The Indian Buddhist Iconography, Mainly Based on the Sadhanamala and Other Cognate Tantric Texts of Rituals c22.s3: 3. Gaṇapatihr̥dayā
The Indian Buddhist Iconography, Mainly Based on the Sādhanamālā and Other Cognate Tāntric Texts of Rituals c22.s3
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3. Gaṇapatihr̥dayā
c22.s3.1
Āsana—Dancing
c22.s3.2
Arms—Two
c22.s3.3
Mudrās—Abhaya and Varada
c22.s3.4
Like Gaṇapati himself Gaṇapatihrḍayā who is in all probability his Śakti or female counterpart, cannot be easily assigned to any particular Dhyāni Buddha. Her form is described in the Dharmakoṣasaṅgraha of Amṛtānanda in the following words :
c22.s3.5
“Gaṇapatihrḍayā ekamukhā dvibhujā varadā abhayā nṛtyāsanā”. Dharmakoṣasaṅgraha, Fol. 43
c22.s3.6
“Gaṇapatihrḍayā is one-faced, two-armed, exhibits in her two hands the Varada and Abhaya poses, and shows the dancing attitude ”.
c22.s3.7
Fig. 229 illustrates a miniature in the possession of Dr. W. Y. Evans-Wentz.