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A dakini is a woman who dances in the sky, or who rejoices in the freedom of emptiness. Her constant movement is thought to embody the rhythms of Mother Nature. She is usually shown as young and naked, curved in a dancing pose.
The large fire halo behind the dakini represents her wisdom.
She stands on a lotus throne. The lotus throne is a symbol of enlightenment.
The dakini's face looks quite angry (semi-wrathful). She had three eyes, sharp teeth and an open mouth. Her hair and body are red.
Her right hand holds a chopper pointing downwards. This symbolises wisdom and the cutting off of all harmful attachments and
influences.
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In her left hand the dakini holds a skull cup from which she drinks life-giving blood, the blood of wisdom.
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Dakinis are guardians of teaching, and can help change human weaknesses into wisdom and understanding. In the painting we can see her trampling on two figures who are enemies of these teaching: red Dushenma and black Bhairava who represent ego and ignorance.
Naro the sky cleaver is shown wearing a crown and necklace made from human skulls. It is said that when she dances you can hear the clattering of the bones.
Over her arm the dakini holds a staff called a Khatvanga. You can see the top of the staff above Naro's head. On it there are
three heads: a 'fresh' head, a dried head and a bare skull. They symbolise her conquest of the three evils of lust, hate and delusion.
