1
Apr
2020
Interpreting Enlightened Yidam Hevajra
Hevajra is one of the main Yidams in Tantric or Vajrayana Buddhism. Hevajra’s consort is Nairatmya.
Table of Contents
The life of Hevajra
In this section, we are going to learn about the life of Hevajra, after that we will learn the short etymological description of the word Hevajra itself.
Etymology of Hevajra
Hevajra is known as pal Gye pa dor JE lha Gu’i Khyil kor in Tibet.
Earlier, we learn about the life of Hevajra. Now, we are going to learn about the iconography of Hevajra.
Iconoraphy of Hevajra
In the iconography of Hevajra, we will learn about Hevajra’s body posture, hand and leg gesture, and different representations if Hevajra in thangka and statue.
Posture of Hevajra
Shri Hevajra with a body blue in color, eight faces, sixteen hands, and four legs. The main face is blue, right white, left red, upper face smoky the two remaining pairs of faces are black.
Each face has three eyes and four bared fangs yellow hair flowing upwards.
Earlier, we learn about the life of Hevajra and the iconography of Hevajra. Now, we are going to learn about depicting Hevajra thangka.
Depicting Hevajra thangka
By depicting this thangka, we will learn about the presentation if Hevajra with vishvavajra and Black Gauri.
Vishvavajra
The first right hand of Vishvajra holds a white elephant. The first left holds the yellow God of Earth these two embrace the Mother. In the second right is a blue horse third – ass with a white patch fourth – yellow bull fifth – ash-colored camel; sixth – red man; seventh – blue Sharabha eighth – the cat with a white patch.
Vishvavajra is at the top of the head of the Hevajra in the thangka. Vishvavajra is known as the principle of absolute stability, characterized by the solidity of the element earth. The raised wooden throne on which the Dalai Lamas sat usually was decorated with a central Vishvavajra.
The twenty spokes of the five-pronged Vishvavajra such as the example here symbolize the purification of the ‘twenty deluded views’ of the five aggregates, conceived as a group of four self misconceptions, according to Beer (2004).
Black Gauri
Black Gauri is in the east right hand holding a curved knife, left a rohita fish; south red Chauri, right hand holding a damaru, left a pig west yellow Vitali, right hand holding a tortoise, left a skullcup north green Ghashmari.
The right hand of Black Gauri is holding a snake. the left hand of Black Gauri is holding a skull cup north-east blue Pukkashi, right hand holding a lion, left ax south-east white Shatavari, right hand holding a monk, left a monk’s staff south-west purple Chandali, right hand holding a wheel, left a plow north-west multi-colored Domini, right hand holding a vajra, left a wrathful gesture.
Also, all have one face, two hands, three eyes, and yellow hair flowing upward; naked, adorned with five ornaments of bone a crown of five human skulls and a necklace of fifty skulls.
With the left leg extended and the right in a half-lotus posture, in a dancing manner, they stand in the middle of a blazing fire of pristine awareness.
Earlier, we learn about the life of Hevajra, the iconography of Hevajra, and depicting Hevajra thangka. Now, we are going to learn about the presentation of Hevajra with Dombi Heruka.
Hevajra with Dombi Heruka
The thangka of Hevajra with Dombi Heruka is from Tibet. The thangka is made between 1500 – 1599 AD. Hevajra with Dombi Heruka is from Sakya and Ngor Lineage. The size of this painting is 41.91×34.93cm. The base of the painting is Ground mineral Pigment on cotton. Presently, this panting is in the Rubin Museum of Art.
By depicting this thangka, we will learn about the presentation of Hevajra with Sachen Kunga Nyingpo.
Shri Hevajra is a tutelary deity of the Anuttarayoga non-dual classification. Dombi Heruka is in the upper left corner of the thangka. Dombi Heruka is holding a snake in the right hand.
Sachen Kunga Nyingpo
Sachen Kunga Nyingpo is on the right of the thangka. Sachen Kunga Nyingpo is wearing the attire of a layman. Sachen Kunga Nyingpo is performing the mudra (gesture) of generosity with the right hand and holding the stem of a white lotus to the heart, blossoming at the ear.
Earlier, we learn about the life of Hevajra, the iconography of Hevajra, depicting Hevajra thangka, and the representation of Hevajra with Dombi Heruka. Now, we are going to learn about the presentation of Hevajra with Amitabha Hevajra.
Hevajra with Amitabha Hevajra
The thangka of Hevajra with Amitabha Hevajra is from Tibet. The thangka of Hevajra with Amitabha Hevajra is made between 1300 – 1399 AD. Hevajra with Amitabha Hevajra is from Buddhist lineage. The base of the painting is Ground mineral pigment on cotton. The thangka of Hevajra with Amitabha Hevajra is from a private collection.
By depicting this thangka, we will learn about the presentation of Hevajra with Amoghasiddhi Hevajra, Vairochana Hevajra, and Ratnasambhava Hevajra, etc.
Amitabha Hevajra is at the upper right corner of the thangka. Amitabha Hevajra is red in color.
Amoghasiddhi Hevajra
Amoghasiddhi Hevajra is in the lower right of the thangka. Amoghasiddhi Hevajra is green in color.
Vairochana Hevajra
Vairochana Hevajra is at the lower left of the thangka. Vairochana Hevajra is white in color.
Ratnasambhava Hevajra
Ratnasambhava Hevajra is in the upper left of the thangka. Ratnasambhava Hevajra is yellow in color.
Earlier, we learn about the life of Hevajra, the iconography of Hevajra, depicting Hevajra thangka, and the representation of Hevajra with Dombi Heruka. And finally, we about the representation of Hevajra with Amitabha Hevajra
Hevajra Mandala
This mandala centers around Hevajra. Nairatmya, Hevajra’s consort stands in the center of the lotus seat while eight dakinis are depicted on eight petals.
