Satrig Ersang

Satrig Ersang (Tibetan: ས་ཏྲིག་ཨེར་སང་།, Wylie: sa trig er sang), also known as Yingkyi Yum Chemma or Sherab Chamma (Tibetan: ཤེས་རབ་ཆམ་མ།, Wylie: shes rab cham ma), is a principal female deity in the Yungdrung Bön tradition of Tibet. She is revered as the embodiment of wisdom and is one of the Four Transcendent Lords, the highest deities in Bön cosmology.[1]

Theology and role

Satrig Ersang, or Sherab Chamma, is considered the principal goddess in the Bön religion, ranking among the highest deities. She embodies wisdom and learning, and is invoked for guidance, insight, and the cultivation of knowledge.[2] She is often depicted seated with her legs tightly crossed and her hands at her heart, holding a mirror and a left-facing swastika (yungdrung) above her shoulders. These symbols represent her attributes of wisdom and eternity.[3]

In Bön iconography, she is typically depicted alongside the other three Transcendent Lords—Shenlha Ökar, Sangpo Bumtri, and Tonpa Shenrab Miwoche—forming a set of paintings, sculptures, or murals commonly found in Bön temples and shrines.[4]

Iconography

Satrig Ersang/Sherab Chamma is often portrayed seated on a lion throne under a throne arch, decorated with pairs of vases, dragons, boys, and makaras, at the apex of which is a garuda. The background of such depictions typically includes miniature representations of the goddess, symbolizing her pervasive presence.[5]

In some thangkas, she is shown holding twin lotus stems supporting a mirror and a prayer wheel, flanked by attendants and surrounded by the 250 enlightened ones (sanggye), emphasizing her role as a central figure in the Bön pantheon.[6]

Manifestations

Satrig Ersang/Sherab Chamma is believed to manifest in various forms, each embodying different aspects of her divine nature. These include her role as a meditational deity akin to Saraswati, a deity of healing similar to Lakshmi, and a protector deity with a formidable appearance reminiscent of Durga or Kali.[7]

Cultural and ritual significance

In Bön rituals, Satrig Ersang/Sherab Chamma is invoked for her wisdom and protective qualities. Her imagery is central to various liturgical practices, and she is often depicted in the company of other deities, highlighting her integral role in the spiritual and ritual life of Bön practitioners.[8][9]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Satrig Ersang (Bon Deity)". Himalayan Art Resources. Retrieved 2025-08-21.
  2. ^ "Bon - Manidvipa". Manidvipa. Retrieved 2025-08-21.
  3. ^ "Satrig Ersang – Teacher (Thangka)". Himalayan Art Resources. Retrieved 2025-08-21.
  4. ^ "Satrig Ersang – Teacher (Thangka)". Himalayan Art Resources. Retrieved 2025-08-21.
  5. ^ "Satrig Ersang (Bon Deity)". Himalayan Art Resources. Retrieved 2025-08-21.
  6. ^ "A thangka of Satrig Ersang Tibet, 19th century". Bonhams. Retrieved 2025-08-21.
  7. ^ "Satrig Ersang: 1 definition". Wisdom Library. Retrieved 2025-08-21.
  8. ^ "Bon - Manidvipa". Manidvipa. Retrieved 2025-08-21.
  9. ^ "Satrig Ersang – Teacher (Thangka)". Himalayan Art Resources. Retrieved 2025-08-21.
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