The Indian Buddhist Iconography, Mainly Based on the Sadhanamala and Other Cognate Tantric Texts of Rituals c19.1

c19.1

Ratnasambhava is comparatively unimportant in the pantheon of the Northern Buddhists, as is evident from the small number of deities that emanate from him. It has already been pointed out that Jambhala and Vasudhārā were known long before the Dhyāni Buddhas were ushered into existence and it appears, therefore, that Jambhala has been assigned to Ratnasambhava at a late period. Jambhala is connected with wealth and is said to distribute gems, jewels and riches to his devotees. Again Ratnasambhava means ‘Jewel-born’ and whom might Jambhala, the god of wealth, call his sire if not the Dhyāni Buddha born of jewels? If one or two forms of Jambhala emanate from Ratnasambhava, it may be reasonably expected that at least one or two forms of his consort, Vasudhārā, should also issue from the same source. Inspite of all this, the Buddhists were divided in their opinion as to the sire of Jambhala, the followers of the Akṣobhya cult holding him as originating from Akṣobhya.