Namgyalma Statues — Buddhist Long Life Deity

Namgyalma (Sanskrit: Ushnishavijaya — “Victory of the Ushnisha”) is one of the three principal long life deities of Tibetan Buddhism, alongside White Tara and Amitayus. Her practice is specifically invoked to extend life, purify negative karma, and protect practitioners from rebirth into the lower realms — making her one of the most widely venerated deities in the Tibetan, Nepali, and Mongolian Buddhist traditions. Tibetan Buddhist teaching emphasizes that a long human life is exceptionally precious: the human realm, among the six realms of existence, provides the greatest conditions for accumulating the merit that leads to higher rebirths and eventual liberation. Namgyalma’s practice directly protects and extends that precious opportunity.

Namgyalma is depicted with three faces — representing her omniscient awareness in all directions — and eight arms, each holding a specific sacred attribute: the vase of immortality, a double dorje, a rope, the Varada (gift-giving) mudra, an arrow, a small statue of Amitabha Buddha, a bow, and the Abhaya (protection) mudra. A third eye of wisdom appears between her brows, and uniquely, an additional eye appears in the palm of her right hand — a mark of her all-seeing compassionate perception. Her close affiliation with Amitabha Buddha — whose image she holds in one hand — connects her long life practice to the western pure land tradition and the transformation of desire into discriminating wisdom. Namgyalma’s long life mantra is recited both for the practitioner’s own longevity and, in a specific extension of the practice, whispered into the ear of an animal to generate the conditions for that being’s higher rebirth. Explore the three long life deities and their longevity practices in our complete guide.