The Indian Buddhist Iconography, Mainly Based on the Sadhanamala and Other Cognate Tantric Texts of Rituals c21.s2: (II) Twelve Vaśitā Goddesses

The Indian Buddhist Iconography, Mainly Based on the Sādhanamālā and Other Cognate Tāntric Texts of Rituals c21.s2

Language: English

c21.s2.t1 1. Āyurvaśitā — 6 parts
c21.s2.t2 2. Cittavaśitā — 6 parts
c21.s2.t3 3. Pariṣkāravaśitā — 5 parts
c21.s2.t4 4. Karmavaśitā — 6 parts
c21.s2.t5 5. Upapattivaśitā — 6 parts
c21.s2.t6 6. Ṛddhivaśitā — 5 parts
c21.s2.t7 7. Adhimuktivaśitā — 5 parts
c21.s2.t8 8. Praṇidhānavaśitā — 6 parts
c21.s2.t9 9. Jñānavaśitā — 6 parts
c21.s2.t10 10. Dharmavaśitā — 6 parts
c21.s2.t11 11. Tathatāvaśitā — 6 parts
c21.s2.t12 12. Buddhabodhiprabhā-Vaśitā — 4 parts

(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

Cites (1)

Niṣpannayogāvalī — Abhayākaragupta, Sanskrit