Myths and Legends of Dzi Beads

The history of the mysterious Dzi Beads is filled with mythological
and legendary stories. The following is a list of commonly believed
Tibetan Dzi bead legends:

(1) Dzi beads are the weapons of the Asura: An Asura belongs to one of
the six classes of living beings. They are opponents to Sakyamuni
Buddha and do not listen to the Buddha's words. Therefore they are
considered to be non-godlike, non-divine and non-human entities. They
use Dzi beads as their weapons.

(2) Plankton from the ancient seas: In the original form, the Dzi
beads were like mollusks and conches with a fleshy body protected by a
shell. They could move about freely. After the Himalayan Mountains
arose from the shifting of tectonic plates, no more seas existed in
the region. The plankton died and their shells subsequently become Dzi
beads.

(3) Dzi Bead are precious jewels of the demi-gods: Tibetans say that
Dzi beads are the precious jewels of the demi-gods who discard the
blemished ones upon the human world. This explains why no one ever
finds a perfect dzi bead.

(4) Painted stones from nearby India: A couple who lived in the
Himalayan Mountains painted designs onto a unique kind of Indian
stone. Since the skill required to paint the stone was very difficult
to imitate and kept within the family, the skill was lost after they
passed away.

(5) Dzi beads originated from the Dzi stream: Legend has it that there
were Dzi beads flowing continuously like a stream from a mountain near
Rutog in Ngari. One day, a wicked woman with the "evil eye" conjured
towards the stream, from that day onwards, no Dzi beads were ever
discovered from the stream.

(6) Meteorites from outer space: Meteorites fell from outer space onto
the fields. These were picked up and used by yogis in their practices.
After the yogic practitioners' refinement, they became Dzi beads.

(7) Dzi beads are the magic beads cast by Vajravahari Buddha (Tibetan:
Dorje Phamo): During those early years when Tibet was overwhelmed by
severe epidemic, Tibetans were plunged into an abyss of misery and
they led a very hard life. Fortunately, the compassionate Vajravahari
Buddha came to relieve them by dropping magical Dzi beads from the
sky. Anyone predestined to obtain them would be relieved from disease,
calamities and bad luck.

(8) Snake-like living things: Dzi beads are living things that can
move about like snakes. When they are found and touched by human
hands, they stop moving and turn into a string of Dzi beads.

(9) Celestial flowers sprinkled by Manjusri Buddha: It is said that a
severe epidemic spread across the Himalayan region around three
thousand years ago. Many people died and great losses were incurred.
Manjusri Buddha, the former incarnation of Manjusri Bodhisattva,
happened to pass the sky above the Himalayas. When he saw that the
Tibetans were living in great turmoil, a great feeling of compassion
arose from his heart. He then spinkled Dzi beads down to the human
world. Whoever found them and picked them up would be cured of their
diseases.

(10) Appearance in fields: Dzi beads were buried deep underground,
after long-term geological movements, Dzi beads were created, and then
discovered and picked up by farmers during fieldwork.

(11) Dzi beads are the precious stones in the treasury of the Tagzig
kingdom: After King Gesar of the Ling Kingdom had defeated the Tagzig
kingdom, he found many precious items, including Dzi beads, in the
treasury of Tagzig. King Gesar rewarded his victorious soldiers with
Dzi beads who then carried them back to Tibet. After that, Dzi beads
spread all over the Himalayan region.

(12) Dzi beads are insects that can crawl, run and fly: Tibetans
believe that Dzi beads used to be insects which live in nests. When
the insects have been unearthed, they continue to move around and then
solidify into various types of Dzi beads. The insects may become
petrified after they have been covered by a Lama's long robe, or
touched by human hands, people with good karma or covered by a woman's
skirt. The crawling ones, become solid when human beings sprinkle sand
upon them, if not, they will disappear.

(13) Dzi beads are hidden treasures of Guru Rinpoche: After Guru
Rinpoche ( Padmasambhava ) built the first temple ( Samye Monastery )
in Tibet, he was blessed with dzi beads by the heavenly beings. Guru
Rinpoche then buried the dzi beads all over Tibet each with a specific
prayer blessing or spiritual insight. This reinforces the Tibetan
belief that only people with good karma are destined to own dzi beads.

(14) Dzi can be discovered in the Dzi meadows: People with good
fortune can see Dzi beads flying above the Tibetan meadows. They
become Dzi beads after capture by humans.

For more detailed information on Tibetan Dzi Beads, please check out
my Dzi beads website at http://dzidzi888.googlepages.com

Regards,

Dzidzi888