The Indian Buddhist Iconography, Mainly Based on the Sadhanamala and Other Cognate Tantric Texts of Rituals c21.s5: (V) Four Pratīsaṁvits
The Indian Buddhist Iconography, Mainly Based on the Sādhanamālā and Other Cognate Tāntric Texts of Rituals c21.s5
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Contents
- c21.s5.t1 1. Dharma Pratisaṁvit — 24 parts
(V) Four Pratīsaṁvits
c21.s5.1
In Buddhism Four Pratisaṃvits are acknowledged as the branches of logical analysis, and these are named as Dharma (nature), Artha (analysis), Nirukti (etymological analysis) and Pratibhāna (context). These abstract ideas also received the attention of the Vajrayānists and were duly deified with human form, colour, weapon, and symbols. In a deified form these four Pratisaṃvits are found described in the Dharmadhātuvāgīśvara Maṇḍala of the Niṣpannayogāvalī. These are described below with necessary details in the same order in which they appear in the Maṇḍala.
1. Dharma Pratisaṁvit
c21.s5.t1.1
Colour—Whitish Red Arms—Two Symbol—Goad and Noose
c21.s5.t1.2
The first in the series of Pratisaṃvit deities is Dharma Pratisaṃvit whose form is described in the text as follows:
c21.s5.t1.3
“Purvadvāre Dharma-Pratisaṃvit sitaraktā vajrāṅkuśapāśabhṛd-bhujadvayā”.
NSP, p. 57
c21.s5.t1.4
“On the Eastern gate there is Dharma Pratisaṃvit of whitish red colour, holding in her two hands the goad and the noose marked with the thunderbolt”.
c21.s5.t1.5
A statue of this obscure Buddhist deity is found in the Chinese collection ¹.
c21.s5.t1.6
¹ Clark : TLP, II, p. 134.
c21.s5.t1.7
2. ARTHA PRATISAṂVIT Colour—Green Arms—Two Symbol—Noose
c21.s5.t1.8
The second goddess in the series of four Pratisaṃvit deities is Artha Pratisaṃvit whose form is described thus in the text :
c21.s5.t1.9
“Dakṣiṇe Arthapratisaṃvit marakatavarṇā savyetarabhujābhyāṃ ratnapāśabhṛt”. NSP, p. 57
c21.s5.t1.10
“In the South, there is Artha Pratisaṃvit of the colour of an emerald and holding in her two hands the jewel and the noose.
c21.s5.t1.11
A statuette of this obscure deity is found in the Chinese collection ¹.
c21.s5.t1.12
¹ Clark : TLP, II, p 134
c21.s5.t1.13
3. NIRUKTI PRATISAṂVIT Colour—Red Arms—Two Symbol—Chain
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The third in the series of four goddesses of the Pratisaṃvit group is Nirukti Pratisaṃvit whose form is described in the text as follows :
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“Paścime Nirukti-Pratisaṃvit raktā baddhapadmāntaśṛṅkhalabhṛdbhuja-dvayā”. NSP, p. 58
c21.s5.t1.16
“In the West there is Nirkuti Pratisaṃvit of red colour, holding in her two hands the chain from which a lotus is suspended”.
c21.s5.t1.17
A statuette of this obscure deity is found in the Chinese collection of Peiping ². Fig. 224 illustrates this Chinese specimen.
c21.s5.t1.18
² Clark : TLP, II, p. 134
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4. PRATIBHĀNA PRATISAṂVIT Colour—Green Arms—Two Symbol—Bell
c21.s5.t1.20
The fourth and the last goddess in the series of Four Pratisaṃvit deities of the Buddhist pantheon is described in the Dharmadhātuvāgīśvara Maṇḍala in the following words :
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“Uttare Pratibhānapratisaṃvit marakataśyāmā trisūcīvajrāṅkita-ghaṇṭāvyagrakaradvayā”. NSP, p. 58
c21.s5.t1.22
“On the North there is Pratibhāna Pratisaṃvit of the colour of an emerald (green), holding in her two hands a bell marked with a Vajra with three thongs”
c21.s5.t1.23
A statuette of this extremely obscure deity is found in the Chinese collection at Peiping ³. Fig. 225 illustrates this Chinese statuette.
c21.s5.t1.24
³ Clark : TLP, II, p. 135
Cites (1)
- Niṣpannayogāvalī — Abhayākaragupta, Sanskrit