The Indian Buddhist Iconography, Mainly Based on the Sadhanamala and Other Cognate Tantric Texts of Rituals c21: Chapter XII

The Indian Buddhist Iconography, Mainly Based on the Sādhanamālā and Other Cognate Tāntric Texts of Rituals c21

Language: English

c21.s1 (I) Twelve Pāramitās — 13 parts
c21.s2 (II) Twelve Vaśitā Goddesses — 13 parts
c21.s3 (III) Twelve Bhūmis — 26 parts
c21.s4 (IV) Twelve Dhāriṇīs — 17 parts
c21.s5 (V) Four Pratīsaṁvits — 2 parts

Chapter XII

c21.1

In the Niṣpannayogāvalī of Abhyākara Gupta mention is made of a number of deities who are designated here, for the sake of convenience, as philosophical deities. In Buddhism, the Twelve Pāramitās are considered to be the perfections of cardinal virtues which entitle one to Buddhahood. They are deified in human form with colour, and weapons. Similar is the case with the others, such as the Twelve Vaśitās or spritual disciplines, the Twelve Bhūmis or the successive spiritual spheres, the Twelve Dhāriṇīs or sacred chain of words, the Four Pratisamvits or the four branches of logical analysis. All these belong to the realm of philosophy and abstract ideas and, therefore, they are brought together here under a separate chapter as a matter of logical necessity.

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These deities are rarely represented. Except probably Prajñāpāramitā and some of the Dhāriṇī goddesses, others are not even known in art or sculpture. But their statuettes are found in the Chinese collection at Peiping, and it is therefore necessary to indicate their forms from original Sanskrit texts so that the statuettes on the one hand and the Sanskrit texts on the other may mutually enlighten each other.

(I) Twelve Pāramitās

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In Buddhism, importance is given to the Pāramitās or perfections. These are certain cardinal human virtues carried to perfection in one birth. It is said that Lord Buddha in each of his previous births practised one or another of the virtues and carried it to perfection, and because of that he obtained enlightenment in his last birth. These Pāramitās are usually ten in number, but the Vajrayānists raised the number to twelve. In Vajrayāna the craze for deificatian led to the conception of the Twelve Pāramitā goddesses in human form, for the purpose of worship. One of the Pāramitā deities, Prajñāpāramitā is the most important and popular in Buddhist countries. Prajñāpāramitā or transacendental intuition was taught in the Prajñāpāramitā scripture which is supposed to have been rescued from the Nether regions by Nāgārjuna. In the Dharmadhātuvāgīśvara Maṇḍala of the Niṣpannayogāvalī an account of the iconography of the Twelve Pāramitā deities is given, and it is stated briefly here in the same order as found in the Maṇḍala. Such a description of all the Pāramitā goddesses cannot be met with in any other published literature on Buddhism. The twelve deities collectively have their spiritual father in Ratnasambhava. They are widely represented in the Chinese collection at Peiping which seems to have been profoundly influenced by India in general, and the Niṣpannayogāvalī in particular. These Pāramitā deities are described in detail in the following sections.

1. Ratnapāramitā

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Colour—Red Arms—Two Symbols—Moon on Lotus

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Ratnapāramitā heads the list of the Pāramitā deities and is described as : “Ratnapāramitā raktā padmasthacandramaṇḍaladharā” NSP, p. 56 “Ratnapāramitā is red in colour and holds the disc of the moon on a lotus in her hand.”

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According to a statement in the Maṇḍala all the deities are two-armed, and they hold in the right hand the flag marked with the Cintāmaṇi jewel, and in the left their special symbols. Prajñāpāramitā is an exception since she has two more hands. The passage is : “Dvādaśapāramitā dvibhujāḥ savyena Cintāmaṇidhvajaṃ vāmena svasvacihnadharāḥ Prajñāpāramitā tvadhikakaradvayā.” NSP, p. 56 “The Twelve Pāramitās are two-armed and hold in the right hand the flag marked with the Cintāmaṇi jewel, and in the left their own symbols. But Prajñāpāramitā has two more hands.”

