Eight female bodhisattvas
The eight female bodhisattvas are also referred to as the Eight offering goddesses. They are the consorts of the Eight great bodhisattvas:
- Lasya (Skt. Lāsyā; Tib. Gegmoma) the consort of Kshitigarbha
- Gita (Skt. Ghirtī; Tib. Luma) the consort of Vajrapani
- Malya (Skt. Mālyā; Tib. Trengwama) the consort of Akashagarbha
- Nritya (Skt. Nirtī; Tib. Zik Garma) the consort of Avalokiteshvara
- Dhupa (Skt. Dhupā; Tib. Dukpöma) the consort of Maitreya
- Pushpa (Skt. Pūṣpā; Tib. Metokchen) the consort of Sarvanivaranavishkambhin
- Aloka (Skt. Alokā; Tib. Aloke) the consort of Samantabhadra
- Gandha (Skt. Gandhā; Tib. Drichabma) the consort of Mañjushri
Symbolically they represent the pure state of sense objects.
On the bell they are symbolised by the seed syllables on the top shoulder of the bell. The syllables are placed on an eight petalled lotus, that represents the eight male bodhisattvas.