The Indian Buddhist Iconography, Mainly Based on the Sadhanamala and Other Cognate Tantric Texts of Rituals c20.s3: III. Eight Uṣṇīṣa Gods
The Indian Buddhist Iconography, Mainly Based on the Sādhanamālā and Other Cognate Tāntric Texts of Rituals c20.s3
- Language
- English
Contents
- c20.s3.t1 1. Vajroṣṇīṣa — 6 parts
- c20.s3.t2 2. Ratnoṣṇīṣa — 6 parts
- c20.s3.t3 3. Padmoṣṇīṣa — 6 parts
- c20.s3.t4 4. Viśvoṣṇīṣa — 6 parts
- c20.s3.t5 5. Tejoṣṇīṣa — 7 parts
- c20.s3.t6 6. Dhvajoṣṇīṣa — 6 parts
- c20.s3.t7 7. Tīkṣṇoṣṇīṣa — 6 parts
- c20.s3.t8 8. Chhatroṣṇīṣa — 5 parts
III. Eight Uṣṇīṣa Gods
c20.s3.1
In Vajrayāna there is a class of gods going under the generic name of Uṣṇīṣas. The word Uṣṇīṣa means ‘the crown’ but the deities have nothing to do with the crown. They are usually placed like the gods of Direction, in the four principal directions and the four intermediate corners. These eight Uṣṇīṣa gods seem to be an extension of the four Dhyāni Buddhas, and they show their characteristic symbols and mudrās. They are nevertheless popular in Tāntric works, and their statues are found in China. Hence it is necessary to make a passing reference to these Uṣṇīṣa gods briefly, for without an account of these this chapter is likely to be incomplete. Below is given a description of these special deities in the same order as they appear in the Durgatipariśodhana Maṇḍala of the Niṣpannayogāvalī. The Uṣṇīṣa deities like all other deities of the Maṇḍala are two-armed and one-faced. They wear rich dress and ornaments, and a bejewelled crown. They sit on human beings.
1. Vajroṣṇīṣa
c20.s3.t1.1
Colour—White Symbol—Bhūsparśa Direction—East
c20.s3.t1.2
The first deity in this Uṣṇīṣa series of gods is Vajroṣṇīṣa and his form is described thus :
c20.s3.t1.3
“Pūrvāre Vajroṣṇīṣaḥ śuklo Bhūsparśamudraḥ”.
c20.s3.t1.4
“On the Eastern spoke there is Vajroṣṇīṣa of white colour. He shows the Bhūsparśa (Earth-touching) mudrā”.
c20.s3.t1.5
A statue of this god is found in the Chinese collection ¹. Fig. 195 illustrates this Chinese statuette.
c20.s3.t1.6
¹ Clark : TLP, II, p. 65
2. Ratnoṣṇīṣa
c20.s3.t2.1
Colour—Blue Symbol—Varada Direction—South
c20.s3.t2.2
The second deity in the Uṣṇīṣa series of gods is Ratnoṣṇīṣa and his form is described as under :
c20.s3.t2.3
“Dakṣiṇāre Ratnoṣṇīṣo nīlo Varadamudrayānvitaḥ”.
c20.s3.t2.4
NSP, p. 66.
c20.s3.t2.5
“On the Southern spoke there is Ratnoṣṇīṣa who is blue in colour and shows the Varada mudrā”.
c20.s3.t2.6
His statuette is not found in the Chinese collection.
3. Padmoṣṇīṣa
c20.s3.t3.1
Colour—Red Symbol—Dhyāna Direction—West
c20.s3.t3.2
The third deity in the series of eight Uṣṇīṣa gods is called Padmoṣṇīṣa and his form is described as under :
c20.s3.t3.3
“Paścimāre Padmoṣṇīṣo rakto Dhyānamudrayānvitaḥ”
c20.s3.t3.4
NSP, p. 66
c20.s3.t3.5
“On the Western spoke there is Padmoṣṇīṣa who is red in colour and shows the Dhyāna mudrā”.
c20.s3.t3.6
He is not represented in the Chinese collection.
