Parnashavari, the Leaf-Clad Goddess Protects Against Covid-19

Phagpa Ritroma protection circle, unknown artist.

Phagpa Ritroma Protection Circle

This protection circle of the protector Phagma Ritroma (Parnashavari, Leaf-Glad Goddess, Loma Gyonma in Tibetan) was circulating on social media in March 2020 with text attributing it to His Holiness the 41st Sakya Trichen (Kyabgon Gongma Trichen Rinpoche).

Sakya Dolma Phodrang, the Office of His Holiness the 41st Sakya Trichen, circulated this March 4, 2020 letter on social media in response:

"CLARIFICATION:

"Recently there has been publicity on the internet that a protection circile of Phagma Ritroma had been made by Kyabgon Gongma Trichen Rinpoche for protection from the Coronavirus. On specifically asking Kyabgon Gongma Trichen Rinpoche, he replied that he had not made this protection circle, but that this protection circle would definitely be beneficial in countering all kinds of epidemics.

"Therefore, this is a short clarification which everyone should kindly keep in mind."

Letter from Office of Sakya Dolma Phodrang.

However, His Holiness the 41st Sakya Trichen does recommend people chant the Parnasharvari mantra. (His Holiness the Dalai Lama, His Eminence Kyabje Ling Rinpoche, and Jamyang Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche recommend the same.)

OM PISHA TSI PARNA SHAWARI SARWA ZORA PRASHA MANAYE SOHA

Listen to His Holiness the 41st Sakya Trichen recite the Parnashavari mantra on SoundCloud:

Parnashavari Initiation

His Holiness the 41st Sakya Trichen will be giving the initiation of Parnashavari on April 17 at 8:30 AM PT.

Parnashavari initiation announcement in English and Tibetan.

Parnashavari initiation announcement in English.

The initiation will be livestreamed on the Sakya Centre YouTube channel and Sakya Centre India Facebook page. I imagine the recording of the livestream will be available on both YouTube and Facebook for later viewing.

The Office of Sakya Dolma Phodrang and Sakya Centre India shared this message along with the above announcements on Facebook:

"16th April - His Holiness Gongma Trichen Rinpoche will be giving the Parnashavari empowerment online tomorrow evening.

"Its very special pith instructions are known to be supremely effective against the spread of disease. It belongs to the Gelug tradition and has an interesting story.

"One Tibetan ngakpa first received it from an Indian Mahasiddha, and it turned out to be extraordinarily effective. But the Mahasiddha put his conditions to the conferral: he forbade the ngakpa to give to anyone outside his lineage.

"Word came to the Panchen Lama that this was indeed an outstandingly effective empowerment, and he immediately requested if from the ngakpa, who happened to belong to the Gelugpa school. The ngakpa could not refuse the Panchen Lama’s request, but stipulated that the latter could not confer it to anyone one else.

"The Panchen Lama was of the opinion that the empowerment was of no significance if it couldn’t benefit beings, and so he refused to receive it. But he had a cunning plan: he made one of the ngakpa’s son a Gelugpa tulku, and in doing so, ensured that the empowerment was now within the domain of the Gelugpa school."

April 18, 2020 Update:

If you missed the livestream or were unable to follow it due to problems with the internet at the monastery, then you can watch the recording on the Samdup Tibet YouTube channel.

Just as the livestream was starting Saya Centre India shared this on Facebook:

"Now, His Holiness Kyabgon Gongma Sakya Trichen Rinpoche will bestow the Parnashavari initiation. This powerful initiation belongs to the Collection of Sadhanas, which was compiled in the 11th century by Rinchen Drakpa, better known as Bari Lotsawa, the second Sakya Throne Holder.

"Bari Lotsawa was an accomplished tantric master and translator, having spent many years studying in India and receiving a huge number of teachings from great masters.

"The Parnashavari Initiation is famous for averting pandemics. In older times, it was given for this purpose in Tibet and its ritual was celebrated at Sakya monasteries as a form of modern-day vaccination. Statues and attendees were all sprinkled with water blessed by the deity, and those who were developed light symptoms and quickly found their way back to health. This puja was celebrated at Sakya Centre in March, conducted by His Holiness Gongma Trichen Rinpoche, His Holiness the 42nd Sakya Trizin and Khöndung Gyana Vajra Rinpoche."

Sadhana of Arya Parnashavari

After the livestream ended Sakya Centre India posted this on Facebook:

"For those who have received the Panashavari initiation last night, this is the sadhana which you could use to practice. The mantra is contained within for those who wish to recite it.

"Due to the lock down in India, the network server was overloaded and slowed down to a crawl last night which caused difficulties in streaming. We are sorry for the poor streaming quality and difficulties viewers encountered.

"Despite the challenges that we had, our sincere hope is that it would bring some blessings and relieve in this very difficult time that we are all facing right now. We ask for your kind understanding in this matter. Thank you."

Sadhana of Arya Parnashavari page 1.

Sadhana of Arya Parnashavari page 2.

