Aparimita with Vajrasattva Thangka

Description

Aparimita with Vajrasattva Thangka is hand-painted in Nepal. This Thangka is painted by Thangka artists in Nepal. Aparimita Buddha is also known as Amitayus Buddha was worshipped for lengthening the life span.

Aparimita is presented at the center of the thangka. Shakyamuni Buddha is presented at the top of the thangka. Vajrasattva and Namgyalma are presented at the bottom left and right of the thangka.

Iconography of Aparmita

Buddha Aparimita is very popular in bestowing long life upon the devotees. It is red in color. His two hands are in dhyana mudra and hold an ambrosia vase.

He usually wears all the ornaments of different kinds peculiar to a Sambhogakaya Buddha. He is never depicted with any consort. He wears a crown and has Ushnisha and Urnakosh in his body.

Buddha Aparimita is invoked or worshipped for lengthening the life span or fast relief from dreadful diseases or from mortal danger.

In the Nepalese Mahayana tradition, the dharani of Buddha Aparimita is often recited by the devotees in the presence of dying patients the recitation of this dharani is said to be efficacious when carried out in utter sincerity.

It is said that the famous Madhyamika Buddhist philosopher Arya Nagarjuna had escaped his early death after the recitation of this dharani for one complete day and night.

The mantra of Buddha Aparmita

Om A Ma Ra Ni Dzi Wan Ti Ye Soha.

Iconograpy of Shakyamuni

Shakyamuni Buddha is presented at the top of the thangka. His left hand is in the lap holding a begging bowl while the right arm is extended across the leg with the fingers touching the earth.

His skin is golden in color, the eyes partially closed and the hair piled with a gold ornament adorning the top of the head.

A dot (bindi or “urna”) between the eyebrows and the earlobes are elongated and pierced. The shoulders are covered with an orange and red robe wrapped around the torso and legs and tied at the waist with a green sash.

Mantra of Shakyamuni

The mantra of Shakyamuni is Om Muni Muni Maha Muniye Soha.

Iconography of Vajrasattva

Vajrasattva is presented at the bottom left of the thangka. Vajrasattva is pure white in color and is sometimes known as the Prince of Purity. His name means “Adamantine Being”, or more poetically “Embodying Reality”.

He is a member of the Vajra family of Aksobhya which also includes Vajrapani. He is depicted as a young man in the prime of life, with all the silks and jewels of a wealthy prince.

In his right hand, he delicately balances a vajra at his heart. In his left hand, he holds a bell at his waist. The vajra represents Reality, and Compassion; while the bell represents Wisdom.

Vajrasattva is said to have been originated from the seed syllable Hum and is generally invoked for removal of obscuration of Kleshavarana and Jneya Avarana.

His hundred syllable mantra is very efficacious in purifying our defilements through confession practice. It is said if confession is done with the four opponent powers, then non-virtuous actions or obscurations will be purified.

The first opponent power is the force of reliance. This means looking upon the visualized image of Vajrasattva as the embodiment of one refuge. The second opponent power is the sincere regret for the non-virtuous action done by oneself.

The third opponent’s power is desisting from evil deeds. The fourth opponent power is to apply the power of good deeds; and especially regarding this case, practicing the meditation and recitation of Vajrasattva without parting from Bodhicitta while remaining in the state of emptiness.

Vajrasattva is a very popular tutelary deity for Nepalese Vajracharya. He is worshipped very often by Nepalese Buddhists through the Guru Mandala ritual.

In some mandalas Vajrasattva represents the Adi Buddha or the Primordial Principle of Buddhahood in others, he changes places with Aksobhya in the East.

In Shingon Buddhism it is Vajrasattva that passes on the initiation of the Dharmakāya Buddha Mahāvairocana to Nagarjuna, thereby creating the Vajrayana lineage.

Mantra of Vajrasattva

The mantra of Vajrasattva is Om Vajrasattva Hum.

Iconography of Namgyalma

Namgyalma is presented at the bottom right corner of the thangka. Ushnisha Vijaya is also known as Namgyalma. Namgyalma is a deity for long life and purification. Her mantra has infinite benefits.

It is said to be so powerful that anybody who hears it will never again be born from the womb. Therefore, if animals hear it, they will never again be reborn in the lower realms.

The mantra of Ushnisha Vijaya (Namgyalma)

Om Dhrum Soha Om Amrita Ayur Dade Soha