In Buddhism

Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)

Source: archive.org: The Indian Buddhist Iconography

Mahābhayakarī (महाभयकरी) or Mahābhayakarīlokeśvara refers to number 64 of the 108 forms of Avalokiteśvara found in the Machhandar Vahal (Kathmanu, Nepal). [Machhandar or Machandar is another name for for Matsyendra.].

Accordingly,—

“Mahābhayakarī also is similar in form to [Mahācandrabimba Lokeśvara], but the symbols in his hands are different. Here the god holds the book against the chest with his two principal hands, the Vajra and the rosary in his right, and the Ghaṇṭā and the Tridaṇḍi in his left.—Mahācandrabimba Lokeśvara is three-faced and six-armed and stands on a lotus. He holds the arrow, the Utpala and the fruit in his three right hands, and the bow, the Vajra and the Cakra in his three left. The head on the top probably represents Amitābha”.

The names of the 108 deities [viz., Mahābhayakarī] 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: Mahabhayakarilokeshvara.

Full-text: Khada, Mahabhayakarilokeshvara.

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