Life of Guru Rinpoche by Dudjom Rinpoche
The Life of Guru Rinpoche, based on The Concise Benefits of the Festival of the Tenth Day written by Kyabjé Dudjom Rinpoche, describing deeds performed by Guru Rinpoche on the tenth day of each lunar month:
1st Month
On the tenth day of the first month, the hare month, when he renounces the throne, practises yogic disciplines of union and liberation in the Chilly Grove charnel ground, Shitavana, and brings all the mātṛkās and ḍākinīs under his power, he is known as Guru Śāntarakṣita.
2nd Month
On the tenth day of the second month, the dragon month, when Guru Rinpoche gives the appearance of taking ordination from Ananda, studying with many learned scholars and realized teachers, mastering all the sūtras and tantras and perfecting infinite fields of knowledge, he is known as Guru Loden Choksé.
3rd Month
On the tenth day of the third month, the snake month, when the Zahor king tries to burn him alive, he arouses faith by magically transforming the pyre into a lake, (called Tsopema, at Rewalsar), establishing the entire kingdom in Dharma. By depending on Princess Mandārāva, he then arises in the vajra body, and is known as Guru Chimé Pemajungné, the Immortal Lotus-born.
4th Month
On the tenth day of the fourth month, the horse month, when the demonic ministers of Oḍḍiyāna seek to burn him and his consort, Mandarava, alive, he transforms the pyre into a lake, and they both appear on a lotus blossom, miraculously shimmering in majesty. Inspiring faith in all, he ripens and liberates the entire kingdom by bestowing the Kadü Chökyi Gyatso teachings. This is when he is known as Guru Padma Vajra Tsal.
5th Month
On the tenth day of the fifth month, the sheep month, when the tīrthikas of southern India are causing great harm to the teaching of Buddha, through a vast display of magical power, Guru Rinpoche smashes them to dust along with their gods and guardians, and raises the victory banner of the teaching of the buddhas. Then he is known as Guru Sengé Dradrok.
6th Month
When at sunrise on the tenth day of the sixth month, the monkey month, Guru Rinpoche is born within a lotus blossom on Lake Dhanakośa and turns the wheel of Dharma for the ḍākinīs of the island, he is known as Guru Tsokyé Dorjé.
7th Month
The tirthikas from Tamradvipa throw Guru Rinpoche into the Ganges. Rising from the water, he reverses the flow of the river and performs a vajra dance in the sky. The tirthikas are inspired with devotion, and begin to follow the Dharma. Guru Rinpoche is known as Guru Khading Tsal.
8th Month
The tirthikas try to poison Guru Rinpoche, who transforms their concoction into amrita nectar. Irradiant from his drink, he inspires faith amongst the tirthikas, and is known as Guru Nyima Özer.
9th Month
Guru Rinpoche takes the form of Vajrakumara at Yangleshö in Nepal, and subdues the local deities and negative forces. He performs the sadhana of Palchen Yangdak and attains the vidyadhara stage of Mahamudra realization. He is known as Guru Dorjé Tötreng.
10th Month
Guru Rinpoche arrives in central Tibet. He subdues all the hostile negative forces, founds the great monastery of Chökhor Palgyi Samyé and lights the lamp of the holy Dharma of the sutra and mantra teachings. Guiding his twenty-five disciples and the king to liberation, he is known as Padmasambhava.
11th Month
Guru Rinpoche assumes his wrathful form in Paro Taktsang in Bhutan, and brings under his control the local deities and guardians. Making them protectors of the terma (hidden treasure) teachings, he entrusts them with secret oral instructions, to be given only to the tertöns who shall discover them. He is known as Guru Dorje Trollö.
12th Month
Guru Rinpoche is invited to Oddiyana by King Indrabodhi and installed as crown prince, marrying the Princess Bhasadhara. He is known as Guru Pema Gyalpo.
