The Indian Buddhist Iconography, Mainly Based on the Sadhanamala and Other Cognate Tantric Texts of Rituals c17.s3.2

c17.s3.2

Like Mārīcī, Uṣṇīṣavijayā is also said to bear the image of Vairocana on her crown and to reside within the womb of a Caitya. She is one of the most popular deities of the pantheon, and almost every temple in Nepal contains her image. The most artistic specimen, however, belongs to the Indian Museum, Calcutta. A miniature Caitya on the top of the image of Uṣṇīṣavijayā signifies that she is an offspring of Vairocana who resides in the centre of the Caitya. It is not improbable that Uṣṇīṣavijayā is the deified form of the Dhāriṇī of the same name included in the group of twelve Dhāriṇī goddesses. She may thus represent the deified form of the Uṣṇīṣavijayā Dhāriṇī. Several Sādhanas describe her form and the Dhyāna contained in one of these is given below :