The Indian Buddhist Iconography, Mainly Based on the Sadhanamala and Other Cognate Tantric Texts of Rituals c22.s7: 7. Nine Planets

The Indian Buddhist Iconography, Mainly Based on the Sādhanamālā and Other Cognate Tāntric Texts of Rituals c22.s7

Language: English

7. Nine Planets

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From time immemorial people in India believed in the power of the planets either for evil or for good. That belief is still current. The Hindus, Buddhists and Jainas alike shared in this belief, and in all these three religious systems the planets were deified and they were given a form, weapon and colour. To compare the forms of the different planets in the three religious systems is itself an independent and stupendous study. It is not the purpose here to compare their forms, nor even to study their iconography extensively, but a passing and brief reference to the planets is what can and should be given. As the planets were deified in Buddhism also, their forms are stated below in the same order and in the same manner as they appear in the Maṇḍala of Dharmadhātuvāgīśvara of the Niṣpannayogāvalī.

(I) Āditya

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Colour—Red Arms—Two Symbol—Discs of the Sun Vehicle—Chariot of Seven Horses

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Āditya or the Sun-god heads the list of the Nine Planets, and his form is described in the Niṣpannayogāvalī as follows :

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“Saptaturagarathe Ādityo rakto dakṣiṇahastena vāmena ca padmastha-sūryamaṇḍaladharaḥ”.
NSP, p. 62

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“Āditya rides on a chariot drawn by seven horses. He is red in colour. Both in the right and in the left he holds the discs of the sun on lotuses”.

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In the Chinese collection, one statuette of this planet occurs under the title of Sūrya ¹.

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¹ Clark : TLP, II, p. 178

(II) Candra

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Colour—White Arms—Two Symbol—Discs of the Moon Vehicle—Swan

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The second planet in this series is Candra or the Moon-god who is described thus in the text :

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“Haṃse Candraḥ śubhraḥ savyahastena vāmena ca kumudastha-candramaṇḍalabhṛt”.
NSP, p. 62

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“Candra rides on a Swan, is white in colour and holds in his right and left hands the discs of the Moon on lotuses”.

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As Candradeva this planet is popular in the Chinese collection ².

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² Clark : TLP, II, pp. 89, 182

(III) Maṅgala

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Symbol—Human head Vehicle—Goat

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The third in the series of Nine Planets is Maṅgala or the War-Lord Mars whose form is described in the following words :

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“Chhāgale Maṅgalo raktaḥ savyena kaṭṭāraṃ vāmena Mānuṣamuṇḍam bhakṣaṇābhinayena dadhānaḥ”. NSP, p, 62

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“Maṅgala rides on a Goat. He is red in colour. In the right hand he holds the Kaṭṭāra (cutter) and in the left a severed human head in the act of devouring”.

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He is not found in the Chinese collection.

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(IV) BUDHA Colour—Yellow Arms—Two Symbol—Bow and Arrow

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The fourth god in the series of Nine Planets, is Budha or Mercury and his form is described as under :

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“Padme Budhaḥ pītaḥ śaradhanurdharaḥ” NSP, p. 62

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“On a lotus there is Budha who is yellow in colour and holds in his two hands the arrow and the bow”.

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Budha is represented in the Chinese collection only once ¹.

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¹ Clark : TLP, II, p. 83

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(V) BṚHASPATI Colour—White Arms—Two Symbols—Rosary and Kamaṇḍalu Vehicle—Frog or Skull

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The fifth god in the series of Nine Planets is Bṛhaspati or Jupiter. His form is described in the text as under :

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“Bheke Kapāle vā Bṛhaspatir-gauro’kṣasūtrakamaṇḍaludharaḥ.” NSP, p. 62

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“On a Frog or a skull there is Bṛhaspati of white colour. He carries the rosary and the Kamaṇḍalu in his two hands”.

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Bṛhaspati is not represented in the Chinese collection of Peiping.

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Fig. 230 Mahāsarasvatī

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Fig. 231 Vajraviṇā Sarasvatī (Peiping)

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Fig. 232 Vajrasāradā

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Fig. 233 Vajraśārada (Nalanda)

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Fig. 234 Arya-Sarasvatī

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Fig. 235 Vajrasarasvatī

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Fig. 236 Indra (Peiping)

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Fig. 237 Agni (Peiping)

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Fig. 238 Vāyu (Peiping)

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Fig. 239 Brahmā (Peiping)

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Fig. 240 Maheśvara (Peiping)

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Fig. 241 Gaṇapati (Peiping)

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Fig. 242 Rāhu (Peiping)

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Fig. 243 Ketu (Peiping)

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Fig. 244 Navamī Tithi (Peiping)

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Fig. 245 Daśamī Tithi (Peiping)

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Fig. 246 Tulā (Peiping)

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Fig. 247 Kumbha (Peiping)

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Fig. 248 Mīna (Peiping)

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Fig. 249 Khadiravaṇī Tārā (Dacca Museum)

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[Figure: Fig. 218 Lāmā (Nepalese Painting)]

(VI) Śukra

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Colour—White Arms—Two Symbol—Rosary and Kamaṇḍalu

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The sixth in the series of Nine Planets is Śukra or Venus whose form is described in the text as under :

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“Śukraḥ śuklaḥ kamalastho’kṣasūtra-kamaṇḍalubhṛt.” NSP, p. 62

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“Śukra is white in colour. He sits on a lotus and holds in his two hands the rosary and the Kamaṇḍalu.”

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Śukra is not represented in the Chinese collection.

(VII) Śani

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Colour—Blue Arms—Two Symbol—Rod Vehicle—Tortoise

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The seventh deity in the series of Nine Planets, is Śani, Śanaiścara or Saturn. His form is described in the following words :

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“Kacchape Śanaiścaraḥ kṛṣṇo daṇḍadharaḥ.” NSP, p. 63

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Śanaiścara rides on a tortoise and is blue in colour. He holds the rod”.

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Saturn is not represented in the Chinese collection. The selection of the slowest animal tortoise for the slowest of the planets, Saturn, is very significant.

Cites (1)

Niṣpannayogāvalī — Abhayākaragupta, Sanskrit