Symbolism of
the Mandala of the Peaceful and
Wrathful Deities
The mandala represents a perfected state of being, and the central deities within it symbolise the perfected states of the meditator’s own awareness, psycho-physical aggregates, elemental properties, and sensory and mental processes. The peaceful deities represent the quiescent natural purity of these fundamental components of our being and the wrathful deities represent the transformative aspects of these energies, which bring about the natural transformation of the most enduring and deep-seated expressions of our mundane perceptual states. Last, the outer deities of the mandala represent the modes of activity of an enlightened being.
The exact mapping of this symbolism does vary according to the lineage and class of the practice. In the chart presented below, the correspondences are based on Chapter 5 of the present work, supplemented by correspondences taken from other texts within the cycle, with certain common variances noted.
The Forty-two Peaceful Deities
The male and female primordial buddhas: Samantabhadra and Samantabhadn in union represent the indivisible union of pure awareness and emptiness
| Location
| Colour
| Symbolising
|
| Samantabhadra | kun-tu bzang-po
Centre of the energy centre within the heart, embracing Samantabhadn
| Sky blue
| The awareness aspect of the Buddha-body of Reality, the natural purity of mental consciousness, free from fundamental ignorance.
|
| Samantabhadn | kun-tu bzang-mo
Centre of the energy centre within the heart, embracing Samantabhadra
| Stainless white, like crystal
| The emptiness aspect of the Buddha-body of Reality, the natural purity of the sensory spectrum of phenomena.
|
The five male buddhas: Vairocana, Aksobhya-Vajrasattva, Ratnasambhava, Amitabha and Amoghasiddhi, represent the five pristine cognitions and the natural purity of the five psycho-physical aggregates
| Location
| Colour
| Symbolising
| Enlightened family
|
| Vairocana | mam-par snang-mdzad
Central channel within the heart, embracing Akasadhat-vlsvari
| Conch white
| The pristine cognition of reality’s expanse, the natural purity of the aggregate of consciousness, free from delusion
| Buddha
|
NB: In some sources, where Aksobhya-Vajrasattva is placed at the centre of the mandala and Vairocana in the east (e.g. Lochen Dharmasri, SDGG, pp. 81-6), Vairocana symbolises the aggregate of form. The distinction between these positions is related to the class of practice – the former corresponding to Atiyoga and the latter to a Mahayoga interpretation of the
Guhyagarbha Tantra.
| (Aksobhya-)Vajrasattva | mi-bskyod rdo-rje setns-dpa’
Eastern channel branch of the Azure heart, embracing Buddhalocana
| Azura blue
| The mirror-like pristine cognition, the natural purity of Vajra the aggregate of form, free from aversion
| Vajra
|
NB: When placed at the centre of the mandala, (Aksobhya-)Vajrasattva represents the natural purity of the aggregate of consciousness. See above.
| Ratnasambhava | rin-chen ’byung-gnas
Southern channel branch of the heart, embracing Mamakl
| Golden yellow
| The pristine cognition of sameness, the natural purity of the aggregate of feeling, free from pride
| Ratna
|
| Amitabha | snang-ba mtha’-yas
Western channel branch of the heart, embracing Pandaravasinl
| Copper red
| The pristine cognition of discernment, the natural purity of the aggregate of perceptions, free from attachment
| Padma
|
| Amoghasiddhi | don-yod grub-pa
Northern channel branch of the heart, embracing Samayatara
| Turquoise green
| The pristine cognition of accomplishment, the natural purity of the aggregate of motivational tendencies, free from envy
| Karma
|
The five female buddhas: Akasadhatvisvarl, Buddhalocana, Mamakl, Pandaravasini and Samayatara, represent the natural purity of the five elements
| Location
| Colour
| Symbolising
| Enlightened family
|
| Akasadhatvfsvari | nam-mkha’i dbyings phyug-ma
Central channel, within the heart, embracing Vairocana
| Moon- like white
| The natural purity of the space element
| Buddha
|
| Buddhalocana | sangs-rgyas spyan-ma
Eastern channel branch of the heart, embracing Aksobhya-Vajrasattva
| Beryl blue
| The natural purity of the earth element
| Vajra
|
NB: In Chapter n, Buddhalocana is unusually identified with the natural purity of the water element, a role generally attributed to the female buddha Mamakl.
