful and Wrathful Deities: The Ritual Purification [entitled Natural Liberation of Feelings]. It should be propagated everywhere and enacted energetically at all times without interruption.