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Ratnapāramitā thus holds in the right hand the Cintāmaṇi flag and in the left the moon’s disc on a lotus. She is not represented in the Chinese collection.

2. Dānapāramitā

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Colour—Whitish Red Arms—Two Symbol—Ears of Corn

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Dānapāramitā is second in the series of Twelve Pāramitā goddesses and has been described as : “Dānapāramitā sitaraktavarṇā nānādhānyamañjarīhastā.”

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“Dānapāramitā is whitish red in colour and holds in her left hand various kinds of ears of corn.”

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In the right she displays the Cintāmaṇi banner. Her statue is found in China ¹.

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¹ Clark : TLP, II, p. 120

3. Śīlapāramitā

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Colour—White Arms—Two Symbol—Flowery Discus

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Śīlapāramitā is the third in the series of Pāramitā goddesses and her form has been described thus :

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“Śīlapāramitā śvetā sapallavagaurakusumacakradharā”.

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NSP, p. 56

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“Śīlapāramitā is white in colour and holds in her left hand the discus made of white flowers and leaves ”

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The right hand holds the Cintāmaṇi banner as usual. A statuette of this deity occurs in China ².

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² Clark : TLP, II, p. 120

4. Kṣāntipāramitā

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Colour—Yellow Arms—Two Symbol—White Lotus

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Kṣāntipāramitā is the fourth in the series of Pāramitā goddesses and her form has been described thus :

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“Kṣāntipāramitā pītā sitabjadharā ”

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“Kṣāntipāramitā is of yellow colour and holds in her left hand the white lotus.”

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Her right hand as usual holds the Cintāmaṇi banner. A statue of this deity is to be found in China ³.

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³ Clark : TLP, II, p. 120

5. Vīryapāramitā

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Colour—Green Arms—Two Symbol—Blue Lotus

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Vīryapāramitā is the fifth Pāramitā goddess and her form has been described thus :

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“Vīryapāramitā marakatavarṇā nīlotpaladharā”. NSP, p. 56

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“Vīryapāramitā is of the colour of emerald and holds in her left hand the blue lotus.”

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She holds the Cintāmaṇi banner as usual. A statue of this deity is found in China ¹.

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¹ Clark : TLP, II, p. 127.

6. Dhyānapāramitā

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Colour—Sky Colour Arms—Two Symbol—White Lotus

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The sixth Pāramitā goddess in the series is Dhyānapāramitā whose form is described as under :

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“Dhyānapāramitā gaganaśyāmā sitābjahastā.” NSP, p. 56 “Dhyānapāramitā is of sky colour and holds in her left hand the white lotus ”

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The right hand as usual carries the Cintāmaṇi banner. A statuette of this goddess is found in China ². Fig. 219 illustrates this Chinese specimen.

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² Clark : TLP, II, p. 127

7. Prajñāpāramitā

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Colour—Yellow Arms—Four Symbol—Manuscript on Lotus

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The seventh goddess in the series is the famous deity Prajñāpāramitā. As the embodiment of the Prajñāpāramitā literature, she has been dealt with in detail in a previous chapter. Here she will be described as an embodiment of transcendental intuition and as part of a collection of deities in a group. In the Niṣpannayogāvalī her form has been described as :

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“Prajñāpāramitā kamanīyakanakakāntiḥ padmastha-Prajñāpāramitā-pustakadharā karadvayena dhṛta-Dharmacakramudrā”. NSP, p. 65.

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“Prajñāpāramitā is of delightful yellow colour. In her left hand she holds the Prajñāpāramitā book on lotus. The two principal hands display the Dharmacakra mudrā”.

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The right hand as usual holds the Chintāmaṇi banner.

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This goddess has been treated in a previous chapter, and her statues are found in several places. She is represented also in the Chinese collection at Peiping ³.

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³ Clark : TLP, II, pp. 208, 290.

8. Upāyapāramitā

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Colour—Green Arms—Two Symbol—Vajra on Lotus

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The eighth goddess in the series is Upāyapāramitā who has been described in the Niṣpannayogāvalī thus :

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“Upāyapāramitā priyaṅguśyāmā pītapadmasthavajrabhṛt.”

