Page 44 - Handbook of Tibetan Buddhist Symbols

Handbook of Tibetan Buddhis#133 9/1/10 11:34 AM Page 26

26 T he Handbook of T ibet an B uddhist S ymbols

spirits during Vajrayana rituals of destructive scribed upon its upper surface, whose func-
activity. These weapons may take the form of tion was to destroy the leaders of hostile po-
a sacrificial ‘cake offering’ (Tib. gtor-ma), a litical parties. The presiding lama appointed
skull cup, or an ox or yak horn engraved for this task would first catch the ‘life
with the images of poisonous creatures, such essence’ (Tib. srog-snying) of the enemy, and
as the snake, scorpion, and frog. Mustard bind it into a few grains of white mustard
seed is also used in Tibetan rituals of weather seed, which would then be ground under the
control, where hailstorms may be either con- millstones with specific mantras. This
jured forth or prevented. process was evidently extremely dangerous,
In his book Oracles and Demons of as people who handled the mill occasionally
Tibet, Nebesky-Wojkowitz describes a Ti- died soon afterwards.
betan magical weapon known as the ‘mill of The mustard seed offered by Vajrapani
Yama (Tib. gShin-rje)’, the ‘Lord of the symbolizes the Vajra Buddha Family, which
Dead’, which was located at Khardo Gompa is presided over by Akshobya, whose activ-
near Lhasa. This weapon took the form of a ity is to destroy all hatred, aggression, and
double millstone with powerful mantras in- harmful influences.