List of Plates ix
Acknowledgements xi
Introduction xii
Chapter 1: Landscape Elements 3
Rock Formations 4
Simulacra in Landscape 11
Water 13
Fire (Flames) 17
Air (Clouds) 24
Sky 31
Rainbows 31
Aura Lines 34
Chapter 2: Flowers and Trees 37
The Lotus 37
Lotus Seats or Thrones 38
Flowers, Flower Buds, and Leaves 41
Trees, Leaves, and Fruit Roundels 48
Chapter 3: Animals 59
Animals Mythological and Real 59
The Windhorse and the Four Supernatural Animal Guardians of the Four Directions 60
The Horse 60
The Windhorse 60
The Supernatural Animals of the Four Directions 62
The Dragon 63
Garuda 65
The Makara 68
The Face of Majesty 69
The Naga 70
Nagas and the Civilisations of the Indus Valley 72
The Three Victorious Creatures of Harmony 73
Domestic and Wild Animals 75
Animal Heads 77
Tiger, Leopard, Snow-Lion and Horse 78
The Elephant 80
Deer 83
Birds 85
The Six-Ornament Throne of Enlightenment 88
The Animal Thrones of the Five Buddhas 90
The Five Buddha Families—Colours, Origins, and Contradictions 92
Chapter 4: Narrative Subjects 95
The Four Friends or Harmonious Brothers 95
The Six Symbols of Long Life 95
Diagram of Shamatha Meditation Practice or 'Tranquil Abiding' 99
Chapter 5: Cosmology 103
Mount Meru 103
The Vedic Legend of the Churning of the Ocean 109
The Mandala Offering 110
The Tibetan Astrological Diagram 115
The Legend of the Golden Tortoise Diagram 115
The 'All-Powerful Ten' Interlocking Syllables 123
The Stupa 127
The Symbolism of the Stupa 128
The Proportions of the Stupa 130
The Eight Great Stupas 133
The Channel-Wheel Systems 135
The Hindu Kundalini Yoga Chakra System 137
The Buddhist Channel-Wheel System 140
Sexuality, Conception, and Birth 140
The Death Process 141
The Generation and Completion Stages of Highest Yoga Tantra 141
The Kalachakra Channel-Wheel System 145
The Numerical Symbolism of the Channels and Channel-Wheels 146
Chapter 6: Mudras 149
Chapter 7: The Chakravartin and His Seven Precious Possessions 160
The Seven Possessions of the Chakravartin 162
The Precious Wheel 162
The Precious Jewel 162
The Precious Queen 162
The Precious Minister 163
The Precious Elephant 163
The Precious Horse 163
The Precious General 163
The Seven Secondary Possessions of the Chakravartin 163
The Sword 163
The Naga Skin 164
The Royal House 164
The Robes 164
The Royal Gardens 164
The Throne 164
The Boots 165
Chapter 8: Auspicious Symbols 171
The Eight Auspicious Symbols 171
The Lotus 173
The Endless Knot 173
The Golden Fishes 176
The Parasol 176
The Victory Banner 180
The Golden Treasure Vase 181
The White Conch Shell 183
The Wheel 185
The Eight Auspicious Substances 187
The Mirror 188
The Medicine 188
Curds or Yoghurt 188
Durva Grass 189
The Bilva Fruit 189
The Right-Spiralling Conch 190
The Vermilion Powder 190
Mustard Seed 190
The Five Offerings of Sensory Enjoyment 194
The Mirror 194
Musical Instruments 198
Perfume and Incense Offering 201
Fruit and Food Offerings 201
The Silk Cloth 202
Chapter 9: Various Peaceful Offerings, Jewels, and Ritual Implements 205
The Three Jewels 205
The Seven Water Bowl Offerings 205
Jewels 208
Gzi Stones or Beads 212
The Rosary 215
Rudraksha Beads 216
Hand-Held Plant Attributes 217
Assorted Ritual Implements 219
The Possessions of an Ordained Monk 226
Monastic and Ceremonial Musical Instruments 228
Chapter 10: The Wheel of Sharp Weapons 233
The Vajra 233
The Iconography and Symbolism of the Five-Pointed Vajra 235
The Crossed Vajra 239
The Bell 243
The Iconography and Symbolism of the Bell 243
The Ritual Dagger 245
The Iconography and Symbolism of the Phurba 247
The Hindu Kapalikas, Padmasambhava, and the Buddhist Mahasiddhas 249
The Eight Great Charnel Grounds 250
The Hindu Rite of Cremation 252
The Tantric Staff 252
The Iconography of the Khatvanga 253
The Khatvanga: Outer Symbolism 254
The Khatvanga: Inner Symbolism 254
The Khatvanga: Secret Symbolism 254
The Hand Drum 258
The Thighbone Trumpet 259
The Curved Knife or Chopper 261
The Skull or Skull-Cup 263
Hand-Held Weapons and the Ritual Implements of Specific Deities 267
Archery 267
The Bow 268
The Arrow 270
The Flower Attributes of the Bow and Arrow, Hook and Noose 274
The Sword 276
The Scorpion and the Scorpion-Hilted Sword 277
The Trident-Pike, Caduceus, Dart, and Other Bladed Weapons 280
The Spear, Lance, Javelin, Harpoon, and Pike 282
The Trident 285
The Club 287
The Snare, Noose or Lasso 294
The Iron Chain 295
The Shield 298
The Discus 298
The Axe 300
The Elephant Goad or Iron Hook 302
Miscellaneous Ritual Implements and Weapons 302
Chapter 11: Wrathful Offerings, Tormas, and Ritual Fire Hearths 311
Dismembered Body Parts and Other Wrathful Attributes 311
Flayed Skin Friezes of Wrathful Offering Assemblies 313
The Eight Attires of the Charnel Grounds 315
The Six Bone Ornaments and the Five-Skull Crown 318
Ritual Offering Cakes and Thread Crosses 320
The Wrathful Offering of the Five Senses 325
The Inner Offering 327
The Visualised Generation of the Inner Offering According to the Chakrasarnvara Tantra 327
The Symbolism of the Inner Offering 330
The Possible Origins of the Inner Offering Substances 331
An Assembly of Weapons and Wrathful Offerings 333
The Ritual Fire Offering 335
Chapter 12: Geometric Borders, Patterns, Designs, and Motifs 343
Select Bibliography 375
