Medinicakra, Medini-cakra, Medinīcakra: 2 definitions

Introduction:

Medinicakra 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.

Alternative spellings of this word include Medinichakra.

In Buddhism

Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)

Source: academia.edu: The Structure and Meanings of the Heruka Maṇḍala

Medinīcakra (मेदिनीचक्र) refers to the “earth circle” positioned in the dharma-puṭa or ‘dharma layer’ of the Herukamaṇḍala: a large-scale and elaborate maṇḍala of Heruka, consisting of 986 deities, as found in the Ḍākārṇava chapter 15.—The Herukamaṇḍala consists of four layers (puṭa) consisting of concentric circles (cakra, totally one lotus at the center and 12 concentric circles, that is, 13 circles in total).

The medinīcakra contains 36 pairs of Ḍākinī (ground-goer, bhūcarī) and Hero (ground Heruka, bhūheruka):

  1. Siṃghī & Siṃgha,
  2. Vyāghrī & Vyāghra,
  3. Bhīmbhā & Bhīmbha,
  4. Śaśī & Śaśa,
  5. Gajī & Gaja,
  6. Mṛgī & Mṛga,
  7. Mārjārikī & Mārjāra,
  8. Gāvī & Gāva,
  9. Mahiṣī & Mahiṣa,
  10. Turagī & Turaga,
  11. Jambukī & Jambuka,
  12. Gaṇḍī & Gaṇḍa,
  13. Camarī & Camara,
  14. Mūṣī & Mūṣa,
  15. Gardabhī & Gardabha,
  16. Bheḍī & Bheḍa,
  17. Ajakī & Aja,
  18. Eḍakī & Eḍa,
  19. Śvānī & Śvāna,
  20. Śūkarī & Śūkara,
  21. Bhallī & Bhalla,
  22. Daṇḍārī & Daṇḍāra,
  23. Muñjakī & Muñja,
  24. Vesarī & Vesara,
  25. Vilāsī & Vilāsa,
  26. Araṇī & Araṇi,
  27. Bṛhacchvānikā & Bṛhacchvāni,
  28. Droṇakākī & Droṇakāka,
  29. Śārdūlī & Śārdūla,
  30. Vyāḍā & Vyāḍa,
  31. Citriṇī & Citrin,
  32. Kuṭikā & Kuṭika,
  33. Nakulī & Nakula,
  34. Kṛkī & Kṛka,
  35. Guhī & Guha,
  36. Grāmanivāsinī & Grāmanivāsin,

They are yellow in color; the shapes of their faces are in accordance with their names; they have four arms; they hold a skull bowl, a skull staff, a small drum, and a knife.

Source: MDPI Books: The Ocean of Heroes

Medinīcakra (मेदिनीचक्र) refers to the “earth circle”, 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, outside [that], I shall explain an excellent circle, named ‘earth,’ [e.g., medinīcakra] [which is] yellow in color according to its own nature and provided with thirty-six spokes Thirty-six Yoginīs, [who] go on the ground, are [on the spokes] in order. [The Yoginīs are]—[...] The color [of their bodies] is the same as [the color] of the circle (yellow) Alternatively, again, [they] each [have] their respective colors. [...]”.

Tibetan Buddhism book cover
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.

Discover the meaning of medinicakra in the context of Tibetan Buddhism from relevant books on Exotic India

See also (Relevant definitions)

Relevant text

Let's grow together!

I humbly request your help to keep doing what I do best: provide the world with unbiased sources, definitions and images. Your donation direclty influences the quality and quantity of knowledge, wisdom and spiritual insight the world is exposed to.

Let's make the world a better place together!

Like what you read? Consider supporting this website: