Mountains Of Travel Photos
Home | Tibet Buddhism Main | Tibet Buddhism References | Contact 

Buddhist Photo Gallery - Chakrasamvara Mandala

Chakrasamvara Mandala

Chakrasamvara Mandala 01 The name Chakrasamvara (Tib: Demchog) translates as

Chakrasamvara Mandala 01

Chakrasamvara Mandala 02 Upper Centre - Vajradhara Above the mandala in the centre is dark blue Vajradhara, representing the essence of the historical Buddha's realization of enlightenment. Vajradhara is central to the Kagyu lineage because Tilopa received the vajrayana teachings directly from him.

Chakrasamvara Mandala 02 Upper Centre - Vajradhara

Chakrasamvara Mandala 03 Upper Left - Vajrayogini Outside the mandala at the four corners are four depictions of Vajrayogini (Tib. Naro Khacho), the dakini of wisdom. Her right hand brandishes a curved flaying knife topped by a vajra, and in the left she holds a skull-cup filled with the swirling brains and entails of the enemies of the Dharma. The curved knife was the instrument used to annihilate these enemies. Her left shoulder supports a staff known as the khatvanga, representing her consort Chakrasamvara. This indicates that he and Vajrayogini are inseparable, whether he is explicitly presented together with her or not.

Chakrasamvara Mandala 03 Upper Left - Vajrayogini

Chakrasamvara Mandala 04 Upper Right In the upper right is a figure whose right hand holds a damaru, the hourglass-shaped drum. The damaru signifies the primordial sound from which is said to have originated all manifested existence. At the right is red Vajrayogini, who symbolizes the female tantric aspect of the Buddha embodying the union of bliss and emptiness. Her naked red body represents the transformation of passion and sexual energy into compassion.

Chakrasamvara Mandala 04 Upper Right

Chakrasamvara Mandala 05-1 Bottom Left - Vajrayogini Below the mandala on the left is Vajrayogini (Tib. Naro Khachoma), the dakini of wisdom. Vajrayogini is visualized as a red-coloured 16-year old girl, in the full bloom of her youth, radiantly beautiful, full of freshness and vitality. Her intense expression reflects her passionate nature. She carries a knife in her right hand and a skull cup in her left hand and a bone khatvanga on her shoulder. She symbolizes the female tantric aspect of the Buddha embodying the union of bliss and emptiness. Her naked red body represents the transformation of passion and sexual energy into compassion.

Chakrasamvara Mandala 05-1 Bottom Left - Vajrayogini

Chakrasamvara Mandala 05-2 Bottom Centre - Yellow Jambhala At the bottom centre is a yellow figure, possibly a Yellow Jambhala or Vaishravana (the King of the North). He carries a victory banner in his right hand and a mongoose that vomits jewels in his left.

Chakrasamvara Mandala 05-2 Bottom Centre - Yellow Jambhala

Chakrasamvara Mandala 06 Bottom Right - Vajrayogini Below the mandala on the right is Vajrayogini, the dakini of wisdom. She carries a knife in her right hand and a bone khatvanga with her left arm. The Yogini's nudity demonstrates her freedom from ordinary conceptions and appearances, which bind us ordinary mortals.

Chakrasamvara Mandala 06 Bottom Right - Vajrayogini

Chakrasamvara Mandala 07 All Circles The mandala serves as a two-dimensional map that guides the meditator's visualization of a fully realized three-dimensional place and, at the same time, as a place that the meditator mentally explores. The meditator visualizes, in three dimensions, each and every element of the mandala. Moving toward the center of the mandala, there is a circle, a ring of flames, which burns away spiritual obstacles. After a small second circle, the third innermost circle consists of lotus flower petals that unfold spiritual vision. The meditator approaches the four-walled palace where the deities live after crossing these moatlike outer circles.

Chakrasamvara Mandala 07 All Circles

Chakrasamvara Mandala 08 West Gate And Circles After crossing the moatlike outer circles, you approach the four-walled palace where the deities live, each gate with a particular colour, direction, element, and emotion. You enter each of the four gates, beginning with the blue gate at the bottom, and move in a clockwise direction. The bottom blue gate in the east, the direction of beginnings, represents water and universal love; on the left the yellow gate in the south represents earth and compassion; on the top the red gate (shown) in the west represents fire and unconditional love; on the right the green gate in the north represents air and empathy.

Chakrasamvara Mandala 08 West Gate And Circles

Chakrasamvara Mandala 09 Centre Building The square four-sided building is a palace because it is the residence of the presiding deity of the mandala, in this case Chakrasamvara.

Chakrasamvara Mandala 09 Centre Building

Chakrasamvara Mandala 10 Centre Square The outer circle of the inner square forms a lotus flower. Buddha and the five Dyhani Buddhas are visible.

Chakrasamvara Mandala 10 Centre Square

Chakrasamvara Mandala 11 Centre Close Up The centre of the mandala shows the blue-black Chakrasamvara with four faces and twelve arms, the two main arms embracing his consort Vajravarahi, who has one face and two arms. He wears a girdle made of tiger skin and the skin of an elephant, grasping with one of his right hands the left paw while one of his left hands holds the left foot. With his right leg set forward he presses down the head of Kalabhairava, and his left leg presses the breast of Kali. In one of his left hands he holds the four severed heads of god Brahma.

Chakrasamvara Mandala 11 Centre Close Up


This album has 12 items in total    |    Album was updated 2009-03-28 13:36    |    Generated by Jalbum 8.0, custom skin ExhibitPlus 1.5