The Indian Buddhist Iconography
by Benoytosh Bhattachacharyya | 1958 | 51,392 words | ISBN-10: 8173053138 | ISBN-13: 9788173053139
This page contains an iconography image of Eight Ushnisha Gods (1): Vajroshnisha and represents figure 195 of the book Indian Buddhist Iconography, based on extracts of the Sadhanamala English translation. These plates and illustrations represent either photographs of sculptures or line-drawing reproductions of paintings or other representations of Buddhist artwork.
Figure 195 - Eight Uṣṇīṣa Gods (1): Vajroṣṇīṣa
Fig. 195: Vajroṣṇīṣa
(Peiping)
Introduction: In Vajrayāna there is a class of gods going under the generic name of Uṣṇīṣas. The word Uṣṇīṣa means ‘the crown’ but the deities [viz., Vajroṣṇīṣa] have nothing to do with the crown. They are usually placed like the gods of Direction, in the four principal directions and the four intermediate corners. These eight Uṣṇīṣa gods seem to be an extension of the four Dhyāni Buddhas, and they show their characteristic symbols and mudrās. They are nevertheless popular in Tantric works, and their statues are found in China.
1. Vajroṣṇīṣa:
Colour: white;
Symbol: Bhūsparśa;
Direction: east.
The first deity in this Uṣṇīṣa series of gods is Vajroṣṇīṣa and his form is described thus:
“On the Eastern spoke there is Vajroṣṇīṣa of white colour. He shows the Bhūsparśa (Earth-touching) mudrā”.
A statue of this god is found in the Chinese collection. Fig. 195 illustrates this Chinese statuette.