Chapter 4 - Ṣaḍakṣari-mahāvidyā-maṇḍala-varnaṇa

Ṣaḍakṣarimahāvidyāmaṇḍal-avarnaṇaṃ Caturthaṃ Prakaraṇam
(Chapter Four named Ṣaḍakṣarimahāvidyāmaṇḍalavarnaṇam)

Then Bhagavat Bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara said, ‘It should not be given to one who has not seen the maṇḍala. How would one apprehend the Bhagavat’s lotus-hook hand gesture? How would one know the Maṇidhara hand gesture? How would one know the lord of all-kings hand gesture? How would one know the correct maṇḍala? These are the features of the maṇḍala: It should be square with a circumference of five cubits. Draw Amitābha in the centre of the maṇḍala. To create the body of Tathāgata Amitābha, sprinkle powder made from precious sapphire powder, emerald powder, ruby powder, crystal powder, and powdered silver and gold. On his right create Bodhisattva Mahāmaṇidhara. On his left draw Ṣaḍakṣarī Mahāvidyā, who has four arms and is white like the autumn moon. She is adorned with various adornments and holds a lotus in her left hand. Draw a jewel upon that lotus. Draw a jewel rosary in her left hand. Portray the palms of two hands being placed together in the gesture named the lord-of-all-kings. Draw a vidyādhara beneath the legs of Ṣaḍakṣarī Mahāvidyā. Draw him holding a smoking stick of incense in his right hand and a basket filled with various adornments in his left hand. Draw the four mahārājas at the four doors of the maṇḍala. Draw them holding their individual offerings. Place vases filled with various precious jewels at the four corners of the maṇḍala. A noble son or noble daughter who wishes to enter that maṇḍala should write the names of the entire lineage of his or her family and first of all cast those names into the maṇḍala. They will then all be freed from every human suffering and will become Bodhisattvas in their last life. They will also quickly attain the highest complete enlightenment, which is complete Buddhahood. The ācārya should not give it to those who are inappropriate. It should be bestowed upon those who aspire for it with faith, or bestowed upon those who aspire for it with faith in the Mahāyāna. It should not be given to tīrthikas.

Then the Tathāgata, the arhat, the samyaksaṃbuddha Amitābha said to Bodhisattva Mahāsattva Avalokiteśvara, ‘Noble son, what if the noble son or noble daughter is poor and cannot use precious sapphire jewel powder, emerald powder, or gold or silver powder?’ Bhagavat, he should use powder dyed with various colours and use various flowers and various incenses. ‘Noble son, what if, because he has gone to another land and lacks the facilities, he cannot even obtain those?’ Then the ācārya should imagine the maṇḍala in his mind, and the ācārya should teach the nature of the mantras and gestures.

End of the Chapter Four named Ṣaḍakṣarimahāvidyāmaṇḍalavarnaṇam.