12.2 Iconography of major esoteric deities

Esoteric Buddhist art features a rich pantheon of deities, each with unique symbolism and powers. The Five Dhyani Buddhas represent cosmic qualities, while wrathful and peaceful deities embody different aspects of enlightenment. Tantric deities symbolize the union of wisdom and compassion.

Colors, mudras, and implements in deity iconography convey specific meanings and powers. Postures and seats represent the conquest of negativity and transcendence. The hierarchy of deities, from Dhyani Buddhas to dharmapalas, reflects different levels of spiritual attainment and functions within Buddhist practice.

Esoteric Buddhist Deities

The Five Dhyani Buddhas

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• Vairocana, Akshobhya, Ratnasambhava, Amitabha, and Amoghasiddhi are cosmic Buddhas representing the five qualities of the Buddha
• Each Dhyani Buddha has specific colors, symbols, and cardinal directions associated with them
  • Vairocana (white, wheel, center)
  • Akshobhya (blue, vajra, east)
  • Ratnasambhava (yellow, jewel, south)
  • Amitabha (red, lotus, west)
  • Amoghasiddhi (green, double vajra, north)
• The Five Dhyani Buddhas embody the five wisdoms: the wisdom of dharmadhatu, mirror-like wisdom, wisdom of equality, discriminating wisdom, and all-accomplishing wisdom
• They represent the ultimate nature of reality and the purified aspects of the five aggregates (form, feeling, perception, mental formations, and consciousness)

Wrathful and Peaceful Deities

• Wrathful deities like Mahakala, Yamantaka, and Hayagriva have fierce appearances with multiple heads, arms, and legs, often in dynamic poses
  • Mahakala is a protector deity with a dark blue or black body, wielding a curved knife and holding a skull cup
  • Yamantaka, the conqueror of death, has a buffalo head and a human body with multiple arms holding various weapons
• They symbolically destroy obstacles and negativities, representing the fierce compassion of enlightened beings
• Peaceful deities such as Avalokiteshvara, Manjushri, and Tara embody compassion, wisdom, and liberation
  • Avalokiteshvara, the bodhisattva of compassion, is depicted with multiple heads and arms, holding a lotus and a mala (prayer beads)
  • Tara, the female bodhisattva of compassion and action, is shown seated with one leg extended, ready to step into the world to help beings
• They are depicted with serene expressions and graceful poses, symbolizing the calm and peaceful aspects of enlightenment

Tantric Deities and Wealth Deities

• Tantric deities, including Chakrasamvara, Hevajra, and Kalachakra, are portrayed in union with their consorts, representing the union of wisdom and compassion
  • Chakrasamvara, the deity of supreme bliss, is depicted with a blue body, four faces, and twelve arms, embracing his consort Vajravarahi
  • Kalachakra, the deity of time and cycles, is shown with a blue body, four faces, and twenty-four arms, in union with his consort Vishvamata
• They often have multiple heads and arms holding various implements, symbolizing their multiple aspects and abilities
• Wealth deities like Jambhala and Vasudhara are depicted holding jewels, mongoose, or wealth vases, symbolizing prosperity and abundance
  • Jambhala, the god of wealth and prosperity, is portrayed as a stout figure with a yellow body, holding a mongoose that spits out jewels
  • Vasudhara, the goddess of abundance, is shown with a yellow body, holding sheaves of grain and a treasure vase

Iconography of Esoteric Deities

Colors and Symbolism

• Colors of the deities correspond to specific qualities and elements
  • White represents water and the pacification of obstacles
  • Blue represents space and the transmutation of anger into wisdom
  • Yellow represents earth and the increase of merit and wealth
  • Red represents fire and the magnetization of positive qualities
  • Green represents air/wind and the accomplishment of enlightened activities
• Multiple heads represent omniscience and the ability to perceive reality from various perspectives
  • For example, Avalokiteshvara's eleven heads symbolize his ability to perceive the suffering of beings in all realms of existence
• Multiple arms signify the deities' numerous abilities and activities, each hand holding a specific implement or performing a particular mudra (hand gesture)

Mudras and Implements

• Peaceful deities often display mudras such as the varada mudra (generosity), vitarka mudra (teaching), and dhyana mudra (meditation)
  • The varada mudra, with the palm facing outward and fingers extended downward, symbolizes the granting of blessings and wishes
  • The vitarka mudra, with the thumb and index finger forming a circle, represents the gesture of teaching and intellectual discussion
• Wrathful deities may hold weapons like swords, tridents, and skull cups, symbolizing the cutting through of ignorance, the threefold nature of reality, and the transformation of ego-clinging
• Implements held by deities symbolize their powers and functions
  • The wheel represents the teaching of the Dharma and the turning of the wheel of doctrine
  • The lotus symbolizes purity, as it rises unsullied from the mud, representing the transcendence of samsara
  • The vajra represents indestructibility and skillful means, the masculine aspect of enlightenment

