History
The tradition of using offering cakes pre-dates Tibetan Buddhism, though traditional Indian offering cakes — called ''bali''Kongtrul (1998) p. 129 or ''balingha''Kongtrul (1998) p. 199 inVariations
Tormas have different uses. Some are created and placed on shrines for ceremonies or to represent deities. Others are used in feast practice and consumed by practitioners during the practice. Others are made to appease spirits, accumulate merit, or remove obstacles. They are mostly made of barley flour and butter, but traditionally other ingredients such as egg, milk, sugar, honey, and even meat may be included depending upon the purpose of the torma.Deity tormas
Deity tormas (Wylie: rten gtor) are kept on the shrine, and represent a particular tantric deity.Padmasambhava (2004) p. 245-246 These tormas vary in complexity from a very simple cone painted white for peaceful deities like Tara and Avalokiteshvara, to very complex designs for semi-wrathful deities likeFood tormas
Food tormas (Wylie: skang gtor) are used in feast practices and are consumed partially by practitioners during the feast, with leftovers (Wylie: dme gtor) offered to lower beings after being blessed. In some traditions, food tormas are now made with more contemporary ingredients whereas others stay faithful to the barley flour tradition.Offering tormas
Offering tormas may be made for and offered to deities (Wylie: sgrub gtor / mchod gtor), to Dharma Protectors, to obstructing spirits, or to other lower beings. Torma for obstructing spirits are called ''gektor'' (Wylie: gegs gtor).Medicinal torma
A torma may be used inCaptured torma
A ''captured'' torma (Wylie: gta' gtor) may be used to speed completion of activities, by planning to offer the torma at the completion of the activity thereby encouraging successful activity.Inner, secret and very secret torma
Practicing meditation with deity visualization is considered a form of torma offering, though no physical cake is created and then offered. Similarly, offering one's internal emotional and mental experiences and experience of suchness are non-physical forms of torma offerings.Notes
References
* Beer, Robert (2003) ''The Handbook of Tibetan Buddhist Symbols'' * Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche. Translated by Erik Pema Kunsang (2004) ''Crystal Clear: Practical Advice for Mahamudra Meditators'' * Kongtrul, Jamgon and Padmasambhava. Translated by Erik Pema Kunsang (1998) Light of Wisdom: A Collection of Padmasambhava's Advice to the Dakini Yeshe Rangjung Yeshe Publications, * Kongtrul, Jamgon. Translated by Sarah Harding. (2002) ''Creation & Completion: Essential Points of Tantric Meditation'' * Padmasambhava. Translated by Erik Pema Kunsang (2004) Dzogchen Essentials: The Path that Clarifies Confusion Rangjung Yeshe Publications, * Wilson, Martin (1996) ''In Praise of Tara: Songs to the Saviouress''External links
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