Maharatnakula, Māhāratnakula: 1 definition
Introduction:
Maharatnakula 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 IconographyMāhāratnakula (माहारत्नकुल) or Māhāratnakulalokeśvara refers to number 58 of the 108 forms of Avalokiteśvara found in the Machhandar Vahal (Kathmanu, Nepal). [Machhandar or Machandar is another name for for Matsyendra.].
Accordingly,—
“Māhāratnakula is three-faced and six-armed and stands on a lotus. The head on the top represents Amitābha. He carries the sword, the Utpala and the rosary in his three right hands and the book, the lotus and the Utpala in the three left”.
The names of the 108 deities [viz., Māhāratnakula] 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.
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Starts with: Maharatnakulalokeshvara.
Full-text: Maharatnakulalokeshvara.
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The Indian Buddhist Iconography (by Benoytosh Bhattachacharyya)