The Epic of Gesar of Ling

by Robin Kornman

  Wazi Bitra. See Slingshot Braided Nine Eyes.

  Wealthy Sky Fortress. See Falcon Castle Sky Fortress.

  Wealthy Upper Valleys of Nelchag (Tib. nel chag phu drug phyug mo). There is no translation for the term nel chag, which simply indicates a place or area, as well as being the name for the home of Kyalo Tönpa.

  werma (Tib. wer ma). One of the eight classes of gods; a species of warlike spirits such as the dralas. Some texts say that originally the werma were the spirits of the tips of arrows that guided the arrows’ flight.

  White Law and Order (Tib. khrims shong dkar mo). A tent used for gathering to make legal decisions or to have legal discussions, including events that are associated with law and order. Sometimes this is rendered as khri shong dkar mo, meaning “the white [tent] that could hold ten thousand,” referring to the place where the nobles of Ling met in Tag-rong.

  White Ling. White is a common adjective connoting the “good,” as opposed to black, connoting the “bad.” Those who pursue the positive side of moral virtue are considered to be “white,” or correct. See also Ling, epithets for.

  White Melody with Six Modulations (Tib. dkar mo drug ’gyur). The melody used by Gyatsha Zhalkar.

  White Sky Horse [Namta Karpo] (Tib. gnam rta dkar po). The father of Wild Kyang, Gesar’s horse.

  whites, three (Tib. dkar gsum). Offerings of three kinds of dairy products: milk, yogurt, and sugar; used in ceremonies of native Tibetan religion and lhasangs (smoke offerings). See also sweets, three.

  wife (Tib. gza’). Many of the heroes’ genealogies are traced both from the standpoint of being patriarchal and matriarchal. So for example, all the wives of Chöla Bum, the ancestor of the Lesser Lineage of Ling, are identified by their maternal tribal origins—that is to say, they are identified as descending from one of his three wives: Rongza, the wife from the Rong tribe; Gaza, wife from Ga; and Muza, the wife from Mu. The sons of these wives are given names that indicate their maternal lineage; all the names use the word tsha, which means “maternal nephew.” So for example, Zhalkar is the son of Senglön and Lhakar Drönma, who is also known as the Gyaza or the “Chinese wife.” Thus he is known as Gyatsha, the “Chinese maternal nephew.”

  Wild Kyang [Kyang Göd] (Tib. rkyang rgod). One of the names of Gesar’s wondrous horse. A kyang (Tib. kiang) is a wild ass, a large and impressive animal that roams the highlands of Tibet. Herds of them inhabit the vast plain of Changthang and northeastern Tibet. Gesar’s horse is not literally a kyang, but it lived wild among them before it was captured by Drugmo and Gesar’s mother, Gogmo.

  wild yak. See Drong.

  windhorse [lungta] (Tib. rlung rta). 1. An ancient Sino-Tibetan diagram that shows four beasts, sometimes the eight trigrams of the Chinese Classic of Changes [I Ching], and a flying horse with a flaming jewel on its saddle. It is often presented on a flag or pennant that flaps in the wind, and thereby propagates blessings and uplifts windhorse (see next meaning) to the place and its inhabitants. These lungta flags can be found by the hundreds in front of Tibetan residences or temples, decorating flagpoles and cords stretched between two high places.

  2. Windhorse is also a kind of energy of dignity, confidence, and personal power that must be awakened by a warrior in order to have success in battle. People with perpetually opened windhorse have a field of power about themselves that gives them an air of success and invincibility. This field is called dbang thang, meaning “field of power” or “authentic presence.”

  wisdom (Tib. ye shes; Skt. jñāna). In this translation of the Gesar epic, the Sanskrit term jñāna (yeshe in Tibetan) is rendered simply as “wisdom” rather than “primordial wisdom,” which would be a literal translation of the Tibetan term. Usually this term refers to the highest mystical wisdom, or nondual wisdom. In this text, the term “incisive knowledge” is used for prajñā, and prajñāpāramitā is translated as the “perfection of incisive knowledge” or “transcendent knowledge.”

