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Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)

Source: archive.org: The Indian Buddhist Iconography

Mahāvajradhātu (महावज्रधातु) or Mahāvajradhātulokeśvara refers to number 67 of the 108 forms of Avalokiteśvara found in the Machhandar Vahal (Kathmanu, Nepal). [Machhandar or Machandar is another name for for Matsyendra.].

Accordingly,—

“Mahāvajradhātu is identical with [Mahāviśvaśuddha Lokeśvara] in all respects but the symbols differ. Here the god carries the Vajra, the bow, the Triśūla and the sword in his four right hands, and the Ghaṇṭā, the arrow, the Kamaṇḍalu and the noose in his four left.—Mahāviśvaśuddha Lokeśvara is four-faced and eight-armed and stands on a lotus. He carries in his four right hands the sword, the flag, the Vajra and the goad, while the four left have the Ghaṇṭā, the conch, the Utpala and the lotus”.

The names of the 108 deities [viz., Mahāvajradhātu] possbily originate from a Tantra included in the Kagyur which is named “the 108 names of Avalokiteshvara”, however it is not yet certain that this is the source for the Nepali descriptions.

context information

Tibetan Buddhism includes schools such as Nyingma, Kadampa, Kagyu and Gelug. Their primary canon of literature is divided in two broad categories: The Kangyur, which consists of Buddha’s words, and the Tengyur, which includes commentaries from various sources. Esotericism and tantra techniques (vajrayāna) are collected indepently.

See also (Relevant definitions)

Starts with: Mahavajradhatulokeshvara.

Full-text: Mahavajradhatulokeshvara.

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Search found 1 books and stories containing Mahavajradhatu, Mahāvajradhātu; (plurals include: Mahavajradhatus, Mahāvajradhātus). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

The Indian Buddhist Iconography (by Benoytosh Bhattachacharyya)

108 forms of Avalokiteśvara (67): Mahāvajradhātu Lokeśvara

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