Mahavajrapani, Mahāvajrapāṇi: 1 definition
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Mahavajrapani means something in Buddhism, Pali. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.
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Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)
Source: archive.org: The Indian Buddhist IconographyMahāvajrapāṇi (महावज्रपाणि) or Mahāvajrapāṇilokeśvara refers to number 69 of the 108 forms of Avalokiteśvara found in the Machhandar Vahal (Kathmanu, Nepal). [Machhandar or Machandar is another name for for Matsyendra.].
Accordingly,—
“Mahāvajrapāṇi also is identical with [Mahāviśvaśuddha Lokeśvara], except that here the god carries the sword, the goad, the Gadā, and the rosary in his four right hands and the Cakra, the noose, the Utpala and the book 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., Mahāvajrapāṇi] 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. 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: Mahavajrapanilokeshvara.
Full-text: Mahavajrapanilokeshvara.
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Search found 1 books and stories containing Mahavajrapani, Mahāvajrapāṇi; (plurals include: Mahavajrapanis, Mahāvajrapāṇis). 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)