  wisdom ḍākinī (Tib. ye shes mkha’ ’dro ma). A goddess who represents an absolute wisdom principle and is therefore enlightened.

  wish-fulfilling jewel (Tib. yid bzhin nor bu). Literally, “jewel that fulfills whatever mind desires.” Usually a symbol for the dharma or the guru. According to ancient tales, there were jewels that when acquired would fulfill all needs and desires; in particular, if one were to pray to the jewel, one’s prayers would come true.

  words of truth (Tib. bden tshig). Vows and statements so true that they have their own power. For example, chants such as the Heart Sutra are said to be “words of truth” and have incantation powers. Vows made by great yogins and yoginīs are “words of truth” that come true through the undeniable strength of merit and positive virtue.

  worlds, three (Tib. khams gsum or srid gsum). The three worlds of saṃsāra: the heaven of the gods (Tib. lha); the world of humans (Tib. mi); and the underworld of subterranean nāgas (Tib. klu). This term is often used to refer to the three realms: the desire, form, and formless realms.

  Wrathful Grimacing One (Tib. khro gnyer can). A wrathful form of Tārā.

  Wu-t’ai Shan (Tib. rgya nag ri bo rtse lnga). The famous Five-Peaked Mountain in China, traditional home of Mañjuśrī and the presence of the great rainbow transference kāya of Panḍit Vimalamitra located in northeast Shanxi Province in China. To this day, it is said that faithful pilgrims who visit this sacred site will have visions of Mañjuśrī as well as Vimalamitra.

  Yakṣa Wealth God (Tib. gnod sbyin nor lha). A name for Kubera, the Indic god of wealth who is universally worshipped throughout Asia and across religions. He has the fleshy, luxurious body of a yakṣa, and is considered the king of a city of yakṣas who live on the peak of Mount Meru.

  Yama (Skt.; Tib. chi bdag). The traditional lord of the underworld, a wrathful god with a bull’s horns. He is an ancient, pre-Buddhist deity of the Hindu pantheon. Yama wears a mirrorlike breastplate in which all of one’s previous actions appear, and based on what he sees, Yama judges one’s karma and determines whether birth will occur in the lower realms or above.

  Yarlha Shampo (Tib. yar lha sham po). A sacred mountain in the Yarlung Valley in central Tibet; also the name of the province where the original kings lived in central Tibet, and the name of the patron mountain deity of the kings of Tibet.

  Yellow Hor. See Hor.

  Yeshe Tsogyal [Wisdom Lake Queen] (Tib. ye shes mtsho rgyal). A famous female tāntrika; the consort of Padmasambhava and one of the founders of tantrism in Tibet.

  yidam. See meditational deity.

  yogic conduct (Tib. brtul zhugs kyi sbyod pa). The uncontrived or fearless conduct of a completely accomplished and realized yogin. In yogic conduct, no rules or moral laws need to be obeyed. Rather, every action is performed based on direct perception of the nature of truth and spontaneous nondual compassion. Sometimes translated as “uncontrived conduct.”

  young tigers. See tigers in their prime.

  youthful tigers. See tigers in their prime.

  Yulung Sumdo in Lower Ma (Tib. rma smad yul lung sum mdo). The unpeopled land near Mount Magyal Pomra where Gesar and his mother spent his childhood. Also called Mamed Yulung Sumdo, Lhalung Sumdo (Tib. lha lung sum mdo), or Divine Valley Three Canyons. Note that here sum does not mean “three,” but simply a confluence, such as a confluence of two rivers or two valleys called a sum mdo.

  Yutse (Tib. g.yu rtse). A holy mountain in Minyag that lies in the first curve of the Ma (Tib. rma) River, or as the Chinese know it, the Yellow River. Its long name is mi nyag g.yu ri rtse rgyal (Tib.); literally, Turquoise Mountain King of Longevity of Minyag.

  zi beads. An agate found in the highlands of Tibet, which are said to be fossilized worms that have petrified into stone. The value of this stone is based upon the patterns and the number of eyes that appear within it. Among the many different explanations of the power of the zi bead, it is said to prevent disease, demonic force possession, and obstacles, while inciting good health, luck, and prosperity.

 
zodor (Tib. zo dor). A class of worldly deities from the Bönpo pantheon and native Tibetan religion. Often they are the country gods (Tib. yul lha), the local naturally existing deities who are the true “proprietors” (Tib. bdag po) of the land. In the epic of Gesar, the term zodor in the singular usually means the god of Mount Magyal Pomra or Gedzo, a special epic mountain god who protects and advises Gesar.

