Torma

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Tormas on a shrine

Torma (T. gtor ma; Skt. balingta) are figures made mostly of flour and butter used in tantric rituals or as offerings in Tibetan Buddhism. They may be dyed in different colors, often with white or red for the main body of the torma. They are made in specific shapes based on their purpose, usually conical in form.

In practice, some tormas are placed on a shrine near icons of buddhas and enlightened deities, and some are placed on offering tables alongside flowers, incense, and lamps. At the end of the ceremony, some tormas are placed outside for wildlife and microorganisms to consume.[1]

Westin Harris states:

To unfamiliar eyes, these objects can be perplexing. Are they food? Sculpture? Receptacles for divine beings? The answer—characteristically, for Tantric Buddhism—is all of the above. Rather than a single ritual object, torma refers to an entire family of edible ritual objects. They mediate devotional exchanges, negotiate with invisible beings, anchor divine presence, and even transmit empowerment. Their diversity reveals how Tibetan Buddhism engages physical matter and beauty as a media through which ethical, social, and cosmological relationships are continually renewed.
The various tormas may fundamentally look similar, but they are more than a singular type of religious object and serve different purposes. Tormas comprise an entire ritual language of exchange, one rooted in Buddhist principles like generosity, kindness, and reciprocity. In other words, tormas help Tibetan Buddhists negotiate their relationship with the world around them, including the seen and unseen forces that inhabit it.[1]

History

The tradition of using offering cakes pre-dates Tibetan Buddhism, though traditional Indian offering cakes — called bali[2][3] or balingha[4] in Sanskrit — are flat instead of conical.[5]

The Tibetan term comes from the root gtor-ba which means to "cast away, break up, or scatter". This implies both a sense of offering and of letting go or non-attachment.[6]

Variations

Tormas have different uses. Some are created and placed on shrines for ceremonies or to represent deities. Others are used in feast practice and consumed by practitioners during the practice. Others are made to appease spirits, accumulate merit, or remove obstacles.[7] They are mostly made of barley flour and butter, but traditionally other ingredients such as egg, milk, sugar, honey, and even meat may be included depending upon the purpose of the torma.[8]

Notes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Harris, Weston, What Are Tormas?, Rubin Museum of Himalayan Art
  2. ↑ Kongtrul (2002) p. 172
  3. ↑ Kongtrul (1998) p. 129
  4. ↑ Kongtrul (1998) p. 199
  5. ↑ Martin (1996) p. 336
  6. ↑ Beer (2003) p. 212
  7. ↑ Thrangu Rinpoche (2004) p. 171
  8. ↑ Beer (2003) pp. 214

Sources

  • Beer, Robert (2003) The Handbook of Tibetan Buddhist Symbols
  • Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche. Translated by Erik Pema Kunsang (2004) Crystal Clear: Practical Advice for Mahamudra Meditators
  • Kongtrul, Jamgon and Padmasambhava. Translated by Erik Pema Kunsang (1998) Light of Wisdom: A Collection of Padmasambhava's Advice to the Dakini Yeshe Rangjung Yeshe Publications
  • Kongtrul, Jamgon. Translated by Sarah Harding. (2002) Creation & Completion: Essential Points of Tantric Meditation
  • Padmasambhava. Translated by Erik Pema Kunsang (2004) Dzogchen Essentials: The Path that Clarifies Confusion Rangjung Yeshe Publications
  • Wilson, Martin (1996) In Praise of Tara: Songs to the Saviouress

Further reading

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