The Guardian Spirit of Tibet: Introducing Pehar Gyalpo

Pehar Gyalpo is a prominent guardian deity in Tibetan Buddhism, and was originally a gyalpo spirit with a fierce and unpredictable temperament. His incorporation as a protector of the Dharma is an excellent example of how Tibetan Buddhism embeds its indigenous animism into its spiritual paradigm, not denying or rejecting it outright. Originally conceptualized as a local force, he was ritually conquered and made to convert to a protector by Padmasambhava and this is an important historical marker in the triumph of converting local practitioners away from indigenous ritual and towards a Buddhist practice.

Today, he has a primary place in the contemporary pantheon of protector deities as the deity associated with the Nechung Oracle (the state oracle of Tibet). He offers divinatory advice through this medium and provides spiritual and prophetic guidance. Pehar's influence, through the Nechung Oracle, is potentially profound and can lead to new religious and political decisions and actions. His existence strongly demonstrates the inextricable connections between government and spirituality in Tibetan culture making it ubiquitous and taking on a life of its own as one of the longest hanging and most revered protectors in the Buddhist line.

Origins and Subjugation

The beginnings of Pehar Gyalpo, as a concept, are bound up in the arrival of Buddhism in Tibet in the 8th century. He is an example of the gyalpo class of spirits that tend to have powerful and at times harmful disposition. These spirits could bring both harm or aid according to their orientation to Buddhism. In Tibetan tradition, when Guru Padmasambhava came into Tibet to help establish Buddhism, many of these spirits threatened Buddhism or Dharma. Guru Padmasambhava ritually subjugated them through his tantric abilities and stated that they would protect the Dharma instead. Among these spirits, Pehar was the leader of other gyalpo spirits and specifically was to protect Samye Monastery, the first Buddhist monastery in Tibet.

Pehar's Role in Tibetan Buddhism

Pehar was not just subordinate to Tibetan Buddhism but was also complexly integrated into the history of the Buddhism' underlying doctrine and ritual. Under the rule of the Fifth Dalai Lama in the 17th century, He took on a more defined role as a Dharma protector. It was under the Fifth Dalai Lama's vision that the protector would be given a direct link to the Nechung Oracle, a human by whom he would use to give prophesies to the Tibetan government. The oracle would be selected through a series of brinksmanship, which upon being selected would allow a specter of Pehar to use him as a conduit and provide either advice on spiritual practices, military decisions, etc. Under this auspice, he was not only a Dharma protector but a de facto protector of the states, where the fate of the entire nation could be swayed by a spirit-based proclamation.

The Five Aspects of Pehar Gyalpo

One of the most interesting things about this deity is his manifestation in 5 different aspects, known as the Five Kings of Pehar or Pehar Ku Nga. The five manifestation correspond to the five Buddha families, each with their own qualities and functions. The Five Kings are more than just symbolic representations, as they are active in invocations and in representations depicted in religious art to address certain spiritual needs.

1. Body Aspect (Monbu Putra)

The first aspect is the Body Aspect of Pehar, also known as Monbu Putra. He is depicted with a dark blue body, with one face and two arms, holding a vajra and lasso attached to two monkeys, riding a blue lion; representing a physical power and endurance in the body. The spirit of Pehar called practitioners to cultivate that body, where that body can resist internal and external adversities.

2. Speech Aspect (Dra Lha Kye Chigbu)

The second is the Speech Aspect of Pehar, known as  Dra Lha Kye Chigbu. He is depicted in red, again with one face and two arms, wielding a stick and a stick of sandalwood. Riding a mule, he protects and manifests speech and clear, truthful communication. The image of Pehar invokes recall in practitioners who need to remember the importance of right speech and verbal integrity.

3. Mind Aspect (Gya Jin)

The Mind Aspect, also called Gyajin, is brown or sometimes blue. He is holding a knife, and a lasso. He rides an elephant, which represents mental clarity and strength. This form of Gyalpo concerns dispelling confusion and developing the calm, concentrated mind we need for meditation.

4. Qualities Aspect (Shing Cha Chen)

The fourth is the Qualities Aspect, or Shing Cha Chen. He is dark blue, with an axe and a lasso. He wears tiger-skin and snakeskin clothes, and rides a black horse or a zombie. He represents the attainment and preservation of virtuous qualities, such as compassion, patience, and discipline. His image leads to the mastery of inner poisons and transforming neglected instincts into enlightened qualities.

5. Activity Aspect (Pehar)

The fifth and most common activity aspect is Pehar Gyalpo. As a wrathful deity, he is portrayed with three faces (white, blue, and red), and six arms wielding symbols of wrath as a hook, arrow, sword, knife, bow, and stick. Wearing tiger and leopard skins, a cymbal-hat, and riding a snow lion. This aspect is a direct form of Pehar experiencing the world as he actively plays his role of protecting the Dharma and the beings connected to it whenever necessary. His fierce forms inspire awe and devotion, while also assuring practitioners of the assurance and fierce protection he exemplifies at all times.

Iconography and Artistic Depictions

Pehar's many visual representations are as rich and varied as his roles in Tibetan Buddhism. There are differences in his images local, regional, and disciplinary tradition, however his imagery has several consistent features as to help make his symbolism and imagery recognizable and demonstrate its potency.