  GLOSSARY OF NAMES

  This list is not meant to be comprehensive, but rather it is intended to include many of the major as well as some minor characters, and to clarify their relationships. The names are usually given in both the phonetic Tibetan and the English; the order varies to correspond with the language used most often for a particular name. In some cases, the English is not given because it is never used. In most cases, the Wylie transliteration is included.

  Abar Buyi Paljor. See Abar Buyi Phentag.

  Abar Buyi Phentag [Drawn Tiger Boy of Abar] (Tib. a ’bar bu yi ’phen stag). One of the Thirteen Cherished Sons of Ling and a member of the Elder or Greater Lineage; one of the Thirty Brethren [Mighty Warriors]. His father is Singsing and his mother is Abar. Also called Abar Buyi Paljor [Prosperity of Abar’s Son] (Tib. a ’bar bu yi dpal ’byor).

  Akhöd Tharpa Zorna [Hook-Nosed Tharpa] (Tib. a khod thar pa’i zor sna). The personal minister and messenger of Chieftain Trothung; one of the Three Servants of Ling.

  Amnye Gompa Raja [Grandfather Meditation Prince] (Tib. a mye sgom pa raja). An evil Bönpo sorcerer or shaman called upon by Trothung to eliminate Joru as a rival; however, ultimately he is the one who is tamed by Gesar.

  Anu Paseng [Courageous Youthful Lion] of Ombu (Tib. ’om bu’i a nu dpa’ seng). The chief elder of the Middle Lineage. He is one of the Four Divine Heirs (the heir of the Ombu clan), and one of the Three Ultimate Warriors (the one called Eagle).

  Anu Zigphen. See Zigphen.

  Aten Dug-gi Metog [Stable Poisonous Flower] (Tib. a brtan dug gi me tog). One of Trothung’s sons, and a famous warrior with a central role in later volumes of the epic.

  Berkar [White Cloak] (Tib. ber dkar). Indian ministers wear white cloaks, and this is the disguise adopted by Gesar when he meets Drugmo.

  Berkar Tharpa Gyaltsen of Nag-ru (Tib. ber dkar thar pa rgyal mtshan). A chief in Ling, not to be confused with the Indian minister Berkar. One of the four Gyaltsens and one of the Thirty Brethren [Mighty Warriors]. Often called simply Tharpa Gyaltsen.

  Bloody Single-Tress Demon Woman [Düdmo Trag-gi Relpa] (Tib. dud mo khrag gi ral pa). A demoness who, along with her brother Life-Essence Demon [Sog Düd] (Tib. srog bdud), was tamed by Joru, who appointed them terma guardians of Buddhist and Bönpo doctrines.

  Buchung Daryag of Serpa [Young Lad Excellent Banner] (Tib. bu chung dar yag). One of the Thirteen Cherished Sons of Ling; one of the Thirty Brethren [Mighty Warriors].

  Bu-yag Drug-gyei [Handsome Royal Son Dragon] of Kyalo (Tib. bu yag ’brug rgyas). One of the Thirteen Cherished Sons of Ling; one of the Thirty Brethren [Mighty Warriors].

  Cannibal Demoness Child Eater [Sinmo Buzen] (Tib. srin mo bu zan). The cannibal demoness, or rākṣasī, destroyed by Gesar. He finds her in the act of eating several dead children and lures her to the middle of the Dza River, where she drowns.

  Cham Thalei Ödtro. See Thalei Ödtro.

  Changmoza (Tib. spyang mo bza’). An important woman from the Muwa clan; the matriarch of the Mukpo clan into which Chipön, Senglön, and Trothung were born. She was the third wife of Chöphen Nagpo and mother of Dragyal Bum-me. Sometimes called Changza.

