The Indian Buddhist Iconography, Mainly Based on the Sadhanamala and Other Cognate Tantric Texts of Rituals c25.73
The Indian Buddhist Iconography, Mainly Based on the Sādhanamālā and Other Cognate Tāntric Texts of Rituals c25.73
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c25.73
Śakti, or Prajñā, Vidyā, Svābhā Prajñā or Svābha-Vidyā, the female counterpart of a Bodhisattva. All goddesses are regarded as female counterparts of one or another of the Bodhisattvas. The Śaktis are either represented singly or in yab-yum, i. e. in the actual embrace of the god to whom she is affiliated as a Śakti. This female counterpart is called ‘Svābhā’ (own light, being the principal god’s own creation). She sometimes carries the same weapons as are carried by the principal god.