| Location
| Colour
| Symbolising
| Enlightened family
|
| Mamaki | yum tna-tna-ki
Southern channel branch of the heart, embracing Ratnasambhava
| Minium orange
| The natural purity of the water element
| Ratna
|
NB: In
Chapter 11, Mamaki is unusually identified with the natural purity of the earth element, a role generally attributed to the female buddha Buddhalocana.
| Pandaravasinl | yum-mchog gos-dkar-mo
Western channel branch of the heart, embracing Amitabha
| Fire- crystal red
| The natural purity of the element fire
| Padma
|
| Samayatara | yum dam-tshig sgrol-ma
Northern channel branch of the heart, embracing Amoghasiddhi
| Sapphire green
| The natural purity of the element wind
| Karma
|
The eight male bodhisattvas: Ksitigarbha, Maitreya, Samantabhadra, Akasagarbha, Avalokitesvara, Manjusrlkumarabhuta, Nivaranaviskambhin and Vajrapani, represent the eight classes of consciousness
NB: According to the
Guhyagarbha Tantra, they also symbolise the four senses and four sense organs.
| Location
| Colour
| Symbolising
| Enlightened family
|
| Ksitigarbha | sa’i snying-po
Eastern channel branch of the heart, to the right of Vajrasattva
| Snow-mountain white
| The natural purity of visual consciousness
| Vajra
|
| Maitreya | rgyal-ba by ants-pa
Eastern channel branch of the heart, to the left of Vajrasattva
| Cloud-white
| The natural purity of auditory consciousness
| Vajra
|
| Samantabhadra | byang-sems kun-tu bzang-po
Southern channel branch of the heart, to the right of Ratnasambhava
| Amber yellow
| The natural purity of olfactory consciousness
| Ratna
|
| Akasagarbha | nam-mkha’i snying-po
Southern channel branch of the heart, to the left of Ratnasambhava
| Burnished golden yellow
| The natural purity of gustatory consciousness
| Ratna
|
| Avalokitesvara | spyan-ras gzigs
Western channel branch of the heart, to the right of Amitabha
| Coral red
| The natural purity of tactile consciousness
| Padma
|
| Manjusrikumara-bhuta | ’jam-dpal [gzhon-nur gyur-pa]
Western channel branch of the heart, to the left of Amitabha
| Minium Orange
| The natural purity of mental consciousness
| Padma
|
| [Sarva] Nivaranaviskambhin | sgrib-pa rnam-par sel-ba
Northern channel branch of the heart, to the right of Amoghasiddhi
| Green as the night-flowering lotus
| The natural purity of the ‘ground-of-all’ consciousness
| Karma
|
| Vajrapani | phyag-na rdo-rje
Northern channel branch of the heart, to the left of Amoghasiddhi
| Emerald green
| The natural purity of the defiled consciousness
| Karma
|
The eight female bodhisattvas: Lasya, Puspa, Malya, Dhupa, Gita, Aloka, Gandha and Narti, represent the four sense objects and the four phases of conceptual thought (past, present, future and indeterminate), or alternatively the eight objects of consciousness
| Location
| Colour
| Symbolising
| Enlightened family
|
| Lasya | lasya-ma
The eastern channel branch of the heart, in front of Vajrasattva
| Quartz white
| The natural purity of visual phenomena
| Vajra
|
| Puspa | puspe-ma
The eastern channel branch of the heart, behind Vajrasattva
| Pearl white
| The natural purity of past conceptual thoughts
| Vajra
|
| Malya | mdlya-ma
The southern channel branch of the heart, in front of Ratnasambhava
| Saffron yellow
| The natural purity of indeterminate conceptual thoughts
| Ratna
|
| Dhupa | dhupe-ma
The southern channel branch of the heart, behind Ratnasambhava
| Golden yellow
| The natural purity of fragrance
| Ratna
|
| Gita | ghirti-ma
The western channel branch of the heart, in front of Amitabha
| Marsh mallow pink
| The natural purity of sound
| Padma
|
| Aloka | aloka-tna
The western channel branch of the heart, behind Amitabha
| Lotus pink
| The natural purity of future conceptual thoughts
| Padma
|
| Gandha | ghandhe-ma
The northern channel branch of the heart, in front of Amoghasiddhi
| Poppy green
| The natural purity of present conceptual thoughts
| Karma
|
| Narti | nirti-ma
The northern channel branch of the heart, behind Amoghasiddhi
| Marine green
| The natural purity of taste
| Karma
|
The four male gatekeepers: Trailokyavijaya, Yamantaka, Hayagriva and Amrtakundalin, represent the natural purity of the four extreme views and four aspects of enlightened activity
NB: According to
Chapter 7, they represent the natural purity of the four immeasurable aspirations.
