Ekajati — The Fierce Protectress in Tibetan Buddhism
Ekajati, known in Tibetan as A-som Ma (meaning “Mother Who Protects Mantra”), and in Sanskrit as Ekajati, is also translated into Chinese as “One-Lock Mother” or “One-Hair Mother.” She is regarded as a manifestation of the wisdom mother of Samantabhadra, and one of the three principal protectors of the Nyingma (Red School), entrusted with safeguarding all supreme spiritual attainments.
Iconography
Ekajati is depicted with a blue-black or reddish-brown body, a single eye in the center of her forehead, and a sharp single fang resembling a phurba (ritual dagger), pointing downward. A single tuft of hair rises toward the sky. She wears a crown of five skulls, and one single breast rests in the middle of her chest.
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Her right hand holds aloft a human corpse.
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Her left hand grasps a demon’s heart and a wild animal (wolf or jackal).
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She wears a cloak of human skin, a tiger-skin skirt, and a necklace of fifty severed heads.
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She stands with her right leg bent and left leg extended on a lotus, sun, and corpse seat.
Symbolism
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One Eye: symbolizes omniscient vision of all phenomena across the three times.
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One Fang: symbolizes the destruction of enemies who oppose the Dharma.
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One Breast: symbolizes the swift bestowal of accomplishments to practitioners.
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One Hair: symbolizes the ultimate nature of all phenomena, emptiness.
Her wrathful appearance represents the power of wisdom to cut through delusion. Though outwardly fierce and drinking blood, inwardly she is a realization of ultimate emptiness and wisdom.
Role and Significance
Ekajati is considered the chief of the Mamo goddesses, a group of wrathful Dakinis who are believed to govern both positive and negative worldly forces—such as bringing peace or war, causing disease or restoring health.
Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche explained:
“Among the eight most ferocious classes of beings, the Mamo are extremely fierce female deities. They control many forms of negative energy, including those that cause infectious epidemics like cholera. They are not only fierce but also ruthless. Many teachings state that conflicts and wars between nations are often instigated by them.”
As their leader, Ekajati is a powerful guardian, capable of destroying obstacles and protecting practitioners on the path to realization. In some traditions, she is regarded as the sovereign of the “Mamo Sky-Goers,” while Goddess Palden Lhamo is seen as the sovereign of the “Desire Realm Dakinis.”
Historical Accounts
Throughout history, Ekajati has appeared to protect great Nyingma masters. For example:
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The terma casket of the most secret Vajrasattva teachings was said to have been personally entrusted to tertön (treasure revealer) Terton Ratna Lingpa by Ekajati.
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The great tertön Lerab Lingpa frequently witnessed her manifestations and even received a profound teaching directly from her, entitled The Dakini’s Secret Instruction of the Three Nails.
Thus, Ekajati is revered as a fierce and compassionate guardian, breaking through obstacles, subduing negative forces, and safeguarding practitioners’ spiritual accomplishments.
