The Dakini of the Passionate Lotus

 

She is one of the sweetest dakinis, a manifestation of Red Tara. She possesses the power of magnetism — the ability to attract. Through her, we can open ourselves to possibilities beyond our karma, with the purpose of liberating ourselves and guiding us toward the benefit of all sentient beings. She invites us to go beyond selfishness, focusing our energy on the well-being of others.

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The practice of Kurukulle has a special flavour — a feeling of sweetness, calm, and harmony. She is one of the few dakinis who manifests not in a wrathful form, but in a gentle and loving way.

She is depicted dancing, holding a bow and arrow made of flowers, in an attitude of celebration of life. Her practice embodies an experience of bliss, joy, and tenderness.

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Kurukulle: Emanation of Red Tara who magnetises the virtuous.

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She manifests the magical power of magnetisation.
Kurukulle is a Buddhist dakini originating from the land of Uddiyana.
Her name is translated into Tibetan as Rigjyedma (rig-byed-ma), “she who is the cause of knowledge.”
She is associated with a king of Uddiyana named Indrabhuti.

Most modern scholars believe this indicates that Kurukulle was originally a tribal goddess, similar to the Hindu goddess Durga in India, who later, due to her popularity, became associated with the great Buddhist goddess Tara. For this reason, Kurukulle is often called Red Tara (sgrol-ma dmar-po) or Tarodbhava Kurukulla, “Kurukulle who arises from Tara.”

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Kurukulle becomes the Buddhist goddess of love and sex, corresponding to the Western goddesses Aphrodite and Venus. She is depicted as a voluptuous and seductive sixteen-year-old nude woman. Among the attributes she holds in her four hands—the four-armed form being her most common manifestation—are a bow and arrow intertwined with flowers, reminiscent of the Western Eros and Cupid, although as a goddess of witchcraft, she more closely resembles Diana.