The Indian Buddhist Iconography, Mainly Based on the Sadhanamala and Other Cognate Tantric Texts of Rituals c16.t13: 11. Vasudhārā
The Indian Buddhist Iconography, Mainly Based on the Sādhanamālā and Other Cognate Tāntric Texts of Rituals c16.t13
- Language
- English
11. Vasudhārā
c16.t13.1
Mudrā—Varada Symbol—Ears of Corn Colour—Yellow
c16.t13.2
Vasudhārā figures in the pantheon of the Mahāyāna Buddhists as the consort of Jambhala, the Buddhist god of wealth. Only three Sādhanas are devoted to her worship and in one of these only is she said to bear the image of Akṣobhya. The two others assign her to the Dhyāni Buddha Ratnasambhava. It may be noticed, by the way, that Vasudhārā is of a greater antiquity than the Dhyāni Buddhas themselves. The Dhyāna describing the goddess with the figure of Akṣobhya on the crown runs as follows :
c16.t13.3
“Vasudhārāṃ Bhagavatīṃ dhyāyāt, kanakavarṇāṃ sakalālaṅkāravatīṃ dviraṣṭavarṣākṛtiṃ dakṣiṇakareṇa varadāṃ, vāmakareṇa dhānyamañjarīdharāṃ Akṣobhyadhāriṇīṃ. Purato Bhagavatīṃ Śrīvasundharāṃ dakṣiṇato Vasuśriyaṃ paścimataḥ Śrīvasumukhīṃ, vāmato Vasumatiśriyaṃ ; etāścādyākṣarabījāḥ svanāyikāsamānārūpāścintanīyāḥ.”
Sādhanamālā, p. 421
c16.t13.4
“The worshipper should conceive himself as the goddess Vasudhārā of golden complexion and decked in all sorts of ornaments. She appears a young girl of twice eight years, exhibits the Varada mudrā in the right hand, carries the ears of corn in the left, and bears the image of Akṣobhya (on the crown). In front of the goddess should be conceived Śrīvasundharā, in the right Vasuśrī, in the west Śrīvasumukhī, and in the left Vasumatīśrī. These four goddesses originate from the first syllables of their names, and are identical in form with the principal goddess”.
c16.t13.5
¹ Sādhana No. 210 in the Sādhanamālā, pp. 415, 416.
c16.t13.6
Images of Vasudhārā are found in the Buddhist countries of the North including Tibet ¹.
c16.t13.7
¹ Gordon : ITL, p. 72 ; Getty : GNB, p. 174.
Cites (1)
- Sādhanamālā — Sanskrit