Vajroshnisha, Vajroṣṇīṣa, Vajra-ushnisha: 1 definition

Introduction:

Vajroshnisha 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.

The Sanskrit term Vajroṣṇīṣa can be transliterated into English as Vajrosnisa or Vajroshnisha, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).

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In Buddhism

Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)

Source: archive.org: The Indian Buddhist Iconography

1) Vajroṣṇīṣa (वज्रोष्णीष) is another name for Padmāntaka: one of the ten deities of the quarters (Dikpāla) presiding over the west, commonly depicted in Buddhist Iconography, and mentioned in the 11th-century Niṣpannayogāvalī of Mahāpaṇḍita Abhayākara.—His Colour is Red ; he has three faces and six arms.—The third Lord of the quarters is Padmāntaka (who presides over the west).—In the vajrahūṃkāra-maṇḍala he is known by the name of Vajroṣṇīṣa.

2) Vajroṣṇīṣa (वज्रोष्णीष) presides over the East and represents one of the eight Uṣṇīṣa Gods, commonly depicted in Buddhist Iconography, according to the same Niṣpannayogāvalī.—His Colour is white; his Symbol is the bhūṣparśa.—The first deity in this Uṣṇīṣa series of gods is Vajroṣṇīṣa .

Vajroṣṇīṣa is described in Niṣpannayogāvalī (durgatipariśodhana-maṇḍala) as follows:—

“On the Eastern spoke there is Vajroṣṇīṣa of white colour. He shows the bhūṣparśa (Earth-touching) mudrā”.

[The Uṣṇīṣa deities like all other deities of the maṇḍala are two-armed and one-faced. They wear rich dress and ornaments, and a bejewelled crown. They sit on human beings.]

3) Vajroṣṇīṣa (वज्रोष्णीष) or Vajroṣṇīṣalokeśvara refers to number 34 of the 108 forms of Avalokiteśvara found in the Machhandar Vahal (Kathmanu, Nepal). [Machhandar or Machandar is another name for for Matsyendra.].

Accordingly,—

“Vajroṣṇīṣa is one-faced and six-armed, and is represented as standing on a lotus. His three right hands show the rosary, the Tridaṇḍī and the Abhaya pose, and his three left the book, the noose and the Varada pose”.

The names of the 108 deities [viz., Vajroṣṇīṣa] 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.

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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 vajroshnisha or vajrosnisa in the context of Tibetan Buddhism from relevant books on Exotic India

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