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NSP, p. 16

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“Upāyapāramitā is green like the Priyaṅgu flower and holds in her left hand the Vajra on a yellow lotus”.

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The right hand carries the Cintāmaṇi banner as usual. Her statue is found in China ¹.

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¹ Clark : TLP, II, p. 117. She is known here by the name of Upāyakauśalya Pāramitā.

9. Praṇidhānapāramitā

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Colour—Blue Arms—Two Symbol—Sword an Lotus.

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Praṇidhānapāramitā is the ninth in the series of the Pāramitā group of goddesses, and her form has been described as under :

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“Praṇidhānapāramitā nīlotpalavarṇā nīlotpalasthakhaḍgadharā”.

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NSP, p. 56

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“Praṇidhānapāramitā is of the colour of the blue lotus, and she holds in her left hand the sword on a blue lotus”.

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The right hand as usual displays the Cintāmaṇi banner. Her statuette is found in China ². Fig. 220 illustrates this Chinese statuette.

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² Clark : TLP, II, p. 117.

10. Balapāramitā

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Colour—Red Arms—Two Symbol—Manuscript

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Balapāramitā is the tenth goddess of the Pāramitā group and her form has been described thus :

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“Balapāramitā raktā Prajñāpāramitāpustakadharā”. NSP, p. 56

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“Balapāramitā is red in colour and holds the book Prajñāpāramitā in her left hand”.

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The right hand as usual holds the Cintāmaṇi banner. Her statue is found in China ³.

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³ Clark : TLP, II, pp. 196, 311.

11. Jñānapāramitā

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Arms—Two Symbol—Bodhi Tree

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"Jñānapāramitā is the eleventh in the series of the Pāramitā goddesses, and her form has been described as :

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"Jñānapāramitā śubhrā nānāratnaphalālaṅkṛta-Bodhivṛkṣadharā." NSP, p. 56

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"Jñānapāramitā is white in colour and holds in her left hand the Bodhi tree which is adorned with various kinds of jewels and fruits";

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The right hand displays the Cintāmaṇi banner as usual. A statue of this goddess is found in China ¹.

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¹ Clark : TLP, II, p. 121

12. Vajrakarmapāramitā

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Colour—Variegated Arms—Two Symbol—Viśvavajra on Lotus

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Vajrakarmapāramitā is the twelfth and the last of the group of Pāramitā goddesses and her form has been described thus in the Dharmadhātuvāgīśvara Maṇḍala :

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"Vajrakarmapāramitā viśvavarṇā nīlotpalastha-viśvavajradharā". NSP, p. 56

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"Vajrakarmapāramitā is of variegated colour and holds in her left hand the Viśvavajra (double thunderbolt) on a blue lotus".

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The right hand as usual holds the Cintāmaṇi banner.

(II) Twelve Vaśitā Goddesses

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The Vaśitās according to Buddhism, are the controls or disciplines which lead to the spiritual regeneration of its followers. The Vajrayānists recognized twelve Vaśitās, each with a special name and conceived them in the form of deities with heads, arms, weapons and special symbols. These Vaśitās are collectively taken to be the spiritual daughters of the Dhyāni Buddha Amitābha. Below is given a description of the twelve Vaśitā goddesses in the same order in which they appear in the Dharmadhātuvāgīśvara Maṇḍala of the Niṣpannayogāvalī. The description of the Vaśitā goddesses is not found in the existing original literature and thus it is of unusual interest. Their iconographic interest becomes all the more attractive since in China there are statuettes in metal which correctly represent the Vaśitā goddesses. Statues of these are not found anywhere in India, but their statuettes in the Chinese collection of Buddhist deities at Peiping are illustrated in the *Two Lamaistic Pantheons* of W. E. Clark.

