The Origin, Story, and Significance of Dakinis and the Monthly Dakini Day in Tibetan Buddhism

In Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana), Dakinis (Tibetan: མཁའ་འགྲོ་མ, transliterated as Khandro or Khaḍroma; Sanskrit: Ḍākinī) are extremely important deities and symbols. They are considered "walkers of the sky," representing the energy of wisdom (prajna), emptiness, awakening, and the manifestation of female enlightened beings (female Buddhas). Dakinis can be enlightened female practitioners or Sambhogakaya Buddhas possessing the union of bliss and emptiness (such as Vajravarahi, Vajrayogini, etc.).

 

The Origin of the 25th Day of Each Lunar Month – "Dakini Day"

 

Tibetan Buddhism designates specific days in each lunar month as "Tsok Days" (or "Ra-Rao Days") for various deities, including:

 

- Lunar 10th → Guru Rinpoche (Padmasambhava) Tsok Day

 

- Lunar 25th → Dakini Day (Ḍākinī Day)

 

The reason the 25th became Dakini Day primarily stems from the following two most important legends and teachings:

 

1. **The Karmic Connection of Padmasambhava's Subjugation of Heretics and Dakinis**

 

According to the Nyingma school's *Padmasambhava Jataka* and various terma (hidden treasures):

 

When Padmasambhava entered Tibet to propagate Buddhism in the 8th century, he subdued countless fierce local demons and heretics throughout Tibet. Most of the subdued demons and spirits became Dharma protectors, while many powerful female demons (originally worldly dakinis) were converted by Guru Rinpoche and vowed to become "worldly dakinis" protecting the Dharma.

 

The most famous events occurred in sacred sites such as Paro Taktsang (present-day Tiger's Nest Monastery in Bhutan), where Guru Rinpoche subdued the powerful female Dharma protectors and demons of the area in various wrathful and semi-wrathful dakini forms (such as Vajravarahi), and made them vow to gather on the 25th day of each lunar month to receive offerings, practice Dharma, and bless practitioners.

 

Therefore, the Nyingma school later designated the 25th of each month as "Dakini Day," on which they extensively practice the "Khandro Sangdü Tsok" (Offering to the Wrathful Dakinis and Consorts) to commemorate the inconceivable activities of Guru Rinpoche and the dakinis.

 

2. **The Mysterious Meaning of the Kalachakra Tantra and the "Twenty-Five Days"**

 

In the Kalachakra Tantra, a month is considered the perfect number for the union of emptiness and bliss. The inner yoga of Kalachakra mentions that the energy channels, nadis, and bindus are particularly active on the 25th of each month, making it ideal for practicing the union of bliss and emptiness related to female deities. Therefore, the Dzogchen, Gelug, Kagyu, and Nyingma schools generally regard the 25th as the day of the dakinis.

 

Key Practices of the Dakini Offering Day

 

- Main Practices: Dakini and Heroine Offering, Vajrayogini Offering, Heruka Offering, Tara Offering (Tara Offering, etc., depending on the lineage).

 

- Offerings: Red food (symbolizing great bliss), alcohol, meat (symbolizing renunciation of duality), fresh flowers, blessed pills, offering cakes (Tsok Tori), etc.

 

- Purpose:

 

- Accumulate the two accumulations of merit and wisdom

 

- Purify broken vows and tantric vows, especially those related to the guru, yidam, and dakinis

 

- Receive the blessings of the dakinis, eliminate obstacles to practice, and quickly perfect the attainments of subtle energy channels and bindu (vital energy points)

 

- Repay the "debts of affection" accumulating from past lives towards female beings, transforming attachment into the path.

 

The Profound Influence of Dakinis on Tibetan Buddhism

 

1. **The highest exemplar representing female enlightened beings and female practitioners**

 

Tibetan Buddhism openly acknowledges that women can attain Buddhahood, and the Dakini is the image of an enlightened woman. Many historically accomplished female masters (such as Machig Labdron, Yeshe Tsogyal, Shensa Vimo, and Achi Lama Namdro) are revered as "incarnations of the Dakini."

 

2. **The Core Symbol of the Non-Duality of Bliss and Emptiness**

 

Dakini are often depicted semi-naked, with red or dark-colored bodies, wearing skull crowns, and holding a curved knife and a skull cup, symbolizing:

 

- The curved knife → cutting off self-grasping and duality

 

- The skull cup filled with blood → transforming the poisons of greed, anger, and ignorance into great bliss and wisdom

 

Their tantric image, embracing a Heruka, is the highest symbol of the "non-duality of great bliss and emptiness" in the Highest Yoga Tantra of Tibetan Buddhism.

 

3. **Guardians of Lineage and Empowerment**

 

Almost all Highest Yoga Tantra lineages require the blessings and prophecies of the Dakini. Many terma (hidden treasures) were revealed by Dakinis or their incarnations (female tertons in the human realm).

 

4. **The Key to Rapid Attainment in Practice**

 

Tibetan Buddhism often says, "With the blessings of the Dakinis, the accumulation of merit for three kalpas can be perfected in one lifetime."

 

The biographies of many great accomplished masters (such as Milarepa, Thangtong Gyalpo, and Longchenpa) record that they attained the Rainbow Body or Dzogchen in a short period of time due to receiving the secret teachings and blessings of the Dakinis.

 

In summary, the "Dakini Offering Day" on the 25th day of each lunar month originates from the true vows and activities of Padmasambhava and countless Dakinis. It is a concrete manifestation of Tibetan Buddhism's emphasis on the union of bliss and emptiness, feminine wisdom, and rapid attainment. To this day, all schools of Tibetan Buddhism (Nyingma, Kagyu, Sakya, Gelug, Jonang, etc.) extensively perform the Dakini Offering on this day, invoking the blessings of the Dakinis, regarding it as an extremely important day for both common and uncommon attainments.