| Location
| Colour
| Symbolising
| Enlightened family
|
| Trailokyavijaya | khams-gsum mam-rgyal
The channel branch at the eastern gate of the heart, embracing Ankusa
| White
| The natural purity of eternalist views and acts of pacification
| Vajra
|
| Yamantaka | gshin-rje gshed
The channel branch at the southern gate of the heart, embracing Pasa
| Yellow
| The natural purity of nihilistic views and acts of enrichment
| Ratna
|
| Hayagriva | rta-mgrin
The channel branch at the western gate of the heart, embracing Spotha
| Red
| The natural purity of egotistical views and acts of subjugation Green
| Padma
|
| Amrtakundalin | bdud-rtsi ‘khyil-ba
The channel branch at the northern gate of the heart, embracing Gantha
| Green
| The natural purity of substantialist views and acts of wrath
| karma
|
The four female gatekeepers: Ankusa, Pasa, Sphota and Ghanta, represent the natural purity of the four types of birth and the four immeasurable aspirations
NB: According to
Chapter 7, they represent the natural purity of the four extreme views.
| Location
| Colour
| Symbolising
| Enlightened family
|
| Ankusa | Icags-kyu-ma
The channel branch at the eastern gate of the heart, embracing Trailokyavijaya
| White
| The natural purity of miraculous birth and the immeasurable aspiration of compassion
| vajra
|
| Pasa | zhags-pa-ma
The channel branch at the southern gate of the heart, embracing Yamantaka
| Yellow
| The natural purity of womb birth and the immeasurable aspiration of loving kindness
| Ratna
|
| Sphota | Icags-sgrogs-ma
The channel branch at the western gate of the heart, embracing Hayagriva
| Red
| The natural purity of egg birth and the immeasurable aspiration of empathetic joy Green
| Padma
|
| Ghanta | dril-bu-ma
The channel branch at the northern gate of the heart, embracing Amrtakundalin
| The natural purity of birth through heat and moisture, and the immeasurable aspiration of equanimity
| Karma
|
The six sages: Indrasakra, Vemacitra, Sakyamuni, Sthirasimha, Jvalamukha and Yama Dharmaraja, represent the natural purity of the six dissonant mental states
| Location
| Colour
| Symbolising
| | Indrasakra | dbang-po brgya-byin
In the channel branch of the energy centre of great bliss at the crown of the head
| White
| The natural purity of pride
|
| Vemacitra | thag-bzang-ris
In | the occipital channel at the throat
Green
| The natural purity of envy
|
| Sakyamuni | shakya tbub-pa
In the ‘life force’ channel at the heart
| Yellow
| The natural purity of attachment
|
| Sthirasimha | senge rab-brtan
In the energy centre at the navel
| Blue
| The natural purity of delusion
|
| Jvalamukha | kha-’bar-ma
In the channel branch at the bliss-sustaining secret energy centre
| Red
| The natural purity of miserliness
|
| Yama Dharmaraja | gshin-rje chos-kyi rgyal-po
In the energy centre at the soles of the feet
| Black
| The natural purity of aversion
|
The Fifty-eight Wrathful Deities
The six peaceful male buddhas: Samantabhadra, Vairocana, Aksobhya-Vajrasattva, Ratnasambhava, Amitabha and Amoghasiddhi are in their wrathful aspects respectively: Mahottara Heruka, Buddha Heruka, Vajra Heruka, Ratna Heruka, Padma Heruka and Karma Heruka, who represent the natural transformation of the six dissonant mental states
| Location
| Colour
| Symbolising
| Enlightened family
|
| Mahottara Heruka | che-mchog he-ru-ka
In the central channel branch of the skull within the brain, embracing Krodhesvarl
| Dark brown
| The natural transformation of fundamental ignorance into pure awareness
|
|
| Buddha Heruka | buddha he-ru-ka
In the central channel branch of the skull within the brain, embracing Buddhakrodhesvarl