If you find those two pages are too small and difficult to read then here it is again:

Sadhana of Arya Parnashavari
Ritrodma
Parnashavari

To the excellent Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha

I go for refuge until enlightenment is won.

By the merit of giving and the other perfections

May I attain Buddhahood for the sake of all beings.

Recite three times.

May all beings be happy and have the cause of happiness.

May they all be free from suffering and the cause of suffering.

May they never be parted from sorrowless bliss.

May they dwell in equanimity without attachment and hatred to those near and far.

OM SVABAVA SHUDDHA SARVADHARMA SVABAVA SHUDDOH HANG

Then recite the mantra.

One's aggregates, elements, sense organs and their objects become invisible and empty.

Out of emptiness appear a white lotus and moon disk upon which from PAM appears yellow Goddess Parnashavari with three faces and six arms, the main face yellow, right white, left red, with three eyes on each face, smiling, in a slightly dancing pose. The three right hands hold a vajra, battleax, and arrow. The three left hands hold a lasso with threatening gesture, whisk of fresh leaves, and bow. The hair is tied up with flowers like a crown. Parnashavari is adorned with precious jewels and wears a lower garment of fresh leaves. The right heel stops the lower passage, the sole of the left foot treads upon an obstructor, and from the body issue rays of light like the sun.

At the forehad is OM, throat AH, heart HUNG.

From the HUNG at the heart, rays of light issue out and invoke all the Tathagatas of the ten directions in the form of Parnashavari.

OM VAJRA SAMAJAH

Thus invoke,

JAH HUNG BAM HOH

Thus non-dually absorb.

Again, rays of light issue from the heart, and invoke the five consecration deities with their retinues.

OM VAJRA SAMAJAH

Thus invoke,

May all the tathagatas bestow the initiation upon me.

Thus supplicate.

OM VAJRA BHAVA ABHISHINCA HUM

Saying thus, water from the vase bestows initiation on one's crown. The body is filled, stains purified, water overflows, and the crown is adorned by Akshobya.

Thus imagine.

Surrounding the seed syllable at the heart is the mantra. Rays of light issue from it, make offerings to the Noble Ones and perform the benefit of beings. All the compassion, blessings, and spiritual power of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas are invoked in the form of rays of light and non-duality absorbed into oneself.

Thus imagine and recite the following mantra as many times as possible:

OM PISHATSI PARNASHA VARI SARVA MARA PRASHAMANI SVAHA

Lord, please bestow the good fortune of attainment upon me and all sentient beings.

Thus supplicate.

Rays of light shine from one's heart and dissolve all animate and inanimate things into light which are absorbed into oneself.

Again one appears as the goddess.

At hte forehead is a white OM, the throat a red AH, at the heart a blue HUNG.

Thus protect the three places.

By this merit, may I swiftly

Accomplish the tutelary deity

And place upon that stage

All beings without exception.

Recite this and other dedications and aspirations. Also recite verses of benediction such as "the excellent Buddha ..."

...

The holy name mantra for this deity is ARYA PARNASHAVARI

The homage is:

Arising from an emanation of the miraculous illusion

Of all the Buddhas' primordial wisdom.

Who pacifies all illnesses, demons, and obstructors of practitioners.

Prostrations to the goddess.

From the Drupthap Kundu. Translated by Venerable Lama Kalsang Gyaltsen and Ani Kunga Chodron at Tsechen Kunchab Ling, Seat of His Holiness the Sakya Trinzin in the United States, on the auspicious occasion of the first bestowing of the Drupthap Kundu in the United States, 2006.

Clarifications from Sakya Centre India

Additional Facebook note from Sakya Centre India in response to a student question:

Student's Question: "Thank you for sharing the sadhana! I listened to the transmission again. In the transmission His Holiness said "Dzora" instead of "Mara." Could you please clarify this? Thank you!"

Sakya Centre India answered: "Regarding the question on the mantra - both MARA and DZORA are OK, His Holiness has clarified. He used DZORA because it means virus. As to the number of times to practice, 3x, 7 x, 21x or 108x are all OK, recite as many times as you can. Thank you."

OM PISHATSI PARNASHA VARI SARVA MARA PRASHAMANI SVAHA

OM PISHATSI PARNASHA VARI SARVA DZORA PRASHAMANI SVAHA

His Holiness the 41st Sakya Trichen

His Holiness Kyabgon Gongma Trichen Rinpoche (The Sakya Trichen) served as the 41st head of the Sakya Order of Tibetan Buddhism until March 2017, when the throneholder duties were handed over to His Holiness Ratna Vajra Rinpoche, the 42nd Sakya Trizin, formally addressed as His Holiness Kyabgon Gongma Trizin Rinpoche.

His Holiness the Sakya Trichen is a member of Tibet‘s noble Khon family, which founded the Sakya Order in the eleventh and twelfth centuries. Just as His Holiness the Dalai Lama is an emanation of Avalokiteshvara, the manifestation of all the Buddha’s great compassion, His Holiness the Sakya Trichen is the manifestation of all the Buddha’s transcendent wisdom.

Continue reading His Holiness the 41st Sakya Trichen's biography on his official website.