The Indian Buddhist Iconography, Mainly Based on the Sadhanamala and Other Cognate Tantric Texts of Rituals c22.s8: 8. Balabhadra Group
The Indian Buddhist Iconography, Mainly Based on the Sādhanamālā and Other Cognate Tāntric Texts of Rituals c22.s8
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8. Balabhadra Group
c22.s8.1
A set of four Hindu deities under the Balabhadra group is described fully in the Dharmadhātuvāgīśvara Maṇḍala of the Niṣpannayogāvalī. They include Balabhadra, Jayakara, Madhukara, and Vasanta, and in Hinduism, all these are the companions of the god Kāmadeva, the deity of Desire.
c22.s8.2
(I) BALABHADRA Colour—White Arms—Four Symbol—Plough Vehicle—Elephant
c22.s8.3
The first deity in this group is called Balabhadra who may be identified with Balarāma the brother of Kṛṣṇa. These two pastoral deities of Hinduism broadly represented Agriculture and Dairying. Balabhadra is described as under :
c22.s8.4
“Kuñjare Balabhadraḥ sitaḥ khaḍga-lāṅaladharaḥ.” NSP, p. 63
c22.s8.5
“Balabhadra rides an elephant and is white in colour. He holds the sword and the plough.”
c22.s8.6
He is not to be found in China.
c22.s8.7
(II) JAYAKARA Colour—(White) Arms—Four Symbol—Garland Vehicle—Cuckoo Chariot
c22.s8.8
The second deity of this group is called Jayakara whose form is described as under :
c22.s8.9
“Kokilarathe Jayakaraś-caturbhujaḥ (sitaḥ) savyābhyāṁ puṣpamā-lāṁ bāṇam ca vāmābhyāṁ caṣaka-dhanuṣī dadhānaḥ.” NSP, p. 63 “Jayakara rides a chariot drawn by cuckoos ; he is (white in colour) and is four-armed. With the two right hands he carries the garland of flowers and the arrow and with the two left Caṣaka (wine-glass) and the bow”.
c22.s8.10
He is not represented in the Chinese collection.
c22.s8.11
(III) MADHUKARA Colour—White Arms—Four Symbol—Makara Banner Vehicle—Śuka Chariot
c22.s8.12
The third deity in this series of Hindu gods is Madhukara whose form is described as under :
c22.s8.13
“Śukasyandane Madhukaro gauraś-caturbhujaḥ savyābhyāṁ makaradhvajaśare vāmābhyāṁ caṣakacāpau vibharti”. NSP, p. 63
c22.s8.14
“Madhukara rides a chariot drawn by Śuka birds and is white in colour. He is four-armed, and holds in his two right hands the Makara banner and the arrow. With the two left hands he carries the wine-glass (Caṣaka) and the bow”.
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(IV) VASANTA Colour—White Arms—Four Symbol—Wine-glass Vehicle—Monkey
c22.s8.16
The fourth and the last in this series of four Hindu gods is Vasanta or the Spring-god. His form is described in the following words in the Dharmadhātuvāgīśvara Maṇḍala :
c22.s8.17
“Plavaṅge Vasantaḥ sitaś-caturbhujaḥ savyābhyāṁ bāṇa-kṛpāṇabhṛt-vāmābhyāṁ dhanuś-caṣakadharaḥ”. NSP, p. 63
c22.s8.18
“Vasanta rides on a monkey and is white in colour. He is four-armed and in his two right hands he holds the arrow and the sword. With the two left he carries the bow and the wine-glass”.
c22.s8.19
None of these four deities is represented in the Chinese collection.
Linked texts (1)
- Niṣpannayogāvalī — Abhayākaragupta, Sanskrit