The Indian Buddhist Iconography, Mainly Based on the Sadhanamala and Other Cognate Tantric Texts of Rituals c19.s1.t8.9

c19.s1.t8.9

In the Sādhana one epithet of the goddess deserves special notice. It is Gaṇapatisamākrāntā “Who tramples upon Gaṇapati”. The word ‘ākrānta’ is derived from the original root ‘kram’ to ‘trample’. On the strength of this epithet of the goddess the Nālandā fragment (Fig. 189) showing only the lower half of the full image is identified with that of Aparājitā. In it, the figure to the right of the principal goddess appears to be Indra and the rod held by him seems to be the handle of the parasol required to be held over her head by the gods beginning with Brahmā. The upper part of the Nālandā image is unfortunately lost. Had it been complete, it would have been possible to find the Capeṭadāna mudrā in the right hand of the goddess and the noose with the raised index finger in the left, and a parasol over her head in continuation of the broken handle.