The Indian Buddhist Iconography, Mainly Based on the Sadhanamala and Other Cognate Tantric Texts of Rituals c20.s9: IX. Four Door Goddesses
The Indian Buddhist Iconography, Mainly Based on the Sādhanamālā and Other Cognate Tāntric Texts of Rituals c20.s9
- Language
- English
Contents
- c20.s9.t1 1. Tālikā — 6 parts
- c20.s9.t2 2. Kuñcī — 6 parts
- c20.s9.t3 3. Kapāṭā — 6 parts
- c20.s9.t4 4. Paṭadhāriṇī — 6 parts
IX. Four Door Goddesses
c20.s9.1
The door is an important item in household furniture, because of its power of giving protection against thieves and animals and unpleasant intruders. The door planks, the lock, the key, and the curtain, all the four are important articles, and thus these are all deified in Vajrayāna. They are given human form, colour, faces, arms and symbols. They are found described in the Pañcaḍāka Maṇḍala of the Niṣpannayogāvalī. Collectively they are described as nude, dancing in Pratyālīḍha, with fearful appearance, and awe-inspiring ornaments. They are described below in the same order in which they are treated in the Maṇḍala. They hold their special symbols appropriate to their names.
1. Tālikā
c20.s9.t1.1
Colour—White Arms—Two Symbol—Lock
c20.s9.t1.2
The first in the list of door goddesses, is Tālikā. Her form is described as follows :
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“Tālikā sitā tālikāhastā” NSP, p. 77
c20.s9.t1.4
“Tālikā is white in colour and holds in her two hands the Tālikā or the Lock.”
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A statuette of this most obscure but interesting deity is found in the Chinese collection. In this collection her name is somewhat differently stated as Dvāratālakadharā ¹. Fig. 211 illustrates her statuette in China.
c20.s9.t1.6
¹ Clark : TLP, II, p. 108.
2. Kuñcī
c20.s9.t2.1
Colour—Yellow Arms—Two Symbol—Keys
c20.s9.t2.2
The second goddess in this series is called Kuñcī from the keys that she holds. Her form is described as under :
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“Kuñcī pītā kuñcikāhastā”. NSP, p. 77
c20.s9.t2.4
“Kuñcī is yellow in colour and holds the Keys in her two hands.”
c20.s9.t2.5
A statuette of this goddess occurs in the Chinese collection under the title Kuñcikādharā. She is of the same description as above ².
c20.s9.t2.6
² Clark : TLP, II, p. 108.
3. Kapāṭā
c20.s9.t3.1
Symbol—Planks
c20.s9.t3.2
The third deity in the series of the four door goddesses is called Kapāṭā. Her form is described as follows :
c20.s9.t3.3
“Kapāṭā raktā kapāṭadharā”. NSP, p. 77
c20.s9.t3.4
“Kapāṭā is of red colour and holds in her two hands the Door Planks.”
c20.s9.t3.5
A statuette of this goddess is found in the Chinese collection under the title of Dvāradharā. The two are identical ¹. Fig. 212 illustrates her statuette found at Peiping.
c20.s9.t3.6
¹ Clark : TLP, II, p, 108
4. Paṭadhāriṇī
c20.s9.t4.1
Colour—Blue Arms—Two Symbol—Curtain
c20.s9.t4.2
The fourth and the last goddess in the series of four deities of the door is called by the name of Paṭadhāriṇī. Her form is described in the Pañcaḍāka Maṇḍala as under :
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“Paṭadhāriṇī kṛṣṇā karābhyāṃ kāṇḍapaṭaṃ vibhrati.” NSP, p. 77
c20.s9.t4.4
“Paṭadhāriṇī is blue in colour. She holds in her two hands the curtain (Kāṇḍapaṭa).”
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A statuette of this goddess occurs in China under the title of Vitā-nadharā where Vitāna means a curtain. The two are identical ².
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² Clark : TLP, II. p. 108
Cites (1)
- Niṣpannayogāvalī — Abhayākaragupta, Sanskrit