The Indian Buddhist Iconography, Mainly Based on the Sadhanamala and Other Cognate Tantric Texts of Rituals c9.s3.27

c9.s3.27

The relation between the caller and the calling deity is one of identification. It is called Ahaṃkāra or the identity of the Bodhi mind with the deity, the manifestation of Śūnya or the ultimate reality. The identity is established with the Mantra “I am the goddess and the goddess is in me”. The worshipper should conceive himself as the deity with the same complexion, form and limbs as described in the Sādhana and should, instead of worshipping any external object, worship himself. The Bodhi mind and the deity apparently signify duality but their duality disappears with enlightenment. The Bodhi mind is of the nature of Śūnya and the deity is a manifestation of Śūnya and, therefore, both have the same origin. But to realise that the two are the same requires perfect knowledge. Continuous meditation and austerities enable the worshipper to shed the veil of ignorance which makes one thing appear as two. The Bodhi mind is further called Karuṇā (compassion) and the ultimate reality as Śūnyatā, and when the two commingle, it is called Advaya or non-duality. As copper leaves its dirty colour (and become gold) when it comes in contact with the magic tincture (of alchemy), even so, the body leaves off its attachment, hatred, etc. when it comes in contact with the tincture of Advaya. This Advaya is a form of cognition where the Bodhi mind commingles with Śūnya and becomes one with it. To symbolize this principle Vajrayāna brought in the conception of the Yab-yum form of deities in which the deity appears locked in close embrace with his Śakti or the female counterpart. When the deity is single, it means that the female counterpart has merged into the deity even as salt melts in water. The deity is Śūnya and the female principle is the Bodhi mind, or the first is the ultimate reality and the female is Karuṇā (compassion). The Bodhi mind can become ultimate reality through the one principle of Karuṇā. This Karuṇā is symbolized in the form of Avalokiteśvara, the great compassionate Bodhisattva who sacrificed his Nirvāṇa in order to serve his fellowmen.