About Citipati

Citipati is a high-level Dharma Protector specifically for practitioners of Vajrayogini's tantra. Also known as the Lord and Lady of the Cemetery, Citipati is depicted as a pair of dancing skeletons. The male skeleton represents Heruka Chakrasamvara while the female skeleton represents Heruka's consort, Vajrayogini.

Due to the potentially immense benefits of Vajrayogini's meditation, the obstacles that her practitioners face are equally large. Therefore propitiating Citipati is a powerful method to clear obstacles that arise when doing Vajrayogini's practice.

Citipati, also known as Shri Shmashana Adhipati, are in two-armed skeletal form with bulging red eyes. They are always shown in dancing posture, with one leg raised up. In most traditions, they are depicted holding skull-cups and bone clubs, wearing crowns of five dry skulls, earrings and green scarves. In some depictions they wear tiger skin loin-cloths or bone skirts.

In Gelug depictions the mother holds a stalk of grain and a wealth vase instead, symbolic of their practice as bestowing wealth. The father and mother are also shown stepping on a conch shell and cowrie shell respectively.

Further Reading

• The Divine Skeleton Couple: Cittipati
• Cosmic Tantra
• Twenty-Four Holy Places & Eight Great Charnel Grounds