| Dark brown
| The natural transformation of delusion into the pristine cognition of reality’s expanse
| Buddha
|
| Location
| Colour
| Symbolising
| Enlightened family
|
| Vajra Heruka | badzra he-ru-ka
In | the eastern channel branch of the skull within the brain, embracing Vajrakrodhlsvarl
Dark blue
| The natural transformation of aversion into the mirror- Vajra like pristine cognition
| vajra
|
| Ratna Heruka | ratna he-ru-ka
In the southern channel branch of the skull within the brain, embracing Ratnakrodhlsvarl
| Dark yellow
| The natural transformation of pride into the pristine cog- Ratna nition of sameness
| Ratna
|
| Padma Heruka | padma he-ru-ka
In the western channel branch of the skull within the brain, embracing Padmakrodhisvarl
| Dark red
| The natural transformation of attachment into the pristine cognition of discernment
| Padma
|
| Karma Heruka | ka-rma he-ru-ka
In the northern channel branch of the skull within the brain, embracing Karmakrodhlsvarl
| Dark green
| The natural transformation of envy into the pristine cognition of accomplishment
| Karma
|
The six peaceful female buddhas: Samantabhadrl, Akasadhatvlsvan, Buddhalocana, Mamakl, Pandaravasini and Samayatara in their wrathful aspects respectively are Krodhesvarl, Buddhakrodhesvarl, Vajrakrodhesvarl, Ratnakrodhesvan, Padmakrodhesvan and Karmakrodhesvan, who represent the natural transformation of mental constructs associated with the six objects of consciousness
| Location
| Colour
| Symbolising
| Enlightened family
|
| Krodhesvarl | kro-ti-sva-ri
In the central channel branch of the skull within the brain, embracing Mahottara Heruka
| Dark blue
| The natural transformation of mental constructs associated with the sensory spectrum of phenomena
|
|
| Buddhakrodhesvarl | bde-gshegs dbyings-phyug-tna/ buddha kro-ti-sva-ri
In the central channel branch of the skull within the brain, embracing Buddha Heruka
| Red- brown
| The natural transformation of mental constructs associated with physical objects [of sight]
| Buddha
|
| Vajrakrodhesvarl | yum ba-dzra kro-ti-sva-ri
In the eastern channel branch of the skull within the brain, embracing Vajra Heruka
| Pale blue
| The natural transformation of mental constructs associated with objects of sound
| vajra
|
| Ratnakrodhesvari | yum ratna kro-ti-sva-ri
In the southern channel branch of the skull within the brain, embracing Ratna Heruka
| Pale yellow
| The natural transformation of mental constructs associated with objects of smell
| Ratna
|
| Padmakrodhesvari | yum padma kro-ti-sva-ri
In the western channel branch of the skull within the brain,embracing Karma Heruka
| Pale red
| The natural transformation of mental constructs associated with objects of taste
| padma
|
| Karmakrodhesvart | karma yum kro-ti-sva-ri
In the northern channel branch of the skull within the brain, embracing Padma Heruka
| Pale green
| The natural transformation of mental constructs | associated with objects of touch
Karma
|
The eight Matarah: Gaurl, Cauri, Pramoha, Vetall, Pukkasi, Ghasman, Candall and Smasani, represent the natural transformation of mental constructs associated with the eight classes of consciousness
| Location
| Colour
| Symbolising
|
| Gaurl | ke’u-ri
In the eastern channel branch of the skull within the brain
| White
| The natural transformation of mental constructs associated with visual consciousness, and the action of destroying the conceptual landscape of cyclic existence
|
| Cauri | tsa’u-ri
In the southern channel branch of the skull within the brain
| Yellow
