Skip to main content
 

The Sixteen Bodhisattvas Of The Vajradhātu Mahāmaṇḍala. - List

  5.00/5.00 - (1 votes for article, provide comments and help us improve if required.)

The Sixteen Bodhisattvas represent qualities and are from the Vajradhātu mahāmaṇḍala .

The Sixteen Bodhisattvas Of The Vajradhātu Mahāmaṇḍala. - ListThe Sixteen Bodhisattvas Of The Vajradhātu Mahāmaṇḍala. - ListThe Sixteen Bodhisattvas Of The Vajradhātu Mahāmaṇḍala. - ListThe Sixteen Bodhisattvas Of The Vajradhātu Mahāmaṇḍala. - List
The Sixteen Bodhisattvas Of The Vajradhātu Mahāmaṇḍala. - List

Sixteen bodhisattvas appear in the Vajradhātu-mahāmaṇḍala (Vajra sphere) and Durgatiparisodhana mandala, according to the Nāmamantrārthāvalokinī v5.38-41. The Nāmamantrārthāvalokinī (literally, ‘an explanation of the nāma-mantras’) is a commentary (ṭīkā) on the 8th century Mañjuśrīnāmasaṃgīti.
The names listed form the core essence of the Mañjuśrīnāmasaṃgīti. The Nāmamantrārthāvalokinī provides the practitioner a sādhana (‘meditative practice’) to turn these names into mantras. These mantras are chanted for the benefit of all beings, and then placed and contemplated in the Vajradhātu-mahāmaṇḍala, which is an extended version of the Vajradhātu-maṇḍala.
In an outer strip beyond internal chapels the Sixteen Bodhisattvas are often placed on lotuses.
The mandala is practiced for the realization of mahāmudrā, i.e. the unwavering natural state of bliss-void.
The Sixteen Bodhisattvas symbolise the formations of the sense objects transmuted into wisdom, and the initiation into the 16 kinds of voidness (śūnyatā) in regard to the experience of absolute reality is announced with a victory banner crowned by a diamond. The characteristics of love are expressed by the diamond-like gift of the dharma and the diamantine dharma is the samādhi of Dharmadhātu. The offerings embodied as goddesses are for the realization that mahāmudrā and the Perfections of Skilful Means (upāya)
are inseparable.

The Sixteen Bodhisattvas Of The Vajradhātu Mahāmaṇḍala.

01. Maitreya.

Located in the East (Representing the Heart Cakra and the Cārya Tantra) of the mandala and represents loving kindness and equipoise.

02. Amoghadarśi.

Located in the East (Representing the Heart Cakra and the Cārya Tantra) of the mandala and represents unsurpassable observation.

03. Sarvapāyañjaha or Apāyañjaha.

Located in the East (Representing the Heart Cakra and the Cārya Tantra) of the mandala represents removing deviation.

04. Sarvaśokatamonirghāthamati.

Located in the East (Representing the Heart Cakra and the Cārya Tantra) of the mandala and represents mindfulness of ending all depressions of inertia.

05. Gandhahasti.

Located in the South (Representing the Secret Cakra and the Kṛya Tantra) of the mandala and represents the essence of discipline.
Green or whitish green in colour, can be seen with the varada mudra in the right hand, may hold a pitcher or conch in the left, and is often seen with Ratnasambhava.

06. Surañgama or Surańama.

Located in the South (Representing the Secret Cakra and the Kṛya Tantra) of the mandala and represents righteousness.

07. Gaganagañja.

Located in the South (Representing the Secret Cakra and the Kṛya Tantra) of the mandala and represents spiritual ambition.

08. Jñānaketu.

Located in the South (Representing the Secret Cakra and the Kṛya Tantra) of the mandala and represents accomplishment of senses.

09. Amṛtaprabha.

Located in the West (Representing the Throat Cakra and the Yoga Tantra) of the mandala and represents the immortality or nectar of wisdom.

10. Candaprabha.

Located in the West (Representing the Throat Cakra and the Yoga Tantra) of the mandala and represents the mindfulness of illumined feelings.

11. Bhadrapāla.

Located in the West (Representing the Throat Cakra and the Yoga Tantra) of the mandala and represents moral discipline or conscience.

12. Jālinīprabhā.

Located in the West (Representing the Throat Cakra and the Yoga Tantra) of the mandala and represents the endless illumination of compassion.

13. Vajragarbha.

Located in the North (Representing the Navel Cakra and the Anuttara Tantra) of the mandala and represents intrinsic voidness.

14. Akṣayamati, अक्षयमति.

Located in the North (Representing the Navel Cakra and the Anuttara Tantra) of the mandala and represents the mindfulness of indestructibility.
Sometimes taking the same form as Amoghasiddhi with Abhaya gesture (meaning no fear) in the right hand and the left hand lying on his lap.
Sometimes he is yellow in colour wielding a sword in the right hand, exhibiting the Abhaya gesture and a lotus in the left hand.
Sometimes he is he is golden in colour with a clenched left hand against the chest with the Varada gesture (Meaning dispensing of boons, benefits or favours), with rosary in the right hand.
Sometimes he is white and with the two hands holding a bowl with the nectar of knowledge.

15. Pratibhānakūṭa.

Located in the North (Representing the Navel Cakra and the Anuttara Tantra) of the mandala and represents infinite qualities.

16. Samantabhadra.

Located in the North (Representing the Navel Cakra and the Anuttara Tantra) of the mandala and represents conscientious equanimity.





Or, per your interest, look at other related links;

  The sixteen types of voidness (śūnyatā).
  The six perfections.

Or, why not search for other related lists on our site;

This list was published by Here There, Everywhere and is a printable check-list; To print, hold down the key marked "ctrl", and whilst holding that down, press the "p" key.
This is a downloadable list, select here, if you would like to download the The Sixteen Bodhisattvas Of The Vajradhātu Mahāmaṇḍala. - List as an excel or .csv file. Or find the print function on your browser (top right, three dots, print) and print to a pdf printer if you would like to download as a pdf file, or print to a pdf file.

If you are interested in advertising with us reach out via the contact page below. If you would like to share viewers, and your site is related with great content, then feel free to use the code below on your site then reach out via our contact page and we will look for a place to mention you.


Otherwise, suggest improvements, request additional items, report typos, errors or misspellings, ask us questions or just say hello via the comments here below, we are always pleased to hear from you.

Comments HistoryBe a pioneer and write the first comment.

Note: Current average rating of 5.00 based on 1 reviews and ratings. (1-Low, 5-High)

Note: Comments and ratings help this site get better; if you see something missing, see something wrong, have a question, or want to suggest something to improve then comment below and join the dialogue;

Comments



Looking for something else? Then search the rest of the internet here. If you do like what you see then come back sometime and create your own checklist here. If the item does not have a checkbox next to it, its probably a folder which you can open by clicking. If there are actions listed against an item on the right hand side you can visit websites, download as excel/csv for xls, or create an ical calendar entry.

If you found this page useful, share it, or like us using the buttons on the bottom right, it helps us to improve.

This webpage with information about The Sixteen Bodhisattvas Of The Vajradhātu Mahāmaṇḍala. has the following attributes;
The list was authored by .

« Go look for more free lists & checklists