  Changtri Ngamchen [Great Awesome Myriad Jackals] of Ombu (Tib. spyang khri rngam chen). One of the Thirteen Cherished Sons of Ling; one of the Thirty Brethren [Mighty Warriors] and a member of the Middle Lineage.

  Changza. See Changmoza.

  Chatül, King. The father of Ratra Genpo, the first king of Dokham. He was the brother of the thirteenth king in the line descending from Yemön Namkhai Gyalpo.

  Chipön Rongtsha Tragen (Tib. spyi dpon rong tsha khra rgan). Chief of the Lesser Lineage, brother of Trothung, brother of Senglön (and therefore Gesar’s uncle); the first born of the Thirty Brethren [Mighty Warriors], the reincarnation of Mahāsiddha Nāgārjuna and Paṇḍita Sergyi Dogcan, the incarnation of Mahāsiddha Kukurīpā, and prophesied to be the dharma king of Shambhala, Dawa Zangpo. He was the son of Chöla Bum and his first wife, Rongza. Chipön married Metog Tashi-tso and they had four children: three sons (Yu-pen Tag-gyal, Lenpa Chögyal, and Nangchung Yutag), and one daughter (Lhamo Yudrön). Literally, chipön means “chief” or “leader,” rong tsha is “nephew of Rong,” and tragen means “colorful elder,” which refers to his home in Upper Falcon.

  Chökyong Bernag [Dharma Protector Black Cloak] of Gadei (Tib. chos skyong ber nag). One of the Seven Super Warriors, and bodyguard of Rinchen Darlu. Also called Gadei Bernag.

  Chöla Bum [For the Dharma Hundred Thousand] (Tib. chos la ’bum). The eldest son of Thoglha Bum of the Lesser Lineage, and the father of Chipön Rongtsha Tragen, Yu-gyal, and King Senglön.

  Chölu Buyi Darphen [Dharma Son Unfurled Silk] (Tib. chos lu bu yi dar ’phen). One of the Seven Super Warriors and personal minister of Anu Paseng. Later on in the epic, he figures prominently in the war with Hor. Also known simply as Chölu Darphen or Darphen.

  Cho-nga Paser Dawa [Young Warrior of the Full Moon] (Tib. bco lnga dpa’ gsar zla ba). One of the Thirteen Cherished Sons of Ling; one of the Thirty Brethren [Mighty Warriors].

  Chöphen Nagpo [Dharma Benefit Black] (Tib. chos phan nag po). Ancestral leader of the Mukpo clan. He had three famous wives—Serza, Omza, and Changza (Changmoza)—who gave birth respectively to the three lineages of Ling: the so-called Elder, Middle, and Lesser (Younger or Cadet) Lineages. The suffix za attached to the tribal names means “wife” (Tib. gza’). By marrying into these leading families, he increased the power of the Mukpo clan. Ser (Tib. gser), Om (Tib. ’om), and Chang (Tib. spyangs) are three tribes with important relationships with the Mukpos, probably through the politics of the tribal state of Ling.

  Dardzom of Muchang (Tib. dmu spyang dar ’dzom). A judge, mediator, or arbiter (Tib. gzu pa) who appears in the epic.

  Dar-’jam Gentle Scarf Ngo-lug of Mupa (Tib. mu pa dar ’jam ngo lug). One of the three Sheep-a-Peep brothers; one of the Thirty Brethren [Mighty Warriors] and a member of the Mupa tribe.

  Darphen. See Chölu Buyi Darphen.

  Daryag. See Nyibum Daryag.

  Demchog Karpo Ngangyag [White Supreme Bliss Good Nature] (Tib. bde mchog dkar po ngang yag). Gesar’s divine father. This name combines the variations “Demchog Karpo” and “Demchog Ngangyag” that appear in the epic. Gesar refers to him as Jangsem Künkyab Gön [Compassionate Sovereign Lord] (Tib. jang sems kun skyabs gon).