4. Viśvoṣṇīṣa
c20.s3.t4.1
Colour—Green Symbol—Abhaya Direction—North
c20.s3.t4.2
The fourth deity in the series of eight Uṣṇīṣa gods is called Viśvoṣṇīṣa and his form is described as under :
c20.s3.t4.3
“Uttarāre Viśvoṣṇīṣo harito Abhayapradaḥ”.
c20.s3.t4.4
NSP, p. 66.
c20.s3.t4.5
“On the Northern spoke there is Viśvoṣṇiṣa who is green in colour and shows the Abhaya mudrā”.
c20.s3.t4.6
He is not represented in the Chinese collection.
5. Tejoṣṇīṣa
c20.s3.t5.1
Colour—Whitish red Symbol—Sun Direction—Agni
c20.s3.t5.2
The fifth deity in the series of the eight Uṣṇiṣa gods is called Tejoṣṇiṣa, and his form is described as under :
c20.s3.t5.3
“Āgneyāre Tejoṣṇiṣaḥ sitaraktamiśravaṛṇaḥ sūryabhṛddakṣiṇapāṇiḥ kaṭisthavāmakaraḥ”.
c20.s3.t5.4
NSP, p. 66
c20.s3.t5.5
“On the spoke in the Agni corner there is Tejoṣṇiṣa of whitish red colour. In his right hand he holds the disc of the sun while the left rests on the hip”.
c20.s3.t5.6
A statuette of his is found in the Chinese collection under the title of Tejorāśyuṣṇiṣa ¹.
c20.s3.t5.7
¹ Clark : TLP, II, p. 158
6. Dhvajoṣṇīṣa
c20.s3.t6.1
Colour—Reddish blue Symbol—Cintāmaṇi Banner Direction—Nairṛta
c20.s3.t6.2
The sixth deity in the series of eight Uṣṇiṣa gods is called Dhvajoṣṇiṣa, and his form is described in the following words :
c20.s3.t6.3
“Nairṛtyāre Dhvajoṣṇiṣo raktamiśrakṛṣṇaḥ Cintāmaṇidhvajadharaḥ karābhyām”
c20.s3.t6.4
NSP, p. 66
c20.s3.t6.5
“On the spoke in the Nairṛta corner there is Dhvajoṣṇiṣa who is reddish blue in colour. He holds in his two hands the Cintāmaṇi banner”
c20.s3.t6.6
He is not represented in the Chinese collection.
7. Tīkṣṇoṣṇīṣa
c20.s3.t7.1
Colour—Sky-green Symbol—Sword and Book Direction - Vāyu
c20.s3.t7.2
The seventh deity in the series of eight Uṣṇiṣa gods is called Tīkṣṇoṣṇiṣa, and his form is described in the following words :
c20.s3.t7.3
“Vāyavyāre Tīkṣṇoṣṇiṣo nabhaḥśyāmo dakṣiṇapāṇinā kṛpāṇaṃ vibharāṇo vāmena pustakam.”
c20.s3.t7.4
NSP, p. 66 “On the spoke in the Vāyu corner there is Tikṣṇoṣṇīṣa of sky-green colour. He holds in the right hand the sword and in the left hand a manuscript.”
c20.s3.t7.5
His statuette is found in the Chinese collection ¹.
c20.s3.t7.6
¹ Clark : TLP, II, p. 131
8. Chhatroṣṇīṣa
c20.s3.t8.1
Colour—White Symbol—Parasol Direction—Īśāna
c20.s3.t8.2
The eighth and the last deity in the series of eight Uṣṇīṣa gods is called Chhatroṣṇīṣa, and his form is described thus :
c20.s3.t8.3
“Īśānāre Chhatroṣṇīṣo śubhro bhujābhyāṃ chhatraṃ vibhrāṇaḥ. NSP, p. 66
c20.s3.t8.4
“On the spoke in the Īśāna corner there is Chhatroṣṇīṣa who is of white colour, and holds in his two hands the Chhatra (parasol).
c20.s3.t8.5
He is not represented in the Chinese collection.
Cites (1)
- Niṣpannayogāvalī — Abhayākaragupta, Sanskrit