STUDIESININDIANANDTIBETANBUDDHISM eastern religion / asian studies “Elizabeth English’s study of Vajrayoginı, a key female deity within Indian and Tibetan Buddhism, is a remarkable window into the complex and fascinat- ing world of tantra. English’s thorough analysis is notable for the way in which it combines precise textual scholarship with full awareness of the wider V spiritual context of the Vajrayoginı practices and of Vajray›na Buddhism as a whole. Thus the book conveys throughout a sense of Vajray›na as a liv- ing spiritual practice, from twelfth-century India to today. This is a major ajrayogini landmark in the study of tantric Buddhism.”—Geoffrey Samuel, University of Newcastle, author of Civilized Shamans: Buddhism in Tibetan Societies This groundbreaking book delves into the origins of Vajrayoginı, charting her evolution in India and examining her roots in the Cakrasa˙vara tantra and in the Indian tradition relating to ⁄iva. The focus of this work is the Guhyasamayas›dhanam›l›, a collection of forty-six s›dhanas, or practice texts. Written on palm leaves in Sanskrit and preserved since the twelfth century, this diverse collection, composed by numerous authors, reveals a multitude of forms of the goddess, each of which is described and illus- trated here. One of the texts, the Vajrav›r›hı S›dhana by Um›patideva, depicts Vajrayoginı at the center of a ma˚˜ala of thirty-seven different god- desses, and is here presented in full translation alongside a Sanskrit edition. Sixteen pages of stunning color plates not only enhance the study but bring - the goddess Vajrayoginı to life. “…a comprehensive study of the classic literature on the premier female Her - deity of Indic Buddhist tantra. It will be a rich resource for scholars of Visualizations, Asian religion and literature, for students in college courses, and for devo- V tees of Vajrayoginı. The author is to be congratulated for conveying so Rituals, ajrayogini much detailed material on imagery, rituals, and meditations in such lucid and engaging prose.”—Janet Gyatso, Harvard University, author of and Forms Apparitions of the Self: The Secret Autobiographies of a Tibetan Visionary H V, “Meticulously researched, this book is a treasure-trove for the scholar and R, F the serious practitioner alike.”—Judith Simmer-Brown, Naropa Univer- sity, author of Dakini’s Warm Breath: The Feminine Principle in Tibetan Elizabeth Buddhism English ISBN 0-86171-329-X US$34.95 Wisdom Publications • Boston www.wisdompubs.org wisdom A Note from the Publisher We hope you will enjoy this Wisdom book. For your conven- ience, this digital edition is delivered to you without “digital rights management” (DRM). This makes it easier for you to use across a variety of digital platforms, as well as preserve in your personal library for future device migration. Our nonprofit mission is to develop and deliver to you the very highest quality books on Buddhism and mindful living. We hope this book will be of benefit to you, and we sincerely appre- ciate your support of the author and Wisdom with your pur- chase. If you’d like to consider additional support of our mission, please visit our website at wisdompubs.org. Acquired at wisdompubs.org VAJRAYOGINÊ Acquired at wisdompubs.org Studies in Indian and Tibetan Buddhism This series was conceived to provide a forum for publishing outstanding new contributions to scholar- ship on Indian and Tibetan Buddhism and also to make accessible seminal research not widely known outside a narrow specialist audience, including trans- lations of appropriate monographs and collections of articles from other languages. The series strives to shed light on the Indic Buddhist traditions by exposing them to historical- critical inquiry, illuminating through contextualization and analysis these tradi- tions’ unique heritage and the significance of their contribution to the world’s religious and philosophi- cal achievements. Members of the Editorial Board: Tom Tillemans (chair), University of Lausanne José Cabezón, University of California, Santa Barbara Georges Dreyfus, Williams College, Massachusetts Janet Gyatso, Harvard University Paul Harrison, University of Canterbury, New Zealand Toni Huber, Victoria University, New Zealand Shoryu Katsura, Hiroshima University Thupten Jinpa Langri, Institute of Tibetan Classics, Montreal Frank Reynolds, Emeritus, University of Chicago Leonard van der Kuijp, Harvard University Cristina Scherrer-Schaub, University of Lausanne E. Gene Smith, Tibetan Buddhist Resource Center, New York Ernst Steinkellner, University of Vienna Acquired at wisdompubs.org STUDIES IN INDIAN AND TIBETAN BUDDHISM VAJRAYOGINÊ Her Visualizations, Rituals, & Forms A Study of the Cult of Vajrayoginı in India Elizabeth English Wisdom Publications • Boston Acquired at wisdompubs.org Wisdom Publications 199 Elm Street Somerville, Massachusetts 02144 USA www.wisdompubs.org © 2002 Elizabeth English All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy- ing, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system or technologies now known or later developed, with- out permission in writing from the publisher. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data English, Elizabeth Vajrayoginı : Her visualizations, rituals, & forms : a study of the cult of Vajrayoginı in India / Elizabeth English p. cm. — (Studies in Indian and Tibetan Buddhism) Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 0-86171-329-X (alk. paper) 1. Vajrayoginı (Buddhist deity) 2. Tantric Buddhism—Rituals. I. Title. II. Title: Vajrayoginı. III. Series. BQ4890.V344E65 2002 294.3’42114—dc21 2002011148 ISBN 0-86171-329-X First Wisdom Edition 06 05 04 5 4 3 2 Designed by Gopa and Ted2 Cover photo: See List of Illustrations Wisdom Publications’ books are printed on acid-free paper and meet the guidelines for permanence and durability set by the Committee on Production Guidelines for Book Longevity of the Council on Library Resources. Printed in the USA. Acquired at wisdompubs.org To my teachers Acquired at wisdompubs.org Publisher’s Acknowledgment The Publisher gratefully acknowledges the generous help of the Hershey Family Foundation in sponsoring the printing of this book. Acquired at wisdompubs.org Contents List of Illustrations Color Plates xi Line Drawings xv Abbreviations xvii Preface xix Chapter 1: Vajrayoginı and the Buddhist Tantras 1 The Buddhist Tantric Systems 1 The Guhyasamayas›dhanam›l› and Its Authors 9 S›dhana Collections 18 Tantric S›dhana 24 Chapter 2: The Cult of Vajrayoginı in India 35 The Influence of Nondual ⁄aivism 37 Transgressive Discipline (v›m›c›ra¯) 41 The Emergence of Vajrayoginı 43 The Emergence of Vajrav›r›hı 47 Dancing-Pose (ardhaparyaºka) Vajrav›r›hı 50 Twelve-Armed Vajrav›r›hı in Dancing Pose 54 Six-Armed Vajrav›r›hı with Consort 60 Six-Armed Vajra˜›kinı Vajrav›r›hı in Warrior Stance 62 Red Vajragho˚› Vajrav›r›hı 66 White Vajragho˚› Vajrav›r›hı 68 White Vajrav›r›hı 69 Two-Armed Vajrayoginı in Warrior Stance 71 Four-Armed Vajrayoginı in Warrior Stance 73 Red Vajrav›r›hı with Foot Raised 74 White Vajrayoginı with Foot Raised 75 Vajrayoginı in the Falling-Turtle Pose 77 Vidy›dharı Vajrayoginı 79 Flying Vidy›dharı Vajrayoginı 82 Vajravil›sinı Vajrav›r›hı 84 vii Acquired at wisdompubs.org viii VAJRAYOGINÊ Guhyavajravil›sinı 86 Trik›yavajrayoginı (Chinnamast›) 94 Conclusions 102 Chapter 3: Study of the Vajrav›r›hı S›dhana 109 Outline of the S›dhana 109 Meditation Stage 1 113 Benediction 113 Preliminaries 114 Bodhisattva Preparations 119 Worship 120 Brahmavih›ra Meditations 123 Development of Wisdom 125 Creating the Circle of Protection 131 The Cremation Grounds 136 The Cosmos and Temple Palace 144 Self-Generation through the Awakenings 149 Self-Visualization As Vajrav›r›hı 154 Armoring 163 Pledge and Knowledge Beings 166 Consecration 169 Inner Yogic Practices 171 The Mantra 178 Dwelling As Vajrav›r›hı 181 Meditation Stage 2 182 Fivefold Ma˚˜ala 182 Meditation Stage 3 186 Thirteenfold Ma˚˜ala 186 Terms for Aspects of the Ma˚˜ala 187 Meditation Stage 4 188 Thirty-seven-fold Ma˚˜ala 188 Circles of Mind, Speech, and Body 188 The Ma˚˜ala As Wisdom 190 The Ma˚˜ala As Doctrine 192 The Ma˚˜ala As Cosmos 194 The Sacred Sites (pı˛has) 195 The Ten Places (deŸas) 196 Acquired at wisdompubs.org CONTENTS ix Body Ma˚˜ala 197 Mantras for the Complete Deity Ma˚˜ala 203 Ritual Practices 205 Tantric Ritual 205 The Bali Ritual 206 Tasting Nectar (am¸t›sv›danam) 208 Bali Offering with Mantras 211 Rite of Completion 215 External Worship 216 Worship on the Hand (hastapÒj›) 218 Alternative External Worship 220 Internal Oblation 221 Concluding Verses 223 Vajrav›r›hı S›dhana by Um›patideva 225 Meditation Stage 1 227 Meditation Stage 2 249 Meditation Stage 3 255 Meditation Stage 4 257 Ritual Practices 287 Cremation Grounds 311 Conventions, Abbreviations, and Symbols 315 Conventions in the Translation 315 Abbreviations and Symbols in the Sanskrit Text 316 Abbreviations and Symbols in the Apparatus 317 Other Editors 319 Silent Editorial Standardizations 319 Manuscript Sources 321 The Manuscripts of the Guhyasamayas›dhanam›l› (GSS) 321 Textual Transmission 326 Editorial Policy 328 Textual Notes 329 Insignificant Variants 349 Appendix: Summary of S›dhanas in the Guhyasamayas›dhanam›l› 355 Notes 383 Acquired at wisdompubs.org X VAJRAYOGINÊ Bibliography 515 Index 541 About the Author 564 Acquired at wisdompubs.org List of Illustrations Color Plates Front cover: Vajrav›r›hı tangka (detail). Central Tibet, c. 1200–1250. Private Collection. Photograph by John Bigelow Taylor . Photograph © 1998 The Metropolitan Museum of Art. The central Vajrav›r›hı is in ardhaparyaºka pose standing upon a sun disk on a corpse. The tangka depicts her against a backdrop of the eight cremation grounds (reproduced here on the back cover). She is flanked by the three armoring goddesses to the left, Sa˙tr›sinı (green), Ca˚˜ik›? (grey?), Vajrav›r›hı (red); and three to the right, Sa˙c›linı? (yellow?), Mohinı? (white?), and Y›minı (blue-black).