Elements of Buddhist Iconography c7.40

c7.40

By far the most interesting of these representations is the upper central symbol of the "Wisdom of All the Tathāgatas," corresponding to the manifested form of Prajñāpāramitā in the centre of the lower panel. Prajñāpāramitā, corresponding to Vedic Aditi and Gnostic Sophia, is also Tabhāgata-garbha, "Womb of all the Buddhas," potential and maternal: for a more detailed exposition see Obermiller, E., "The Doctrine of Prajñāpāramitā, etc.", in *Acta Orientalia*, XI. This universal potentiality of the possible intellect is represented by a flaming equilateral triangle (see illustration, p. 31) resting on its base, and supported by a lotus "ground." Of the two *svastikas*, one situated at the "point" (*bindu*) within the triangle is principial, and represents the Unmoved Mover or First Cause of Motion, the second external to the triangle implies the actual motion of the worlds. As corresponding to the rising Sun, this triangle is situated in the East; it corresponds also to Manas in the Trinity Manas, Vāc, Prâṇa. The corresponding Vajra-dhātu symbol of the operative intellect is a triangle in the image of this, but with its point downwards, situated in the West, where the Sun is reflected or "sets" in the Waters, corresponding also to Vāc in the Trinity Manas, Vāc, Prâṇa.