Citipati (Buddhism)

The Citipati as depicted in a painting in the Gelugpa Monastery, Nepal.

Citipati(Sanskrit: चितिपति) is a protector deity or supernatural being in Tibetan Buddhism and Vajrayana Buddhism of India. It is formed of two skeletal deities, one male and the other female, both dancing wildly with their limbs intertwined inside a halo of flames representing change.^[1] The Citipati is said to be one of the seventy-five forms of Mahakala.^[2] Their symbol is meant to represent both the eternal dance of death as well as perfect awareness. They are invoked as ‘wrathful deities’, benevolent protectors or fierce beings of demonic appearance. The dance of the Citipati is commemorated twice annually in Tibet.

Legend

The Citipati were a couple of ascetics meditating near a graveyard. In their deep state of meditation, they did not notice a thief who had sneaked up on them. The thief beheaded them and threw them into the dirt, which caused them to reach the next stage of ascetic practices. Infuriated by the act, the Citipati swore vengeance to the thief and became the archenemy of thieves and other criminals.

The Citipati cannot leave cemeteries and can only grab thieves passing through them. While waiting for criminals, the Citipati pass their time by dancing and blowing horns, a ritual reenacted by Tibetian monks twice annually.^[2] Their dancing also serves as a symbol for death and rebirth, for the Citipati consist of both halves of the human body, male and female.^[2][3] Their skeletal form is a reminder of the impermanence of life and eternal change.

The Citipati is a protector of graveyards and is known as Lord of the Cemetery or Lord of the Crematorium.^[2] The Citipati implied warning to Tantrism clearly, and it is thought that it became one of opportunities when Tibetan Buddhism parted from Tantrism or Guhyasamāja Tantra. In Mahayana Buddhism, the Citipati could be interpreted in both of "Śīla Pāramitā" and "Dhyāna pāramitā", but was interpreted it as "Śīla pāramitā" and was placed Mahakala as Deva.

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