Who is Marici

Marichi (Ozer Chenma) is reddish-gold with 8 arms.  Two of her hands hold a needle, and thread.  Her most widely found image is the one with three faces, one of which is that of a sow, in which she drives a cart pulled by seven swine.  In ancient times, it seems the sun appeared rather differently, accompanied by lesser lights.  Marici's seven-swine cart may derive from the Indian myth that describes Surya's vehicle as drawn by seven horses.  Her practice may derive from that of the Vedic dawn goddess, Ushas.  

The very promise of dawn, Marichi "who holds the night" is invoked by travelers for  protection from robbers and other hazards of the road:  Om Marichi svaha.

She may also be considered the embodiment of Ursa Major (The Big Dipper) -- many cultures see a great vehicle drawn by several animals in that most recognizable of northern constellations.  Or the seven smaller animals may represent the Pleiades, the constellation known as the Seven Sisters that forms the "eye" of spring's rising sign, The Bull. (In Japan, they are known as the Subaru.)

Tantric Buddhists tell of Marichi's determination in the manner of Tara; Taoists see her as Queen of Heaven, and the Japanese, as Amaterasu, the sun goddess.  

Her origin lies in early Indian scriptures such as The Laws of Manu (Skt.: Manava Dharma Shastra) and the Puranas, where Marichi is one of 10 Prajapatis or primal parents /chief of the Maruts produced from the mind of Brahma.  In this male aspect, Marichi is father of Surya, the sun and (with his wife Sambhuti) and also of Kashyapa 'Old Tortoise Man' one of the seven primordial sages.  Thus, Marici, the  beam of divine light that initiates creation of the physical world is not only illumination in a physical but also in the spiritual sense.

This 'illuminating' aspect of Marichi (Ozer Chenma: Queen of Light) is emphasized in an 17th century tangka of the Karma Kagyu at Himalayan Art where she is crowned by a stupa, and instead of driving, she is seated on a great sow with piglets.   The accompanying Sakya verse emphasizes her ability to dispel the fears of the night.

Sometimes,  animals other than piglets are depicted drawing her chariot.

Marichi has another popular form in which she is depicted without the chariot -- just standing while threading her needle.

(The third (male) incarnation of the Jain founder is also called Marichi.)

Marici (pron. Marichi) is a red-coloured female yidam associated with the sun and with dawn; her name in Tibetan is Öser Chenma, i.e. [goddess of] Great Light.  Her mantra is traditionally used as protection by travellers.  Marici has an orange-coloured body (the colour of the sun at dawn), and three faces, eight arms and two legs. Of the three faces, the first (central) is orange and smiling, her right face is red, and her left is the face of a white boar: each has three eyes. Her first right hand holds a vajra at the heart in the mudra of teaching, the second holds a vajra axe, the third holds an arrow with the tip pointing downwards, and the fourth, in the mudra of generosity, holds a (sewing) needle. Her first left hand, in the mudra of teaching, holds the stem of a plant (tree?) whose crown is at the level of her left ear (next to the boar's face). Her second left hand holds a bow, the third holds a thread (?), and the fourth holds a noose ending in a loop and hook. Marici's right leg is extended in the manner of Tara, while the left is tucked in. She is dressed in the royal robes of a bodhisattva: five-pointed crown surmounting each face, jewels, silks and so forth. Marici rides a throne/chariot drawn along by seven white boars.

Marichi
Also transliterated Marici, she is the Tibetan Buddhist deity invoked by travelers, perhaps partly because she is usually depicted in a carriage.  Her chariot is drawn by seven lesser pigs.  Often considered a solar deity, it may be more accurate to consider her as a deity of the dawn.  She also protects against the hazards of the road, especially robbery.

Marishiten (Japanese; Sanskrit: Marici [devi] or Marici [devata]; Chinese: Molichitian) became the patron goddess of Japan's growing warrior class in the eighth century and retained this status for over 900 years. Evolving from the cult of Marici, a local diety absorbed by Mahayana Buddhism in the early centuries A.D., the goddess possibly originated as a "tantric Buddhist amalgamation of several Brahmanical, Iranian, and non-Aryan antecedents." The Buddhist cult of Marishiten is first recorded in China in the sixth century A.D. and was adapted to the needs of the military Taoist sects.2

Tracing Marishiten's importance to the warrior class of Japan through direct and indirect references in literature and historical records, Dr. Hall states that this appeal was due to the beneficial combination of traits available to her devotees including invisibility, the ability to confuse enemies, clarity of mind, intuition, imperturbability, selflessness, and, ultimately, compassion. As invisibility is Marishiten's primary attribute, Dr. Hall provides some possible explanations as to what the medieval authors meant by this term before delving into a deeper analysis of this and other traits using combative psychology to bridge the historical interpretation and provide a more substantive answer.

TBS Version :

Well, I can not find a translated article for it. But, basically it is the same as what I posted above

#1 she is worshipped by the samurai
#2 she protects cultivator from backstabbing

very similiar from what I just posted

Mimosa

#Is there a TBS practice related to Marici?

Yes.

#1 one practice is to help one not to doze off while meditating. I never practice this one because I dont doze off :-)

#2 another one is the most well-known one, which is the Marici Protection practice. It is often used if you are concerned that someone may hurt, slander, backstab you.
For example, my friend just got a promotion and she became the youngerest manager in the company. The jealousy is just overwhelming. She told me that she is desperate for that practice. I need to get a necklace with Marici for her.

Mimosa

There is a mantra and visualisation for Marici cultivation. Need empowerment, unless you do it in group cultivation where the presiding person already has empowerment..

I heard the story from the Reverend (nun/monk) from Seattle Temple, so it may bit different from the reality..but should be close enough.

Well, recently, Seattle Temple gave away some Marici statues. (all ran out now, no need to call and ask). One guy/girl also received one. His eyes were injuired by the chemical solutions so he could not drive and had to ask someone to take him to temple.

He got the Marici statue and placed it in his shrine. Next morning, he sat in the shrine and meditated. He doesnt have the empowerment and doesnt know the mantra, so he only recites the "Namo Marici Bodhisattava"

As he recited, the merciful Marici appeared
in front of him and rediated brilliant light as strong as the sunshine!! Ah! Marici Bodhisattva was healing his eyes. He felt very comfortable. Now, he can see things very clearly!


Eyes are so important to a person! I never image that Marici can heal eyes. So impressed! The person doesnt even know how to recite the mantra, but a sincere heart counts!

Mimosa

ps: however, as Jessie has said, for then normal practice, one should still receive the empowerment from masters