The Indian Buddhist Iconography, Mainly Based on the Sadhanamala and Other Cognate Tantric Texts of Rituals c23.28

c23.28

The gods of the Buddhist pantheon are conceived as carrying the Bodhicitta in their hands, both being of the nature of Śūnya It is with the help of this Bodhicitta that a god is supposed to confer Buddhahood or success in Tāntric rite upon his worshipper. The yab-yum conception of deities is still more sublime. The god Heruka, the embodiment of Śūnya, carrying weapons the embodiments of Bodhicitta also of the nature of Śūnya, is embraced by Nairātmā, whose essence is Śūnya, carrying weapons also of the nature of Śūnya. Thus the Infinite with the Infinite commingles. In Involution, the Many become One. This is the highest state—the Anupādhiśeṣa-Nirvāṇa.