The Indian Buddhist Iconography, Mainly Based on the Sadhanamala and Other Cognate Tantric Texts of Rituals c12.s2.2

c12.s2.2

Stone or bronze images of Dharmadhātu Vāgīśvara are by no means common, but paintings are still made of him by the Citrakāras in Nepal. When represented he is white in colour with four faces, and eight arms, and he bears five jewels on his diadern. He is clad in celestial garments and the leading sentiment displayed by him is one of Śṛṅgāra (amour). The two principal hands carry the bow and the arrow, the second pair has the noose and the goad, the third the book and the sword, and the fourth the Ghaṇṭā and the Vajra. He may also have another form, exhibiting the Dharmacakra mudrā in the first pair of hands instead of the bow and the arrow, and in the second pair the arrow and the vessel instead of the noose and the goad. The Dhyāna describing the former is given below :—