Vajradhatumahamandala, Vajradhātumahāmaṇḍala, Vajradhatu-mahamandala: 2 definitions

Introduction:

Vajradhatumahamandala 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.

In Buddhism

Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)

[«previous next»] — Vajradhatumahamandala in Mahayana glossary
Source: ISEAS: An eighth-century commentary on the Nāmasaṅgīti

Vajradhātumahāmaṇḍala (वज्रधातुमहामण्डल).—Chapter 4 of the Nāmamantrārthāvalokinī describes how the yogin visualizes himself as Mahāvairocana enthroned at the center of the Vajradhātumahāmaṇḍala, surrounded by the empty moon seats envisioned for other divinities. However, these moon seats only later become populated by means of the recitation of the Name-mantras presented in Chapter 5, within which Bodhicittavajra apparently replaces Mahāvairocana as the principal divinity.

Vilāsavajra clearly describes Bodhicittavajra as occupying the central seat of the Vajradhātumahāmaṇḍala: ‘One should visualise Bodhicittavajra, transformed out of the syllable A, white in colour, possessing the Erotic Sentiment, crowned with the five Buddhas, seated in a state of Diamond-pride, adorned with every ornament, holding a vajra and bell, placed as before, at the centre of the maṇḍala’.

Mahayana book cover
context information

Mahayana (महायान, mahāyāna) is a major branch of Buddhism focusing on the path of a Bodhisattva (spiritual aspirants/ enlightened beings). Extant literature is vast and primarely composed in the Sanskrit language. There are many sūtras of which some of the earliest are the various Prajñāpāramitā sūtras.

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Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)

[«previous next»] — Vajradhatumahamandala in Tibetan Buddhism glossary
Source: Brill: Śaivism and the Tantric Traditions (tantric Buddhism)

Vajradhātumahāmaṇḍala (वज्रधातुमहामण्डल) or simply Vajradhātumaṇḍala refers to “the maṇḍala of Vajradhātu”, according to the Nāmamantrārthāvalokinī by Vilāsavajra, which is a commentary on the Nāmasaṃgīti.—The Nāmamantrārthāvalokinī interprets the Nāmasaṃgīti within the context of a Tantric sādhana, one based on an expanded version of the Tattvasaṃgraha’s yogatantra Vajradhātumaṇḍala. The maṇḍala’s principal deity is a four-faced Mahāvairocana, and it is in his heart that Vilāsavajra locates the Ādibuddha, depicted with eight arms holding four swords and four book volumes.

Note: The Vajradhātumaṇḍala is more accurately called the Vajradhātumahāmaṇḍala. [...] The Tattvasaṃgraha is known also by the more extended title, Sarvatathāgatatattvasaṃgraha. The shorter form is commonly found in Sanskrit sources, including the Nāmamantrārthāvalokinī.

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.

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