Vishvavajra, Viśvavajrā, Viśvavajra: 4 definitions (2024)

The Sanskrit terms Viśvavajrā and Viśvavajra can be transliterated into English as Visvavajra or Vishvavajra, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).

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In Buddhism

Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)

Source: archive.org: The Indian Buddhist Iconography

Viśvavajra (विश्ववज्र) or Viśvavajralokeśvara refers to number 86 of the 108 forms of Avalokiteśvara found in the Machhandar Vahal (Kathmanu, Nepal). [Machhandar or Machandar is another name for for Matsyendra.].

Accordingly,—

“Viśvavajra also is similar to [Piṇḍapātra Lokeśvara] with the difference, that here the god displays the Varada pose with his right hand and holds a snake in his left.—Piṇḍapātra Lokeśvara is one-faced and two-armed and stands on a lotus. He holds the Piṇḍapātra (the bowl) in his two hands near the navel”.

The names of the 108 deities [viz., Viśvavajra] 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.Source: OSU Press: Cakrasamvara Samadhi

Viśvavajra (विश्ववज्र) refers to “(possesing) a world vajra” (or, double vajra) which is used to describe Cakrasaṃvara, according to the Saṃvaramaṇḍala of Abhayākaragupta’s Niṣpannayogāvalī, p. 45 and n. 145; (Cf. Cakrasaṃvaratantra, Gray, David B., 2007).—Accordingly, [while describing the iconography of Cakrasaṃvara]: “In the Saṃvara Maṇḍala atop Mount Sumera within a vajra-canopy there is a variegated lotus, on top of that a palace, in the middle of which is the Blessed Lord, standing in ālīḍhāsana, "archer's pose", [...] possessing a naraśiromālā-śatārdha, "garland of fifty (fresh) human heads" around the neck, the ṣaṇmudrā, "six insignia", bone ornaments, which are the kaṇṭhikā, "necklace", rucaka, "bracelets", kuṇḍala, "ear-rings", mekhalā, "girdle", śiromaṇi, "crest jewel", and bhasmitiḥ, "covered in ashes", a jaṭāmakuṭa, "crest of dreadlocks", kapālamālā, "crown of (five) skulls", topped by an ardhacandra, "crescent moon", and viśvavajra, "world vajra" or "double vajra", a vikṛitānana, "fierce face", and daṃṣṭrotkaṭa, "horrible gigantic fangs".

Note: The viśvavajra, "world vajra", is symbolic of the maṇḍala of the world system, and represent actions that serve all beings.

Source: MDPI Books: The Ocean of Heroes

Viśvavajra (विश्ववज्र) refers to a “crossed vajra”, 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, “[...] [The Causal Vajra-holder] is white in color, [has] four faces, [has] three eyes [on each], [has] twelve arms, is devoted to the yoga of union with wisdom (his female consort), and is adorned with youthful ornaments. [His four faces are], counterclockwise, white, green, red, and yellow [in color, respectively]. [He has] twisted locks of hair and has a crossed Vajra (viśvavajra) and a crescent moon on the face (head). [...]”.

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.

Languages of India and abroad

Sanskrit dictionary

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Edgerton Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Dictionary

Viśvavajrā (विश्ववज्रा).—name of a goddess: Sādhanamālā 76.3.

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Item last updated: 24 October, 2024