Q: Does the Single Yamantaka belong to the Father Tantra, and the 13 Deity Yamantaka to both, Father and Mother Tantra? What are the main difference in the nature, structure, path and results between these two practices ?

A: These are two questions in one.

(1)

First of all, both deities belong to the same class of Tantra, namely Father tantra (pha-rgyud). The visualization of the Mother in the 13-Deity Yamantaka does not make it a 'Mother-Tantra' (ma-rgyud). The difference is in the focus of the practice.

In the Father Tantra the practitioner works with the energy-winds to arise in subtle forms known as illusory bodies, which are the immediate causes for achieving a Buddha's body of forms (Rupakaya).

In the Mother Tantra one practices the clear light mental activity focusing on voidness realized with blissful awareness. This, then, is the immediate cause for achieving a Buddha's omniscient awareness or Dharmakaya.

(2)

The differences between the two forms practiced in the Gelugpa lineage, the Single Deity (Ekavira) and the 13-Deity Form, are not essential. The actual difference between the two sadhanas is about 8%, with the 13-Deity being the longer one. The added content comes mostly from (1) the additional deities added and to be visualized with the mandala, and (2) the additional mantras to be recited (with the respective visualizations). Also, the sadhana text is more explicit in some parts.

Another (technical) difference is how the tradition is passed on. The Single Deity commentary is traditionally taught orally with a strong emphasis on the meditational/experiential level rather than the actual sadhana text. That's why there is only one written commentary for the practice, namely Tri Gyaltsen Senghe's.
The 13-Deity practice is traditionally taught in a more academic way: sticking to the sadhana text and very extensive commentaries (like Lhundup Pandita's and Ngulchu Dharmabadra's).

The Single-Deity is by no means an inferior practice or a 'Yamantaka Lite'. It's just a much more condensed practice with a simpler mandala and fewer visualizations - for the benefit of the practitioner who actually does the practice. As far as I know there are very few people outside the monastic world who practice the 13-Deity practice; mainly because it's too long for all practical purposes. All of the elements of the 13-Deity practice are implicitly contained in the Single Deity one.

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