1. Āyurvaśitā

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Colour—Whitish Red Arms—Two Symbol—Image of Buddha

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The twelve Vaśitā goddesses are described collectively as two-armed, holding in their right hands the lotus and in the left proudly bearing their special symbols. (cf. Dvādaśa-vaśitā dvibhujā dakṣiṇenāmbhoja-bhṛto vāmena sagarvaṁ svasvacihnadharāḥ, op. cit p. 56). Āyurvaśitā is the first goddess of the series and her form has been described thus:

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“Āyurvaśitā sitaraktavarṇā padmarāgamaṇisthasamādhimudra-Amitāyur-Buddhabimbadharā.” NSP, p. 56

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“Āyurvaśitā is whitish red in colour and holds in her left hand the image of the Buddha Amitāyus in the Samādhi mudrā on the Padmarāgā jewel .

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The right hand displays the lotus as in all other Vaśitā deities. Her statue is found in China ¹.

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¹ Clark : TLP, II, p. 136

2. Cittavaśitā

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Colour—White Arms—Two Symbol—Vajra

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The second goddess in the series is Cittavaśitā, who has been described as:

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“Cittavaśitā sitā raktapañcasūcikavajradharā” NSP, p. 56

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“Cittavaśitā is white in colour and holds in her left hand the red Vajra with five thongs.

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The right hand as usual holds the lotus. Her image is found in China ².

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² Clark : TLP, II, p. 136

3. Pariṣkāravaśitā

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Colour—Yellow Arms—Two Symbol—Cintāmaṇi Banner

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The third in the series of Vaśitā goddesses is Pariṣkāravaśitā who is described in the Dharmadhātuvāgīśvara Maṇḍala in the following words:

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“Pariṣkāravaśitā pītā Cintāmaṇidhvajadharā”. NSP, p. 56 “Pariṣkāravaśitā is yellow in colour and holds in her left hand the Cintāmaṇi banner”.

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The right hand displays the lotus as usual. Her statuette is found in China ¹.

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¹ Clark : TLP, II, p. 136

4. Karmavaśitā

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Colour—Green Arms—two Symbol—Viśvavajra

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The fourth in the series of Vaśitā goddesses is Karmavaśitā who is described in the Dharmadhātuvāgīśvara Maṇḍala as under :

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“Karmavaśitā haritā viśvavajradharā” NSP, p. 56

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“Karmavaśitā is green in colour, and holds in her left hand the Viśvavajra (double crossed thunderbolt).

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The right hand displays the lotus as usual. Her statuette is found in China ².

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² Clark : TLP, II, p. 137

5. Upapattivaśitā

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Colour—Mixed Arms—Two Symbol—Creepers

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The fifth goddess in the Vaśitā series is Upapattivaśitā who is described in the text as follows :

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“Upapattivaśitā viśvavarṇā vividhavarṇajātilatāhastā.” NSP, p. 56

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“Upapattivaśitā is of variegated colour and holds in her left hand various kinds of creepers of variegated colour.”

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The right hand displays the lotus as usual. Her statue is found in China ³. Fig. 221 illustrates this Chinese specimen.

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³ Clark : TLP, II, p. 133

6. Ṛddhivaśitā

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Colour—Green Arms—Two Symbol—Sun and Moon on Lotus

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The sixth goddess in the Vaśitā series is Ṛddhivaśitā whose form is described as follows :

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“Ṛddhivaśitā nabhaḥśyāmā padmastha-sūryacandra-maṇḍaladharā.” NSP, p. 57 “Ṛddhivaśitā is green as the sky and holds in her left hand the discs of the sun and the moon on a lotus.

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The right hand displays the lotus as usual. Her statue is found in China ¹. Fig. 222 illustrates this Chinese specimen.

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¹ Clark : TLP, II, p. 133

7. Adhimuktivaśitā

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Colour—White Arms—Two Symbol—Priyaṅgu flower

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The seventh goddess in the same series is Adhimuktivaśitā and her form is described in the text as follows :

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“Adhimuktivaśitā mṛṇālagaurā priyaṅgukusumamañjarīdharā.”
NSP, p. 57

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“Adhimuktivaśitā is white like the stalk of a lotus, and holds in her left hand the buds of the flowers of Priyaṅgu.”

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The right hand displays the lotus as usual. She is not represented in the Chinese collection.

