The Indian Buddhist Iconography, Mainly Based on the Sadhanamala and Other Cognate Tantric Texts of Rituals c15.t5: (ii) Four-Armed

The Indian Buddhist Iconography, Mainly Based on the Sādhanamālā and Other Cognate Tāntric Texts of Rituals c15.t5

Language: English

(ii) Four-Armed

c15.t5.1

Colour—Blue Face—One Arms—Four Prajñā—Vajravārāhī

When four-armed, Hevajra shows all the characteristics of the two-armed variety with the difference that here the Prajñā is known by the name of Vajravārāhī. His description in the Niṣpannayogāvalī is short and is worded thus :

c15.t5.3

“Athavā caturbhujo dvibhujavat. Aparabhujābhyāṃ savābha-Vajravārāhīsamāliṅgita ityeva viśeṣaḥ”. NSP, p. 14

c15.t5.4

“Or, he may be four-armed and appear similar to the two-armed form. In the two other hands he embraces his Śakti Vajravārāhī of his own creation. This is the only difference”.

c15.t5.5

In the Sādhanamālā, one Sādhana is also devoted to the worship of this particular form of Hevajra. Here also Hevajra is four-armed and is embraced by his Śakti who is identical with him in all respects. Hevajra carries in his four hands the blue Vajra, the sword, the Khaṭvāṅga and the jewel. The Khaṭvāṅga does not however hang from his shoulder but is carried in one of his hands.

Cites (1)

Niṣpannayogāvalī — Abhayākaragupta, Sanskrit