The Indian Buddhist Iconography, Mainly Based on the Sadhanamala and Other Cognate Tantric Texts of Rituals c13.s13: 15. Vajradharma
The Indian Buddhist Iconography, Mainly Based on the Sādhanamālā and Other Cognate Tāntric Texts of Rituals c13.s13
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15. Vajradharma
c13.s13.1
Colour—Reddish White Vāhana—Peacock Symbol—Lotus
c13.s13.2
One Sādhana in the Sādhanamālā describes this form of Avalokiteśvara. The distinguishing feature of this god is that he rides a peacock. The Sādhana in question is entirely in verse, and the relevant portion containing the description of the form of Vajradharma is given below :
c13.s13.3
"Taṃ sitaṃ raktavarṇaṃ tu padmarāgasamadyutim I
Pañcabuddhamukuṭadharaṃ harṣeṇotphullalocanaṃ II
Vāmato spardhayā nālaṃ dhṛtvā ṣoḍaśapatrakam I
Padmaṃ vikāśayantañca hṛdi dakṣiṇapāṇinā II
Mayūropari madhyasthe niṣaṇṇaṃ candramaṇḍale I
Sattvaparyaṅkamābhujya saśṛṅgārarasotsavam II
Caityāntaḥsthamahākarma-kūṭāgāravihāriṇaṃ I
Bhāvayet Vajradharmāgryaṃ nityaṃ Bodhiṃ avāpnuyāt." II
c13.s13.4
Sādhanamālā, p. 33.
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"The worshipper should conceive himself as excellent Vajradharma, of reddish white complexion, bright as the Padmarāga gem, who bears the effigies of the Five Dhyāni Buddhas on the crown. His eyes beam with delight ; and he holds with pride the stem of a lotus with sixteen petals in his left hand and with the right causes it to blossom against his chest. He sits on the moon over lotus on the back of a peacock, enjoys his seat of the animal and displays the delightful sentiment of amour. He moves in the sanctum of the Caitya, the place for great performances. He ( the worshipper ) certainly receives the Bodhi who meditates (upon him) in this manner."
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Fig. 120 illustrates a Nepalese drawing of the deity. A statuette also occurs in the Chinese collection ¹.
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¹ Clark : TLP, II, p. 265.
Cites (1)
- Sādhanamālā — Sanskrit