The Indian Buddhist Iconography, Mainly Based on the Sadhanamala and Other Cognate Tantric Texts of Rituals c18.s7: 7. Sitatārā
The Indian Buddhist Iconography, Mainly Based on the Sādhanamālā and Other Cognate Tāntric Texts of Rituals c18.s7
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7. Sitatārā
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Colour—White
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Arms—Four
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Mudrā—Utpala Mudrā
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Sitatārā, as the name implies, is a Tārā of white variety with one face and four arms. She is accompanied by two goddesses Mārīcī and Mahāmāyūrī. It may be remembered that Khadiravaṇī also is accompanied by Mārīcī and Ekajaṭā ; but the difierence is that Khadiravaṇī is two-armed whereas Sitatārā is four-armed. The Dhyāna contained in the only Sādhana for her worship in the Sādhanamālā describes her form in the following terms :
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“Tārābhagavatīṁ śuklāṁ trinetrāṁ caturbhujāṁ Pañca-Tathāgatamukuṭīṁ nānālaṅkārāṁ, bhujadvayena utpalamudrāṁ dadhānāṁ, dakṣiṇabhujena cintāmaṇiratnasaṁyuktavaradāṁ, sarvasattvānāṁ āśāṁ paripūrayantīṁ, vāmenotpalamañjarīṁ vibhrāṇāṁ dhyāyāt.
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Tasyā dakṣiṇapārśve Mārīcīṁ pītāṁ candrāsanāṁ nīlāmbarāṁ dvibhujāṁ ; vāmena raktāśokapallavadharāṁ, dakṣiṇena sitacāmaradharāṁ ; raktakañcukābharaṇāṁ.
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Vāmapārśve Mahāmāyūrīṁ priyaṅguśyāmāṁ dvibhujāṁ ; vāmena mayūrapicchadharāṁ, dakṣiṇena cāmaradharāṁ, evaṁ vicintya...” Sādhanamālā, p. 215.
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“The worshipper should visualise himself as the goddess (Sita)-Tārā of white complexion, with three eyes and four arms. She bears the images of the five Dhyāni Buddhas on her crown, is decked in many ornaments, exhibits the Utpala mudrā with the first pair of hands, displays the Varada mudrā along with the Cintāmaṇi jewel in the second right, and carries the Utpala bud in the second left, and fulfils the prayers of all beings.
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To her right is Mārīcī who is yellow in complexion, sits on the moon, is clad in blue garments, is two-armed, and carries the bough with red Aśoka flowers in the left hand and the Cāmara in the right. She wears a red jacket and ornaments.
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To her left is Mahāmāyūrī of green colour, like the Priyaṅgu fruit, who is two-armed and carries the peacock’s feathers in the left hand and the Cāmara in the right. Thus meditating...”.
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Images of Sitatārā are found in Tibet ¹ and China ².
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¹ Getty : GNB p. 122.
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² Clark : TLP, II, pp 189, 216.
Cites (1)
- Sādhanamālā — Sanskrit