  Demkar Lhamo [Undulating White Goddess] (Tib. ldem dkar lha mo). A nāga princess.

  Denma (Tib. ’dan). Gesar’s personal minister, also a great archer, and one of the Seven Super Warriors. His full name is Tshazhang [Maternal Uncle] Denma Jangtra (Tib. tsha zhang ’dan ma byang khra).

  Denza (Tib. ’dan bza’). Trothung’s wife; a princess, the daughter of the king of Den (Tib. ’dan). Also called Ser-tso [Golden Lake Lady] (Tib. gser mtsho ma) and Kharagza [Wife from Kharag] (Tib. kha rag gza’).

  Divine Child Joru (Tib. lha sras jo ru). An epithet for Joru used by the Lingites. This could be translated as “child of the gods.” The Tibetan also appears as lha phrug, literally “god cub” or “godling.”

  Döndrub. See Gesar.

  Dongtsen Nang-ngu Apel [Mighty Youthful Glory of the Tribe] (Tib. gdong btsan snang ngu a dpal). One of Trothung’s sons, leader of the Lesser Lineage, and rival of Gesar in the horse race, the contest for the throne of Ling. One of the Thirty Brethren [Mighty Warriors] and one of the Thirteen Cherished Sons of Ling.

  Dorje Gyaltsen (Tib. rdo rje rgyal mtshan). Ralo Tönpa’s guru.

  Dorje Ngangkar [White Vajra] (Tib. rdo rje ngang dkar). A nyen, and the prognosticator or diviner of the nāgas. Also called Dorje N
gangyag [Vajra Domain] (Tib. rdo rje ngang yag).

  Dorje Ngangyag. See Dorje Ngangkar.

  Dradül Bum. See Dragyal Bum-me.

  Dragyal Bum-me [Victorious over Enemies Hundred Thousand Flames] (Tib. dgra rgyal ’bum me). The founder of the Lesser or Younger Lineage of Ling, which were the four Mukpo tribes of Muchang. Son of Chöphen Nagpo and Changmoza, and father of Thoglha Bum. Also called Dradül Bum.

  Drubpa’i Gyalmo [Queen of Siddhis] (Tib. grub pa’i rgyal mo). The goddess of long life, one of the protectors; also called Machig Drubpa’i Gyalmo (Tib. ma chig grub pa’i rgyal mo) [Sole Mother Queen of Siddhi] and Machig Sidpa’i Gyalmo (Tib. ma chig srid pa’i rgyal mo) [Sole Mother Queen of Existence].

  Drug-gyal [Victorious Dragon] of Kyalo (Tib. ’brug rgyal). Kyalo Tönpa’s son.

  Drugmo, Queen (Tib. ’brug mo). Gesar’s wife, who was born a princess as the daughter of Kyalo Tönpa Gyaltsen, and who was also an emanation of White Tārā, the goddess of longevity. One the Seven Fair Maidens of White Ling. Also called Sengcham Drugmo [Lion Sister Dragoness] (Tib. seng cham ’brug mo).

  Dungkhyung Karpo [White-Conch Garuḍa] (Tib. dung khyung dkar po). A protector who was Gesar’s older drala brother and his personal bodyguard.

  Dzeidrön [Lovely Lamp] (Tib. mdzes sgron). Denma’s daughter, one of the Seven Fair Maidens of Ling.

  Excellent Rain Falls [Legpa Charbeb] (Tib. legs pa char ’bebs). A nāga prince.

  Flower Divine Beauty. See Yelga Dzeiden.

  Gadei Bernag. See Chökyong Bernag of Gadei.

  Garza of Kyalo (Tib. skya lo’i gar bza’). A woman from the Gar tribe who married into the family of Kyalo.

  Gaza (Tib. ga bza’). One of the wives of Chöla Bum, a woman (bza’ means “lady” or “queen”) from the Ga tribe, mother of Yu-gyal, who was lost to the Hor in battle.

  Gazi Lhamo [Worthy Zi Divine Lady] (Tib. dga’gzi lha mo). The queen of Gurkar, wife of Achen the king of Hor; the middle daughter of the emperor of China.