8. Praṇidhānavaśitā

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Colour—Yellow Arms—Two Symbol—Blue Lotus

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The eighth goddess in the series is Praṇidhānavaśitā whose form is described in the following words :

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Praṇidhānavaśitā pītā nīlotpala-hastā.”
NSP, p. 57

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“Praṇidhānavaśitā is yellow in colour and holds in her left hand the blue lotus.”

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The right hand displays the lotus as usual. Her statue is found in China ²

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² Clark : TLP, II, p. 134

9. Jñānavaśitā

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Colour—Whitish Blue Arms—Two Symbol—Sword on Lotus

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Jñānavaśitā is the ninth in the series of Vaśitā goddesses and her form is described in the text of Niṣpannayogāvalī as follows :

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“Jñānavaśitā sitā nīlotpalasthakhaḍgadharā.”
NSP, p. 57

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“Jñānavaśitā is whitish blue in colour and holds in her left hand the sword on a blue lotus.”

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The right displays the lotus as usual. Her statue is found in China ³.

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³ Clark : TLP, II, p. 137

10. Dharmavaśitā

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Arms—Two Symbol—Bowl on Lotus

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The tenth goddess in the Vaśitā series of goddesses is Dharmavaśitā whose form is described in the text as under :

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“Dharmavaśitā sitā raktavarṇapadmasthabhadraghaṭahastā.” NSP, p. 57

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“Dharmavaśitā is white in colour and holds in her left hand the Bhadraghaṭa (auspicious bowl) on a lotus of red colour.”

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The right hand displays the lotus-as usual. A statue of this goddess is found in China ¹.

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¹ Clark : TLP, II, p. 137

11. Tathatāvaśitā

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Colour—White Arms—Two Symbol—Bunch of Jewels

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The eleventh deity in the group of Vaśitā goddesses is Tathatā whose form is described in the following terms :

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“Tathatā śvetā śvetaśubhrāmbhojabhṛddakṣiṇapāṇir-vāmena ratnamañjarīdharā”. NSP, p 57

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“Tathatā is white in colour. She holds in her right hand the white lotus and in the left the bunch of jewels.”

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Her statue is found in China ².

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² Clark : TLP, II, p. 107

12. Buddhabodhiprabhā-Vaśitā

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Colour—Yellow Arms—Two Symbol—Discus on Banner.

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The twelfth and the last goddess in the series of Vaśitā goddesses is Buddhabodhiprabhā, and her form is described in the Dharmadhātu-vāgīśvara Maṇḍala with the following words :

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“Buddhabodhiprabhā kanakābhā savyenapītapadmasthapañcasūcikavajradharā vāmena Cintāmaṇidhvajopari cakradharā”. NSP, p. 57

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“Buddhabodhiprabhā is of yellow colour. She holds in her right hand a Vajra with five thongs on a yellow lotus, and in the left the discus on the Cintāmaṇi banner”.

(III) Twelve Bhūmis

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In Buddhism the Bhūmis are recognized as different spiritual spheres through which a Bodhisattva moves in his quest for Buddhahood and omniscience. They are recognized as ten in number to which the Vajrayāna added two to make it twelve. As the Bodhisattva progresses in spiritual path, he develops certain special qualities which entitle him to move towards the higher Bhūmis. They are arranged one upon another in a regular order with the last at the top which when reached, makes the Bodhisattva equal to a Buddha and he attains omniscience.

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These Bhūmis or spiritual spheres also received the attention of Vajrayāna, and in no time they were deified, and were given different forms. Statues were prepared and many of them were found represented in China.

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These twelve Bhūmis are now described in the same order as given in the Dharmadhātuvāgīśvara Maṇḍala of the Niṣpannayogāvalī, They are two-armed and hold in the right hand the Vajra and in the left their own weapons or signs. (Dvādaśabhūmayo dvibhujā dakṣiṇe vajradhāriṇyo vāmena svasvacihnadharāḥ, p. 55).

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1. ADHIMUKTICARYĀ Colour—Red Arms—Two Symbol—Red Lotus

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The first of the twelve heavens is the Adhimukticaryā Bhūmi and is described in the following words in the Niṣpannayogāvalī:

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“Adhimukticaryābhūmiḥ padmaraktā raktapadmadharā”. NSP, p. 55

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“Adhimukticaryā Bhūmi is of the colour of a red lotus, and holds in her left hand the red lotus”.

