Jetsun Milarepa deeply meditating in a hermitage called Nyichangkurta on the border of Nepal & Tibet, heard a dog barking & man shouting. He went outside & saw a red haired stag sweating & trembling with fear. The compassionate Milarepa soothed the stag by singing a religious song, who forgot his fear & sat by Milarepa. A red dog arrived full of fiery wrath & Milarepa calmed the temper & allayed the passion of the dog, who lay by the great saint. The hunter, Gonpo Dorji was fierce & strong & he saw stag & dog sitting peacefully by the great saint & he wondered if Milarepa had cast a spell on them. In his rage he shot poison arrows at him & his bow broke into pieces & arrow turned against him. He was full of incredulity & Milarepa told him, your arrow is returned, now listen to my song. As Milarepa was singing, he felt remorse for his actions & confessed his bad deeds & took an oath not to sin again. He practiced religion & gained full realization. Stag Dance, hunter's servant enters & jokes with clowns. Enter hunter crowned with leaves & carrying a bow & arrows, dogs as dancers wearing dog masks. The servants joke disrespectfully with their master who is preparing to perform a good luck ritual for his hunt. The priest called to perform the ritual does it in ways contrary to Buddhist tradition & servants go on with their jokes. Milarepa appears in a long white dress, tall red hat & holding a pilgrim's staff. He sings with a soft voice, his right hand near his ear. The dogs, stag & hunter arrive in Milarepa's presence & he converts them with his song. A rope that the dogs & hunter have to jump over symbolizes the conversion. Deer mask belongs to the solstice ceremonies. New life starts with the light appearing. The deer is a symbol of re-awakening life & light. Deer & bull are the main parts of a fertility rite dating back to prehistoric times performed & higher powers implored to grant fertility & reproduction. Deer brings peace & well-being for the peoples.
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