In Buddhism

Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)

Source: academia.edu: A Critical Study of the Vajraḍākamahātantrarāja (II)

1) Oḍyāyana (ओड्यायन) or Oḍyāna is one of the four Pīṭhas (‘sacred spot’) present within the Cittacakra (‘circle of mid’) which is associated with the Ḍākinī named Khecarī (‘a woman going in the sky’), according to the 9th-centruy Vajraḍākatantra. Cittacakra is one of three Cakras within the Tricakra system which embodies twenty-four sacred spots or districts (viz., Oḍyāyana) resided over by twenty-four ‘sacred girls’ (ḍākinīs) whose husbands abide in one’s body in the form of twenty-four ingredients (dhātu) of one’s body.

Oḍyāyana has the presiding Ḍākinī named Prabhāvatī whose husband, or hero (vīra) is named Kaṅkāla. The associated internal location is ‘right ear’ and the bodily ingredients (dhātu) are ‘skin’ and ‘dirt’. According to the Vajraḍākavivṛti, the districts Kaliṅga, Kosala, Suvarṇadvīpa and Oḍyāyana (Oḍyāna) are associated with the family deity of Caṇḍikā; while in the Abhidhānottarottaratantra there is the Ḍāka deity named Vajrasattva standing in the center of the districts named Pullīramalaya (Pūrṇagiri), Jālandhara, Oḍyāna (Oḍyāyana) and Arbuda.

2) Oḍyāyana (ओड्यायन) refers to one of the twenty-four sacred districts mentioned in the 9th century Vajraḍākatantra (chapter 18). These districts are not divided into subgroups, nor are explained their internal locations. They [viz., Oḍyāyana] are external holy places, where the Tantric meting is held with native women who are identified as a native goddess. A similar system appears in the tradition of Hindu Tantrims, i.e., in the Kubjikāmatatantra (chapter 22), which belongs to the Śākta sect or Śaivism.

Oḍyāyana is presided over by the Goddess (Devī) named Guhyā accompanied by the Field-protector (Kṣetrapāla) named Mahānāda or Mahābala. Their weapon possibly corresponds to the vajra and śṛṅkhala and their abode (residence) is mentioned as being a aśoka-tree.

Source: MDPI Books: The Ocean of Heroes

Oḍyāyana (ओड्यायन) is the name of Pīṭha (category of holy sites), according to the 10th-century Ḍākārṇava-tantra: one of the last Tibetan Tantric scriptures belonging to the Buddhist Saṃvara tradition consisting of 51 chapters.—Accordingly: “Now, [the Blessed One] has taught [holy sites] such as the pīṭha and upapīṭha in sequence. (1) The pīṭha [sites] are Pūrṇagiri, Jālandhara, and Oḍyāyana. Arbuda is likewise the pīṭha. (2) With Godāvarī, the upapīṭha [sites] are Rāmeśvara and Devikoṭa (for Devīkoṭa). Mālava is also the upapīṭha . [...] Girls who are in these places are of [the nature of] the innate, born in their own birthplaces. [...]”.

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)

Full-text: Arbuda, Vajrasattva, Jalandhara, Guhya, Candika, Mahanada, Purnagiri, Godavari, Rameshvara, Devikota, Malava, Odyana, Koshala, Kalinga, Pulliramalaya, Suvarnadvipa.

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