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The right hand as usual holds the Vajra which is the common sign of all Bhūmi goddesses.

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She is not represented in the Chinese collection at Peiping.

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2. PRAMUDITĀ Colour—Red Arms—Two Symbol—Jewel

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The second goddess in the series of Bhūmi deities is Pramuditā. Her form is described in the following words:

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“Pramuditā raktā Cintāmaṇibhṛt”.

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“Pramuditā is red in colour and holds in her left hand the Cintā-maṇi jewel”.

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The right hand displays the Vajra which is the common sign.

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Her statue is found in the Chinese collection ¹.

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¹ Clark : TLP, II, p. 123

3. Vimalā

c21.s3.t1.1

Colour—White Arms—Two Symbol—White Lotus

c21.s3.t1.2

The third goddess in the series of Bhūmi deities is known as Vimalā and her form is described as under :

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“Vimalā śuklā śukla-kamaladharā”. NSP, p. 55

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“Vimalā is white in colour and holds in her left hand the white lotus”.

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The right holds the common symbol, the Vajra.

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Her statue is found in the Chinese collection ².

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² Clark : TLP, II, p. 123

4. Prabhākarī

c21.s3.t2.1

Colour—Red Arms—Two Symbol—Sun on Lotus

c21.s3.t2.2

The fourth goddess in the series of Bhūmi deities is Prabhākarī whose form is described in the following words :

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“Prabhākarī raktā viśvapadamasthasūryamaṇḍaladharā” NSP, p. 55

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“Prābhākarī is red in colour and holds in her left hand the disc of the sun on a lotus”.

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The right hand shows the Vajra or the common symbol. This goddess is represented in the Chinese collection of Peiping ³.

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³ Clark : TLP, II, p. 123

5. Arciṣmatī

c21.s3.t3.1

Colour—Green Arms—Two Symbol—Blue Lotus

c21.s3.t3.2

The fifth goddess in the series of Bhūmi deities is called Arciṣmatī and her form is described in the Niṣpannayogāvalī as follows :

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“Arciṣmatī marakatavarṇā nīlotpaladharā”. NSP, p. 55 “Arciṣmatī is of the colour of an emerald and holds in her left hand the blue lotus”.

c21.s3.t3.4

The right holds the common symbol.

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She is not represented in the Chinese collection.

6. Sudurjayā

c21.s3.t4.1

Colour—Yellow Arms—Two Symbol—Emerald

c21.s3.t4.2

The sixth goddess in the series of Bhūmi deities is called Sudurjayā and her form is described as under :

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“Sudurjayā pītā utsaṅgasthottānapāṇinā marakatamaṇidharā”. NSP, p. 55

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“Sudurjayā is yellow in colour and carries an emerald on her open palm on the lap”

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The right holds the common symbol, the Vajra.

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She is not represented in the Chinese collection.

7. Abhimukhī

c21.s3.t5.1

Colour—Yellow Arms—Two Symbol—Manuscript

c21.s3.t5.2

The seventh goddess in the series is called Abhimukhī. She is described as follows :

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“Abhimukhī hemavarṇā padmopari Prajñāpāramitāpustakadharā”. NSP, p. 55

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“Abhimukhī is of the colour of gold and holds on a lotus the Prajñāpāramitā manuscript”.

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The right hand displays the common symbol.

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A statuette of this goddess is found in China ¹.

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¹ Clark : TLP, II, p. 121

8. Dūraṅgamā

c21.s3.t6.1

Colour—Green Arms—Two Symbol—Double Vajra on Double Lotus.

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The eighth in the series of Bhūmi goddesses is known by the name of Dūraṅgamā and is described as follows :

c21.s3.t6.3

“Dūraṅgamā gaganaśyāmā viśvapadmopari viśvavajradharā”. NSP, p. 55 “Dūraṅgamā is green like the sky and holds in her left hand the Viśvavajra (double thunderbolt) on a Viśvapadma (double conventional lotus).

c21.s3.t6.4