| The natural transformation of mental constructs associated with auditory consciousness, and the action of propelling the six classes of beings into higher rebirth
|
| Pramoha | pra-mo-ha
In the western channel branch of the skull within the brain
| Red
| The natural transformation of mental constructs associated with olfactory consciousness, and the action of resisting [the seductions of] cyclic existence
|
| Location
| Colour
| Symbolising
|
| Vetall | vetali
In the northern channel branch of the skull within the brain
| Green-black
| The natural transformation of mental constructs associated with gustatory consciousness, and the action of [sustaining recognition of] the unchanging reality
|
| Pukkasi | pu-kka-st
In the south-eastern channe branch of the skull within the brain
| Red-yellow
| The natural transformation of mental constructs associated with tactile consciousness, and the action of drawing [sentient beings] free from the dissonant realms
|
| Ghasmari | ghasmari
In the south-western channel branch of the skull within the brain
| Green-black
| The natural transformation of mental constructs associated with the mental consciousness, and the action of consuming [the turning circle of] cyclic existence
|
| Candall | gtum-mo
In the north-western channel branch of the skull within the brain
| Pale yellow
| The natural transformation of mental constructs associated with the ‘ground-of-alp consciousness, and the action of severing erroneous thoughts [at their roots]
|
| Smasani | dur-khrod-ma
In the north-eastern channel branch of the skull within the brain
| Blue-black
| The natural transformation of mental constructs associated with the deluded consciousness, and the action of severing the buttresses of cyclic existence
|
The eight Pisaci: Simhamukhi, Vyaghrlmukhi, Srgalamukhi, Svanamukhl, Grdhramukhl, Kankamukhi, Kakamukhi and Ulukatnukhl, represent the natural transformation of mental constructs associated with the objects of the eight classes of consciousness
| Location
| Colour
| Symbolising
|
| Simhamukhi | seng-gdong-ma
In the outer eastern channel branch of the skull within the brain
| Brown-black
| The natural transformation of mental constructs associated with visual objects, and the action of stirring cyclic existence to its depths
|
| Vyaghrimukhl | stag-gdong-ma
In the outer southern channel branch of the skull within the brain
| Red
| The natural transformation of mental constructs associated with sounds, and the action of overwhelming attachment to cyclic existence
|
| Srgalamukhl | sri-la gdong-ma
In the outer western channel branch of the skull within the brain
| Black
| The natural transformation of mental constructs associated with smells, and the action of purifying dissonant mental states in their basic nature
|
| Svanamukhl | shva-na gdong-ma
In the outer northern channel branch of the skull within the brain
| Blue-black
| The natural transformation of mental constructs associated with tastes, and the action of stirring the pit of cyclic existence
|
| Grdhramukhi | rgod-gdong-ma
In the outer south-eastern channel branch of the skull within the brain
| White-yellow
| The natural transformation of mental constructs associated with touch, and the action of severing the three poisons from their roots
|
| Kankamukhl | kang-ka gdong-ma
In the outer south-western channel branch of the skull within the brain
| Red-black
| The natural transformation of mental constructs associated with mental phenomena, and the action of extracting [beings] from the pit of cyclic existence
|
| Kakamukhl | kha-kha gdong-ma
In the outer north-western channel branch of the skull within the brain
