# Red Jambhala (Dzambhala Marpo)

Canonical URL: https://mandalaatlas.org/deities/red-jambhala/

Language: en | Published: 2026-10-27 | Modified: 2026-10-27

Tibetan: ཛམ་བྷ་ལ་དམར་པོ། | Wylie: dzam bha la dmar po | Sanskrit: Rakta Jambhala | Devanagari: रक्त जम्भल

Padma-Family Magnetizing Abundance, Harmonious Conditions & Merit

Radiating ruby-crimson light in Amitābha and Vajrasattva’s Padma-Vajra stream, Red Jambhala presides over magnetizing activity (vaśīkaraṇa): harmonizing human relationships, attracting supportive conditions for ethical work, and dissolving interpersonal scarcity.

- Tibetan (Wylie): ཛམ་བྷ་ལ་དམར་པོ། (dzam bha la dmar po)

- Buddha Family: Padma (Lotus) Family — Magnetizing & Discriminating Wisdom

- Iconographic Forms: Two-armed solo seated form (or four-armed yab-yum with Vasudhārā)

- Right & Left Hands: Blazing wish-fulfilling jewel cintāmaṇi (right); jewel-spitting mongoose (left)

- Canonical Source: Tengyur Toh 3525 / Sakya Golden Dharmas Rakta-Jambhala Cycle

## Recognition

Ruby-crimson body seated in royal ease on a lotus, holding a glowing wish-fulfilling gem/fruit in his right hand and a jewel-producing mongoose in his left.

Seated in royal ease; right hand holds blazing wish-granting jewel on knee, left arm squeezes jewel-mongoose

## Padma Magnetizing Activity: Why Red Symbolizes Harmonious Conditions

Section URL: https://mandalaatlas.org/deities/red-jambhala/#sec-1

In the Tibetan Five-Buddha-Family mandala, ruby-red is the color of the Western Padma (Lotus) Family presided over by Amitābha—whose Discriminating Awareness Wisdom (*sor-rtog ye-shes*) transmutes grasping attachment into magnetic warmth and empathy. Within the Five Jambhalas, Red Jambhala embodies this exact *vaśīkaraṇa* (magnetizing/harmonizing) function.

Whereas Yellow Jambhala focuses on foundational generosity and White Jambhala on healing acute destitution, Red Jambhala addresses a different obstacle practitioners face in the world: isolation, fractured collaboration, and lack of supportive companions or patrons when undertaking virtuous projects.

## Solo Seated vs. Yab-Yum Consort Forms in Museum Paintings

Section URL: https://mandalaatlas.org/deities/red-jambhala/#sec-2

In Five-Jambhala thangka sets (such as the Nationaal Museum van Wereldculturen scroll `TM-4655-1`), Red Jambhala sits in royal ease wearing a five-jeweled crown, holding a radiant wish-fulfilling jewel (*cintāmaṇi*) or treasury casket in his right hand and the jewel-mongoose in his left. In inner Sakya and Nyingma Terma lineages emanating from Vajrasattva, he also appears in union (*yab-yum*) with the red wealth goddess Vasudhārā (*Nor-rgyun-ma*), holding an iron hook and jewel noose to signify the inseparability of skillful means and abundant generosity.

## Living tradition and practice context

Historically favored by householders, artisans, and monastic stewards responsible for community harmony and fundraising for temple libraries and clinics.

## Common questions

### How do you distinguish Red Jambhala from Kurukullā or Two-Armed Red Tārā?

Check body build and left-hand attribute: Red Jambhala has a stout yakṣa-king build and always squeezes a jewel-spitting MONGOOSE under his left arm; Kurukullā and Red Tārā are slender female deities holding a floral bow/arrow or red utpala lotus.

## Sources

- [Tengyur Toh 3525 · Rakta-Jambhala Sādhana & Sakya Golden Dharmas Archive](https://read.84000.co)

- [Nationaal Museum van Wereldculturen: Five Jambhalas Thangka (TM-4655-1)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:COLLECTIE_TROPENMUSEUM_Thangka_voorstellende_Rode_Jambhala_(midden)_en_andere_vormen_van_Jambhala_TMnr_4655-1.jpg)

## Museum artwork

Red Jambhala (Padma Family Sovereign of Magnetizing Abundance) in Five-Jambhala Mandala — Nationaal Museum van Wereldculturen (TM-4655-1)

18th–19th century · Tibet | Mineral pigments and gold on cotton cloth

Image: https://mandalaatlas.org/plates/variant-jambhala-red.webp

Museum record: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:COLLECTIE_TROPENMUSEUM_Thangka_voorstellende_Rode_Jambhala_(midden)_en_andere_vormen_van_Jambhala_TMnr_4655-1.jpg#red-jambhala

Artwork rights: Public Domain (https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/)

## Related entries

- [Yellow Jambhala (Dzambhala Serpo)](https://mandalaatlas.org/deities/jambhala/)

- [White Dragon-Riding Jambhala (Dzambhala Karpo)](https://mandalaatlas.org/deities/white-jambhala/)

- [Green Jambhala (Dzambhala Janggu)](https://mandalaatlas.org/deities/green-jambhala/)

- [Black Jambhala (Dzambhala Nagpo · Kubera)](https://mandalaatlas.org/deities/black-jambhala/)

- [Kurukullā (Rigjema · Lotus-Bow Wisdom Ḍākinī)](https://mandalaatlas.org/deities/kurukulla/)

- [Amitābha (Öpakmé · Buddha of Infinite Light)](https://mandalaatlas.org/deities/amitabha/)