The Indian Buddhist Iconography, Mainly Based on the Sadhanamala and Other Cognate Tantric Texts of Rituals c14.s2.t7: 5. Mahāśītavatī
The Indian Buddhist Iconography, Mainly Based on the Sādhanamālā and Other Cognate Tāntric Texts of Rituals c14.s2.t7
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5. Mahāśītavatī
c14.s2.t7.1
Colour— Red Arms—Four Āsana—Ardhaparyaṅka
c14.s2.t7.2
All the five goddesses constituting the Pañcarakṣā group are said to emanate from one or another of the Dhyāni Buddhas. Mahāśītavatī is affiliated to her parental Dhyāni Buddha Amitābha. The short Sādhanā describing her form is as follows :
c14.s2.t7.3
"Mahāśīta (sic sīta) vatī caturbhujaikamukhī raktā dakṣiṇabhujadvaye akṣasūtrāvaradavatī vāmabhujadvaye vajrāṅkuśahṛtpradeśasthapustakavatī Jīmbījā Amitābhamukuṭī ardhaparyaṅkasthitā nānālaṅkāravatī sūryāsanaprabhā ceti". Sādhanamālā, p. 401.
c14.s2.t7.4
"Mahāśītavatī is four-armed, one-faced, and red in colour. She shows in her two right hands the rosary and the Varada pose, and in her two left hands the Vajra and the Book against the chest. She originates from the syllable 'Jīm', bears the effigy of Amitābha on the crown, sits in the Ardhaparyaṅka attitude, and is decked in various ornaments. She sits on the orb of the sun and glows like the sun".
c14.s2.t7.5
Images of this goddess are found in Tibet ³ and China ⁴.
c14.s2.t7.6
³ Getty : GNB, p. 139.
c14.s2.t7.7
⁴ Clark : TLP, II. pp. 206 and 275 under the title of Śītavatī.
Cites (2)
- Sādhanamālā — Sanskrit
- Pañcarakṣā — Sanskrit