The Origins Of Drashi Lhamo
Unlike some deities which have large collected volumes detailing them, Drashi Lhamo is comparatively uncommon and not many people know about her. This isn’t surprising since her story starts in the early 1700s as a concubine of the Chinese emperor who was murdered out of jealousy. Her enraged spirit decides to make vows to follow Buddhism after being calmed by a lama and so she became a benevolent deity with a fierce appearance.
Guan Yu (or Guan Gong) is similar in the sense that he was also once a Han Chinese who was killed. He fought against all the odds to see off the evil warlord Cao Cao and his vast armada at the Battle of Red Cliffs, only to later be ambushed, captured and executed. After his death, he became venerated as a saint for his upright and virtuous character. Later, he appeared to the 4th patriarch of Chan Buddhism, Master Zhizhe, and, in spirit, requested to take refuge. Thereafter he became a protector deity in Chinese folk religion, in Taoism and, as Sangharama Bodhisattva, in Mahayana Buddhism.
The Karmapas of Tibet also recount that after the 5th Karmapa was summoned to the Chinese court, he followed him back to Tibet! Ever since, the Kagyu lineage hold an annual ceremony for him, a tradition which is still kept alive.
The notion that even someone who dies badly can go on to become a deity is widely accepted in Buddhism, especially since these spirits make vows to protect and uphold the teachings. Through carrying out benevolent activities in the afterlife, these spirits become powerful cultivators and will eventually get to ascend to the Purelands.
Guan Yu’s story starts in 220, some 1500 years earlier than Drashi Lhamo’s. This means he has had time to become widespread and most Chinese temples worldwide enshrine him as Jialan Zunzhe, meaning “Temple Protector”, regardless of lineage. For Drashi Lhamo, this story is just starting.
Let’s take a quick overview of the origins of Drashi Lhamo before piecing together her story in detail.
Regarding Drashi Lhamo
It is said that Drashi Lhamo diligently cultivated, but because of her beauty she aroused jealousy. An evil spirit poisoned her, yet her cultivation was so advanced that she forced the poison to her tongue. However, her tongue could not retract, leaving it long and exposed.
Seeing that poison could not harm her, the demon cut off her feet. Miraculously, Drashi Lhamo grew chicken feet, and thus people also called her the “Chicken-Foot Goddess.”This image reveals her great power to dispel poison, symbolizing her ability to remove the toxins of the human heart.There is another legend of Drashi Lhamo.It is said she was once a beautiful, young, and kind-hearted Chinese woman, beloved by Emperor Qianlong, his most cherished consort. Her beauty and goodness, however, provoked jealousy that led to her tragic death.After being murdered, she refused to leave. Reflecting on her fate despite her goodness, resentment overcame her purity. Seeking justice, she roamed the palace, filling hearts with fear.When Emperor Qianlong learned of this, he invited Lama Jampa Minlang from Tibet’s Sera Monastery to console the spirit and calm the people.The lama arrived and saw a woman weeping on a beam. Speaking with her, he learned she was a murdered consort, unwilling to depart until justice was done.The lama explained the truth to the emperor, who, in great anger, punished the culprits and requested the lama to deliver her spirit from suffering.Afterward, as the lama returned to Tibet, the spirit of the consort followed him. When asked why, she said, “My heart is kind. With your guidance, I wish to take refuge in the Buddha and attain liberation.”The lama replied, “This journey is long and difficult for a woman alone.”But no matter his persuasion, she would not leave. Seeing her steadfast faith, he agreed. Nearing Lhasa, he told her, “That monastery is for monks. You cannot enter, but I will build you a residence here where people may make offerings to you. Would that be acceptable?”She happily agreed and remained at a minor of Sera, the so-called Drashi Temple.The lama then made her statue and residence, giving her the responsibility of protecting the land, naming her Drashi Lhamo.
Thus, Drashi Lhamo became a devoted guardian and earnest practitioner of the Buddha-dharma.
- She was poisoned and became a ghost.
- She was subdued by a great lama and turned wholeheartedly toward the Buddha.
- In the end, she became both a dharma protector and a wealth deity.
- Some say she is a Tibetan dharma protector.
- Some say she is an emanation of Sridevi (Lakshmi).
- Others say she is the incarnation of Rajinima Xunnu.
- Still others say she is the wrathful form of Sarasvati.
From the above, we can see that there are the three times of Drashi Lhamo’s story:
Her past – the story begins during the reign of Emperor Qianlong. He ascended to the throne in 1735 and abdicated 1796, after 60 years, having taken the Qing dynasty to it’s peak. This was a mark of respect towards his grandfather, Emperor Kangxi, who held the record for the longest reign at 61 years. From this, we can see that the story begins somewhere between 2 and 300 years ago, during the reign of an emperor who valued virtue. To this day, coins from the Qinglong period are sought after by Feng Shui practitioners because it is remembered as one of the most auspicious periods of Chinese history, second only to the Tang.
Her present – Drashi Lhamo has spread outside of Tibet, going into Gelug temples in China, however the biggest stir has been in America.
In 2025, a True Buddha School student offered a statue of Drashi Lhamo to His Holiness Living Buddha Lian Sheng in Seattle. Suddenly Drashi’s karmic connections were unveiled! She appeared to His Holiness Living Buddha Lian Sheng, recognising him as the reincarnation of her master, Lama Jampa Monlam, the one who helped her overcome her despairing rage for having been murdered. She renewed her vows to him and asked him to widely spread her practices with the first mass teaching taking place to over 3,600 rinpoches, vajra masters, monks, nuns and lay practitioners in Autumn of 2025. Many have won jackpots or received windfalls since, and True Buddha School’s 300+ temples worldwide have started enshrining her.
Her future – Drashi Lhamo is a worldly deity. Like all beings in Samsara, this means she will have to continue to transmigrate around cyclic existence in the Six Realms until she cultivates sufficient merit and virtue to ascend to the Purelands. She made the wish to be reborn into the Maha Double Lotus Ponds in the Western Paradise of Sukhavati in the future, so she can continue to be near her master when he has gone there. In order to do this, she is actively engaged in merit accumulation through widely helping practitioners of the dharma in the degenerate age.
In November 2025, Drashi Lhamo appeared to His Holiness Living Buddha Lian Sheng again, and told him her secret practice. This practice would help people become rich fast. Wealth through Drashi is likened to a waterfall – once it starts flowing, it pours continuously. His Holiness Living Buddha Lian Sheng agreed to teach it for her. It is hoped that this additional higher practice will receive its debut dharma transmission in March 2026 at the True Buddha School Spring Grand Ceremony. Attendees will gain the precious empowerment needed to do this; only by being there can it be granted.
Therefore Drashi Lhamo’s aspiration is to attain buddhahood for the benefit of all in the future, and she is working her way towards it by helping us now.
In This Section
Origins of Drashi Lhamo
Drashi Lhamo's Past
Drashi Lhamo's Present
Drashi Lhamo's Future
