Twelve Tenma Sisters

Twelve Tenma Sisters (Wyl. bstan ma bcu gnyis) — female protector deities of Tibet, bound under oath by Guru Padmasambhava. They consist of the Four Female Demons (Tib. Dümo Shyi), the Four Menmos (Tib. Menmo Shyi) and the Four Yakshinis (Skt.; Tib. Nöjin Shyi). They are called the "Twelve Mother and Sister Tenmas" because they take care of us like a mother or like older sisters. They are accompanied by the divisions of hundred thousand female assistants.

There are several lists of the Twelve Tenmas. The Palchen Düpa from the Longchen Nyingtik cycle gives,

1. Tseringma
2. Töna Dorje Yamakyong
3. Nöjin Gang la Kunzangmo,
4. Drokchen Khordul Gekkyi Tso
5. Jomo Gangrar Chenchikma
6. Changna Khading Lumo Gyal
7. Kharak Dorje Khyung Tsunma
8. Machen Pomrar Drakmogyal
9. Gongtsun Demo Bökham Kyong
10. Dragtsan Dorje Menchikma
11. Jomo Nakgyal Yarmo Sil
12. Wuna Dorje Zulemen

Alternative Translations

• Twelve Subterranean Goddesses (Dorje & Coleman)

Alternative Listing

According to Ratna Lingpa’s Tukdrub Yangdü, the Twelve Tenma belong to the classes of dümo, nöjin, and menmo.

As it says in the Lam Rim Yeshe Nyingpo, their specific task entrusted to them by Guru Rinpoche, the great master of Uddiyana, was for the specific purpose of guarding the borders of the four directions so that invasions or harm from non-dharmic influences would not enter Tibet and Kham.

Four dümo: Great Sovereign - Dorje Kundrakma, Glorious Hari - Dorje Yama Kyong, Turqoise Mist of Snow Mountains - Dorje Kuntu Zang, Tamer of the Hordes of the Vast Pastures - Dorje Gek kyi Tso,

Four nöjin: Fleshless White Glacier - Dorje Yudrönma, Kharak Khyung Tsün - Dorje Palgyi Yum, Sky Soarer of the Great Treasures - Dorje Lumo, Mari Rabjam - Dorje Drakmo Gyal,

Four menmo: Kongtsün Demo - Dorje Bö Kham Kyong, Tsenla Rölpe - Dorje Menchikma, Turquoise Bell - Dorje Zulema, Mentsün Ugchö - Dorje Yarmo Sil.