Mahamaya

Mahamaya has mainly two different meanings: On the one hand it refers to Buddha’s mother (Maya Devi = Buddha’s mother, or Mahamaya = Queen/Great Maya), on the other hand it is the buddha aspect referring to the Mahamaya Tantra, which belongs to the group of the highest tantras.

The Mahamaya Tantra is one of the Four Great Tantras, which were collected by Naropa (also by Sukhasiddhi and Niguma); they are called the four major tantras (Illusory Body, Dream Yoga, Inner Heat and Clear Light), additionally the two minor tantras (Bardo and Phowa) – six transmissions altogether.

The Mahamaya Tantra is particularly associated with the Dream Yoga, which was transmitted by Kukkuripa and Naropa to Marpa.