The Indian Buddhist Iconography, Mainly Based on the Sadhanamala and Other Cognate Tantric Texts of Rituals c20.s6: VI. Eight Gaurī Group
The Indian Buddhist Iconography, Mainly Based on the Sādhanamālā and Other Cognate Tāntric Texts of Rituals c20.s6
- Language
- English
Contents
- c20.s6.t1 1. Gaurī — 6 parts
- c20.s6.t2 2. Caurī — 7 parts
- c20.s6.t3 3. Vetālī — 5 parts
- c20.s6.t4 4. Ghasmarī — 5 parts
- c20.s6.t5 5. Pukkasī — 5 parts
- c20.s6.t6 6. Śabarī — 5 parts
- c20.s6.t7 7. Caṇḍālī — 3 parts
- c20.s6.t8 8. Ḍombī — 3 parts
VI. Eight Gaurī Group
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The eight deities of the Gaurī group of goddesses are extremely popular in Vajrayāna and are found described in several places both in the Sādhanamālā as well as in the Niṣpannayogāvalī. These goddesses are represented also in the Chinese collection of statuettes in the city of Peiping. Although it is not necessary to describe their different forms extensively, it is however desirable that at least one form should be recorded here to stimulate interest in their iconography and identification. Below is therefore given the description of the eight deities of the Gaurī group in the same order as it appears in the Pañcaḍāka Maṇḍala of the Niṣpannayogāvalī. All the deities are violent in character with fearful appearance and ornaments, and garlands of heads. They dance in Pratyālīḍha and show the raised index finger with clasped fist against the chest, as the common gesture.
1. Gaurī
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Colour—White Arms—Two Symbol—Goad
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The first in the series is Gaurī. Her form is described in the Pañcaḍāka Maṇḍala where the Gaurī group of deities surround the principal god Vajraḍāka. Gaurī’s description is as under :
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“Gaurī sitā savyenāṅkuśadhāriṇī” NSP, p. 75
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“Gaurī is white and holds in her right hand the goad”.
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In the left hand she shows the Tarjanī against the chest which is the common gesture. Three statuettes of this goddess are found in the Chinese collection at Peiping ¹.
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¹ Clark : TLP, II, pp. 72, 92, 105
2. Caurī
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Colour—Yellow Arms—Two Symbol—Noose
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The second goddess in the Gaurī group is Caurī whose form is described in the Pañcaḍāka Maṇḍala as follows :
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“Caurī pītā pāśadharā” NSP, p. 75
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“Caurī is yellow in colour and holds in her right hand the noose”.
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She shows the raised index finger in the left like all other deities of this group.
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Only one statuette of this goddess is found in China ².
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² Clark : TLP, II, p. 92.
3. Vetālī
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Colour—Red Arms—Two Symbol—Chain
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The third goddess of the Gaurī group is Vetālī whose form is described in the Pañcaḍāka Maṇḍala in the following words :
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“Vetālī raktā bhujābhyāṃ sphoṭabhṛt.” NSP, p. 75 “Vetālī is red in colour and holds in her two hands the chain.”
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A statuette of this goddess under the name of Vajravetālī is found in the Chinese collection at Peiping ¹. Fig. 202 illustrates this Chinese statuette.
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¹ Clark : TLP, II, p. 62.
4. Ghasmarī
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Colour—Green Arms—Two Symbol—Bell
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The fourth goddess of the Gaurī group is Ghasmarī whose form is described in the Pañcaḍāka Maṇḍala as follows : “Ghasmarī haritā vajraghaṇṭādharā” NSP, p. 75 “Ghasmarī is green in colour and holds in her right hand the bell marked with a Vajra.”
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The left shows the common gesture of Tarjanī.
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Two statuettes of this obscure goddess are found in the Chinese collection ². One of the two statuettes is illustrated in Fig. 203.
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² Clark : TLP, II, pp 96, 100.
5. Pukkasī
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Colour—Blue Arms—Two Symbol—Bowl
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The fifth in the series of the Gaurī group of goddesses is Pukkasī whose form is described in the Pañcaḍāka Maṇḍala in the following words : “Pukkasī nīlā Bodhicittaghaṭahastā.” NSP, p. 75 “Pukkasī is blue in colour and holds in the right hand the bowl of Bodhi mind.”
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The left shows the Tarjanī against the chest as a common gesture.
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Two statuettes of this obscure goddess occur in the Chinese collection ³. One of the two statuettes is illustrated in Fig. 204.
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³ Cark : TLP, II, pp. 91, 100.
6. Śabarī
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Colour—White Arms—Two Symbol—Meru
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The sixth goddess in the series of eight deities of the Gaurī group is described in the Pañcaḍāka Maṇḍala in the following words : “Śabarī sitā Merudharā” NSP, p. 75 “Śabarī is white in colour and holds in her right hand the Meru mountain.”
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The left exhibits the common gesture, the Tarjanī.
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Two statuettes of this goddess are found in the Chinese collection ⁴.
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⁴ Clark : TLP, II, pp. 92, 100.
7. Caṇḍālī
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Arms—Two Symbol—Fire-pot
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The seventh deity among the eight goddesses of the Gaurī group is known as Caṇḍālī and her form is described in the Pañcaḍāka Maṇḍala as follows : “Caṇḍālī nīlā vahnikuṇḍabhṛt”. NSP, p. 75 “Caṇḍālī is blue in colour, and holds a fire-pot in her right hand”. The left shows the common gesture of Tarjanī. Two statuettes of this goddess are to be found in the Chinese collection ¹.
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¹ Clark : TLP, II, pp. 96, 110.
8. Ḍombī
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Colour—Mixed Arms—Two Symbol—Banner
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The eighth and the last goddess in the group of deities headed by Gaurī is described thus in the Pañcaḍāka Maṇḍala as an associate of Vajraḍāka : “Ḍombī viśvavarṇā mahādhvajapatākāṃ dhatte”. NSP, p. 75 “Ḍombī is of mixed colour and carries in her right hand the high flag and banner”. The left hand displays the common gesture of the Tarjanī against the chest. She is represented only once in the Chinese collection as Ḍombinī ². Fig. 205 illustrates this Chinese statuette.
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² Clark : TLP, II, p. 96.
Cites (2)
- Sādhanamālā — Sanskrit
- Niṣpannayogāvalī — Abhayākaragupta, Sanskrit