Lotus Diety
Lotus Diety
Chamber 1 第一堂
Om arolik svaha
Om mahakarunika svaha
Om lokeshvara hrih
Hayagriva Avalokitesvara 马头观音, the fierce 3-eyed horse-
headed burning-red form. Otherwise known as 马头明王
Hayagriva Vidyaraja, and the Vajra of Chewing or Speed. He is
both a Bodhisattva & a Guardian Deity, situated at the bottom of
the 1st row of the Lotus Section of the Garbhakosa Mandala. The
horse head represents the single-minded desire of the horse for
water and grass, which is like his will to save sentient beings; or
the great running speed of the horse, which can be compared
the speed that he appears to those who need him. He is the
esoteric guardian of the Lotus Section, all devotees of
Avalokitesvara, & the teacher of sentient beings in the animal
realm. His common mantra is:
Om amogha-padma-pasa-krodhakarsaya praveshaya
maha-pashupati-yama-varuna-kuvera
Om aryodakasri svaha
Bhrkuti Avalokitesvara 比俱底观音 bhrkuti means wrinkled, or
fierce eye, also known as the Vajra of Subduing. This female
deity is born from the wrinkle on the forehead of Avalokitesvara,
and is a fierce form. Its purpose is to strike fear into the egoism
and self-centered minds of stubborn sentient beings. According
to the Maha-vairocana Commentary, she has 3 eyes and 4 arms,
carrying rosary, lotus, and a vial of elixir. The last hand forms a
wish fulfilling mudra. The above is the Garbhakosa Mandala
image. She is situated in the 1st row of the Lotus Section, 3rd
from the top. Her Garbhakosa mantra is:
Om amate svaha
Qilin(chinese mythological beast) Riding Guanyin 麒麟观音,
courtesy of Peter Yeh. Notice its resemblance to Amate
Avalokitesvara above. This rare bronze image is brought to LA
fm China in the 1920s. This image carries a Mani Jewel in his
right hand & a Vial of elixir in his left - perhaps suggesting a
cross btw Cintamani & Bhaisajraja Avalokitesvara. As Qilins are
fierce, chaotic beasts, this depiction aims to tame the demon
within our minds with Guanyin's compassion.
Lion Riding Guanyin 骑吼观音 The bronze image on the left
carries a Mani Jewel in the left hand & the right forms the Mudra
of Wish Fufillment, quite similar to Qilin Riding Guanyin above.
The Lion represents the majesty & might of the Dharma, & the
ability of Avalokitesvara to give the 狮子吼 Lion's Roar - to
proclaim the doctrine of Truth far & wide. In this aspect he is no
different from Bodhisattva Manjusri 文殊菩萨, who is depicted
riding a Lion most of the time. He can be found in Temples in
both China & Tibet (like the image on the right).
Om lokeshvara-raja hrih
"The moment a person hears his Mantra, his past sins will be
relieved, & if the person constantly recites it, know that he will
be indestructible. Fire cannot burn him, blades cannot cut him &
poison cannot hurt him."
Or the alternative:
Om aryabhogavati svaha
Bodhisattva Laksma-mahavidya 大吉祥变菩萨, 'Transformed
from the greatly auspicious', also called the Vajra of Activation.
In the Lotus Section of the Garbhakosa Mandala, he is located at
the 3rd row, 2nd from the bottom. He is a deity in charge of the
usage of the 33 transformation bodies of Avalokitesvara. His
body is white, holding a half-bloomed lotus in the left hand, and
appear to gaze attentively at it. The right hand is pressed to the
chest, palm faced up, as if accepting something. This represents
the ability to adopt any skillful means necessary to cause the
inherent good in sentient beings to grow. His mantra is:
Om laksma-mahavidya svaha
Bodhisattva Tara 多罗菩萨 also known as the Vajra born from
Compassion. Tara means 'eye' or 'deliverer', born from
Avalokitesvara's tears. A female deity of the Lotus Court in the
Garbhakosa Mandala, she represents the virtue of concentration
of Avalokitesvara. She is situated on the 1st row, 3rd from the
bottom of the Lotus Court. Some Sutras call her the 世间母
"Worldly Mother", the 出世间母 "Renounced Mother", & the 智慧
母 "Wisdom Mother", for she is like the compassionate mother of
all sentient beings. Very popular in Tibet, where she is known as
the "Deliverance Mother" or 度母. In the Mahavairocana Sutra
she is described as colored a mixture of blue & white (green),
resembling a matured lady (see above image). Her palms are
clasp in Padma-anjali, holding a blue lotus. Hallowed like shining
gold, she is smiling & clad in fresh white robes. Though she is
neither strictly green nor white, in Tibet Tara has evolved into
both Green & White (see images below), which are 2 similar
deities. It is believed that Green Tara comes from Avalokitesvara
or Amitabha's left eye, whereas White Tara comes from the
right. Green Tara is the chief deity in the 21 Tara Mandala
formation, & White Tara is also known as the 7 eyed buddha-
bhagavati (she has 3 eyes on the head & 1 on each limb).
Together they perform Avalokitesvara's work of deliverance in
Tibet without fail.
Green & White Tara 绿度母,白度母
And there is the longer, less known Mantra of White Tara, which
is:
Om aryastupa-mahasri svaha
Bodhisattva Yashodhara 耶输陀罗菩萨 also known as the
Vajra of Demonstration. Yashodhara means "maintaining honor".
She is the consort of Prince Siddhartha, the Buddha's human
form, & the mother of Thera Rahula. In the Garbhakosa Mandala
she is located in the middle row of the Lotus Court, 3rd from the
top. Her fundamental vow is the same as that of Willow-Leaf
Avalokitesvara - to adapt to the different minds of sentient
beings in order to teach them the truth. Her flesh is golden, &
she is richly adorned with jewels, resembling a celestial maiden.
In her left hand is a branch of leaves, which can appear as ever
changing to demonstrate her skillful means. The right hand
forms the mudra of wish fulfillment. Her Garbhakosa mantra is:
Om mahasrividye svaha
Om sivavahavidye svaha