| Black
| The natural transformation of mental constructs associated with objects of the ‘ground-of-all’ consciousness, and the action of consuming and liberating dissonant mental states
|
| Ulukamukhi | hu-lu gdong-ma
In the outer north-eastern channel branch of the skull within the brain
| Dark blue
| The natural transformation of mental constructs associated with objects of the deluded consciousness, and the action of drawing [beings] free from the false mentality of cyclic existence
|
The four Female Gatekeepers manifest as Vajratejasi, Vajramogha, Vajraloka and Vajravetall, respectively representing the closing of the doors to the four types of birth and the force of the four immeasurable aspirations
| Location
| Colour
| Symbolising
| Enlightened family
|
| Vajratejasi | [Ankusa] Icags-kyu-ma
In the channel branch at the eastern gate of the skull within the brain
| white
| The force of immeasurable compassion and the closing of the door to miraculous birth
| Vajra
|
| Vajramogha | [Pasa] zhags-pa-ma
In the channel branch at the southern gate of the skull within the brain
| Yellow
| The force of immeasurable loving kindness and the closing of the door to womb birth
| Ratna
|
| Vajraloka | [Sphotd] Icags-sgrogs-ma
In the channel branch at the western gate of the skull within the brain
| Red
| The force of immeasurable empathetic joy and the closing of the door to egg birth
| Padma
|
| Vajravetall | [Ghanta] dril-bu-ma
In the channel branch at the northern gate of the skull within the brain
| Green
| The force of immeasurable equanimity and the closing of the door to birth through heat and moisture
| Karma
|
Twenty-eight Isvari, represent the purification of the aggregates of bewildered mental constructs and the enactment of enlightened activity
| Location
| Colour
| Symbolising
| Enlightened family
| The six yogini of the east:
| In the minor channels of the eastern outer courtyard of the skull
|
| The activities of pacification
| Vajra
| Manuraksasi
|
| Brownish
|
|
| Brahmani
|
| White
|
|
| Raudrl
|
| Greenish
|
|
|
|
| white
|
|
| Vaisnavi
|
| Bluish Water
|
|
| Kaumari
|
| Reddish White
|
|
| Indrani
|
| white
|
|
| The six yogini of die south:
| In the minor channels of the southern outer courtyard of the skull
|
| The activities of enrichment
| Ratna
| vajra
|
| yellow
|
|
| santi
|
| reddish
|
|
|
|
| yellow
|
|
| Amrta
|
| reddish
|
|
|
|
| yellow
|
|
| Saumi
|
| whitish yellow
|
|
| Dandi
|
| Greenish
|
|
|
|
| yellow
|
|
| Raksasi
|
| Bkackish
|
|
|
|
| yellow
|
|
| The six yogini of the west:
| In the minor channels of the western outer courtyard of the skull
|
| The activities of subjugation
|
| padma
|
Bhaksasi
|
| Greenish Red
|
|
| Rati
|
| Red
|
|
| Rudhiramadi
|
| Pale Red
|
|
| Ekacarini Raksasi
|
| Red
|
|
| Manoharika
|
| Red
|
|
| Siddhikarl
|
| Greenish Red
|
|
| The six yogini of the north:
| In the minor channels of the northern outer courtyard of the skull
|
| The activities of wrath
| Karma
| Vayudevi
|
| Bluish Green
|
|
| Agnayl
|
| Reddish Green
|
|
| Varahl
|
| Blackish Greem
|
|
| camundi
|
| Reddish Green
|
|
| Bhujana
|
| Blackish Green
|
|
| varunani
|
| Bluish Green
|
|
| The four yogini gatekeepers:
| At the [outer] eastern, southern, western and northern gates of the skull respectively
|
| The closing of the four doors to the four types of birth, and the enactment of the four kinds of enlightened activity
|
| Vajra Mahakall
|
| white
|
| Vajra
| Vajra Mahachagala
|
| yellow
|
|
| Ratna
|
Vajra Mahakumbhakarni
|
| red
|
|
| padma
|
Vajra Lambodara
|
| Dark Green
|
|
| Karma
|