Symbolism of Postures and Seats

• Deities standing or sitting on animals or humans represent the subjugation of negativities and the transformation of delusion into wisdom
  • Mahakala standing on a corpse symbolizes the defeat of ego and ignorance, the ultimate nature of emptiness
  • Yamantaka trampling on Yama, the lord of death, represents the conquest of death and the attainment of immortality
• Deities seated on lotus thrones signify their transcendence of samsara and their fully awakened state
  • The lotus seat represents the deity's purity and freedom from the defilements of the world
• The union of male and female deities symbolizes the inseparability of wisdom (female) and compassion (male), the two essential aspects of enlightenment
  • The male deity represents skillful means and compassionate action, while the female deity embodies wisdom and emptiness

Hierarchy of Esoteric Deities

The Five Dhyani Buddhas

• The Five Dhyani Buddhas are considered the highest level of the esoteric pantheon, embodying the five wisdoms and representing the ultimate nature of reality
  • They are the archetypal Buddhas from which all other deities emanate, each presiding over a specific buddha family
  • Vairocana is the central Buddha, representing the dharmakaya (truth body) and the wisdom of the dharmadhatu (realm of ultimate truth)
• Each Dhyani Buddha is associated with a specific direction, color, and element, forming the basis for the mandala structure
  • The Dhyani Buddhas are arranged in the cardinal directions and the center, creating a sacred space that represents the enlightened realm

Bodhisattvas and Wrathful Deities

• Bodhisattvas are enlightened beings who postpone their own buddhahood to help others attain liberation
  • They are often associated with specific Dhyani Buddhas and embody their qualities, acting as their emanations or spiritual sons
  • For example, Avalokiteshvara is the bodhisattva of compassion associated with Amitabha, the Dhyani Buddha of the western direction
• Wrathful deities are manifestations of the Buddhas' and Bodhisattvas' fierce compassion, acting as protectors of the Dharma and practitioners
  • They are not separate entities but aspects of enlightened beings, representing the forceful and dynamic energy needed to overcome obstacles on the path
  • Wrathful deities like Mahakala and Yamantaka are emanations of bodhisattvas like Avalokiteshvara and Manjushri, respectively

Yidam Deities and Dharmapalas

• Yidam deities are personal meditational deities chosen by practitioners for their specific qualities and abilities to help overcome obstacles and achieve enlightenment
  • They serve as the focal point of tantric practice, and practitioners visualize themselves as the deity to actualize their enlightened potential
  • Examples of yidam deities include Chakrasamvara, Hevajra, and Kalachakra, each with their own specific practices and mandalas
• Dharmapalas are guardian deities who protect the teachings, practitioners, and sacred spaces
  • They are often depicted as wrathful figures with powerful stances and expressions, symbolizing their role as protectors and removers of obstacles
  • Dharmapalas like Mahakala and Palden Lhamo are invoked to create favorable conditions for practice and to dispel negative influences

Deities vs Mandalas

Deities as the Essence of Mandalas

• Mandalas are sacred geometric diagrams representing the abode of a specific deity or group of deities, serving as a visual representation of the deity's enlightened realm
  • Each mandala is a symbolic palace, with the central deity representing the essence of the mandala and the ultimate nature of reality
  • The deities within the mandala are not separate entities but aspects or emanations of the central deity, representing the various qualities and activities of enlightenment
• The placement of deities within the mandala follows a hierarchical structure, with the central deity surrounded by their retinue of bodhisattvas, wrathful deities, and other figures
  • This arrangement reflects the interdependence and harmony of all aspects of enlightenment, with each deity playing a specific role in the overall mandala

Mandalas as the Purified Environment

• The mandala's architectural elements, such as the palace, gates, and walls, symbolize various aspects of the path to enlightenment and the purification of the practitioner's body, speech, and mind
  • The four gates of the mandala represent the four immeasurable qualities of love, compassion, joy, and equanimity
  • The walls and roof of the palace symbolize the protection and containment of the sacred space, keeping out negativities and distractions
• The mandala is a representation of the purified environment, both externally and internally
  • Externally, it represents the ideal sacred space in which the deities reside and the practitioner can enter for spiritual practice
  • Internally, it represents the practitioner's own body and mind as the abode of enlightenment, with each aspect of the mandala corresponding to a purified aspect of the self

Deity Yoga and Mandala Practice

• Practitioners visualize themselves as the deity at the center of the mandala during meditation, recognizing their own inherent Buddha-nature and the interdependence of all beings within the mandala
  • This practice, known as deity yoga, involves the visualization of oneself as the enlightened deity, reciting mantras, and performing symbolic gestures (mudras) associated with the deity
  • By identifying with the deity, practitioners cultivate the qualities and wisdom of the deity within themselves, transforming ordinary perception into the pure perception of the mandala
• Mandala practice involves the visualization of the entire mandala, with the practitioner mentally entering and exploring the sacred space
  • This practice helps to purify the practitioner's body, speech, and mind, and to cultivate the recognition of the interdependence and empty nature of all phenomena
  • By engaging with the mandala, practitioners create a sacred space within their own minds, transforming their ordinary experience into the enlightened realm of the deity