• Wrathful Form: Pehar can often but not always be portrayed in a wrathful form, which expresses and depicts his fierce subjugatory circumstances surrounded by Dharma (Buddha work), serving the context of our personal lives.

• Surrounded by Flames: Flames surround his body as a symbol of enlightened wrath and purification for the substantial liberation.

• Three Faces and Six Arms: Pehar is most typically displayed this way as this common iconography expresses both his panoramic awareness and multi-dimensional abilities, and in his iconography a face has a distinct expression of either serene, wrathful, or semi-wrathful, and each of the arms have symbolic weapons.

• Dynamic Mounts: In the iconography, he rides a variety of animals – lions, dragons, elephants, etc. Each mount indicates a different facet of spiritual authority and power over primal forces.

• Depicted with Historical Figures: In many of the thangkas and temple murals, Pehar often appears with protector deities and important characters, prominently the Fifth Dalai Lama. These scenes emphasize his official approval in Tibetan theocracy.

• Ritual Implements: Pehar often depicts ritual tools in his hands, such as a sword, lasso, or even a vajra, which can either cut ignorance or bind negative forces.

Historical and Political Evolution

Pehar's history demonstrates the deep entanglement of spiritual and political life in Tibet. Remained largely tied to Samye Monastery, and after being tamed by Padmasambava, Pehar's climbing was just getting started when the Fifth Dalai Lama began to transfer his primary location to Nechung Monastery. Nechung became the seat of the Nechung Oracle, an official divining instrument of government that he used to begin to communicate and give prophecies through that medium. This step started transforming Pehar from a localized protective spirit to an institutionalized entity and definable part of managing Tibetan governance.   

Most closely associated with the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism because of the state oracle connection, his worshipping is also active in the Nyingma school, and this demonstrates breadth of appeal across sects. This cross-sectarian worship illustrates Pehar's broad appeal spiritually and breadth in other types of Benedictine practice. This protector’s popularity extends beyond sectarian definitions to provide a link between practitioners to continuity of ritual, iconography, and devotional activity.  

This very extensive acceptability of Pehar shows how his role extended from being a regional protector to being protective of the Dharma across all sects of Tibetan Buddhism and in many ways is a further important factor of Tibetan Buddhism identity both spiritually and politically in the Tibetan landscape.

Ritual Practice and the Nechung Oracle

The practices and ceremonies related to Pehar are ornate and revered, representing one of the most sacred components of Tibetan religious life. The Nechung Oracle is at the center of these ceremonies as the human medium to whom he communicates. Prior to the trance, the oracle will wear special attire, which may include a mirrored breastplate, heavy brocade robes, and a ceremonial hat. As ritual attire, the clothing and artifacts worn during the trance are more than decoration: they are supposed to help the deity descend into the oracle, to help create a 'medium' for divine communication.

When the trance begins, Pehar is said to completely possess the oracle's body. During this possession, the oracle is sometimes able to demonstrate extraordinary strength, speak extremely rapidly, and on occasion make prophetic pronouncements that carry divine authority. He also will do coded hand gestures, speak in tonalities that are not typical for the oracle, and provide instructions on urgent spiritual and political matters. Sometimes there is ceremonial music that accompanies the ritual, as well as burning incense and observing monastic propriety that provide gravity to the event. The oracle is quick to clarify that the ritual enacts a moment of profound sacredness in interacting with a 'Dharma protector'. Rather than a performance, this is a rare and sacred moment of directly engaging with a powerful Dharma protector.

Symbolism and Spiritual Significance

Pehar is more than a beautiful image; he serves as a complex multi-dimensional symbol of protection, awareness, and transformation. For Tibetan Buddhists, appealing to Pehar is much more than as a request for protection from the outside world; it is a commitment to the inner vision of transformation and discipline. The five aspects of Pehar are much more than mystical beings, they provide a comprehensive developmental framework for spiritual movement which reminds practitioners to refine their body, speech, mind, qualities, and activity. 

Each aspect of Pehar acts as a mirror for the inner obstacles that practitioners must confront in order to maintain Dharma practice. His fierce disposition, his exaggerated gestures, and fierce animals serve as intense reminders of the consequences of a path of practice. They incite and empower fearlessness, moral agency, and trust in a higher source of knowledge, as devotees embody Pehar's full protection throughout their personal and collective challenges.

The Timeless Vigilance of Pehar Gyalpo

Ultimately, Pehar Gyalpo is multidimensional. His development from a non-corporeal, wrathful spirit to an official protector is a testament to the generative and inclusive capacity of Tibetan Buddhism. His narrative is not simply a local form of religion, but is illustrative of the ways in which Vajrayana Buddhism encounters local retention of customs and practices, domestically appropriating and raising local ways and rituals for higher spiritual purposes.

Pehar Gyalpo has held an enduring presence across centuries, culturally and historically informing rituals, thangka paintings, institutional and corporeal monastic oracles, and community-based reverence practices. His complex role involves protecting both the teachings of the Dharma and practitioners of the Dharma. Be it in the prophetic trance work of the Nechung Oracle, or in the homes of the devotees respecting the sacredness of thangkas, he actively protects; embodies fierce compassion; enacts protection; and is inimitable as an agent of continual spiritual service.