I-Notes101

सरस्वति नमस्तुभ्यं वरदे कामरूपिणि । sarasvati namastubhyaṃ varade kāmarūpiṇi । Salutations to Devi Saraswati, Who is the giver of Boons and fulfiller of Wishes, विद्यारम्भं करिष्यामि सिद्धिर्भवतु मे सदा ॥ vidyārambhaṃ kariṣyāmi siddhirbhavatu me sadā ॥ O Devi, when I begin my Studies, Please bestow on me the capacity of Right Understanding, always.

Lakṣhmī is the Goddess who leads to one’s goal (lakshya in Sanskrit), hence Her name Lakshmi. For mankind, 8 types of goals are necessary—Spiritual enlightenment, food, knowledge, resources, progeny, abundance, patience, and success, hence there are 8 Ashta -Aadi Lakshmi, Dhaanya Lakshmi, Vidya Lakshmi, Dhana Lakshmi, Santana Lakshmi, Gaja Lakshmi, Dhairya Lakshmi, and Vijaya Lakshmi. She is the wife Vishnu, one of the principal deities of Hinduism.

An inscription from Issyk kurgan that it is tentatively identified as Khotanese (although written in Kharosthi), all of the surviving documents originate from Khotan or Tumshuq. Khotanese is attested from over 2,300 texts preserved among the Dunhuang manuscripts, as opposed to just 15 texts in Tumshuqese. These were deciphered by Harold Walter Bailey. The earliest texts, from the fourth century, are mostly religious documents. There were several viharas in the Kingdom of Khotan and Buddhist translations are common at all periods of the documents. “Khotanese manuscript with a poem written by the Khotanese thanking their Tibetan conquerors for ‘guarding this land of Khotan’.” Credits information for the only education to Wikipedia

Astasahasrika Prajnaparamita Manuscript Prajnaparamita and Scenes from the Buddha's Life (top), Maitreya and Scenes from the Buddha's Life (bottom), circa 1075 Book/manuscript; Painting; Watercolor, Text: written in ink; illustrations: opaque watercolor on palm leaf.

Tripura Sundarī or Lalita Maha Tripura Sundari is a Hindu goddess and one of the ten Mahavidyas or Shivasakthi. She is the Shakti/consort of Sada Shiva, the Prakriti to his Purusha. Lalita manifests as Goddess Sati, Goddess Parvati, Goddess Durga, Goddess Mahakali, and all their incarnations, as showcased in Shakta literature. Lalita Tripura Sundari Devi is considered to be the most potent incarnation of Adi Parashakti or simply Her Saguna Roopa. She is best known as the Devi glorified in the Lalita Sahasranama and as the subject of the Lalitopakhyanam (story of the goddess Lalita) in Hinduism.

Śeṣa, also known as Sheshanaga (Śeṣanāga) or Adishesha (Ādi Śeṣa), is the Nagaraja or King of all Nāgas and one of the primal beings of creation. In the Puranas, Shesha is said to hold all the planets of the universe on his hoods and to constantly sing the glories of the God Vishnu from all his mouths. He is sometimes referred to as Ananta Shesha, which translates as endless-Shesha or Adishesha “first Shesha”. It is said that when Adishesa uncoils, time moves forward and creation takes place; when he coils back, the universe ceases to exist. Vishnu is often depicted as resting on Shesha. Shesha is considered a servant and a manifestation of Vishnu. He is said to have descended to Earth in three human forms or avatars: Lakshmana, Krishna, and the proponent of Vishishtadvaita. Vishnu with Shesha Naga-ancient Bronze artifact in Government Museum Mathura Credits information for the only education to  Wikipedia — at  Government Museum Mathura

Rama, Lakshman, and Sita at the Kalaram Temple, Nashik. Lakṣmaṇa, lit. he who has the signs of fortune, also spelled as Laxman or Lakhan, is the younger brother of Rama and his aide in the Hindu epic, the Ramayana. He is also known by other names-Saumitra, rāmānuja, lit.younger brother of Rama and Bharatānuja, lit.younger brother of Bharata or Laxman. According to the Valmiki Ramayana, Lakshmana is one quarter (25%) component of the manifestation of the god Vishnu and is considered to be an avatar of Vishnu, whose full avatar Rama is considered. However, some scriptures regard him as the avatar of Shesha, the thousand-headed serpent associated with Vishnu.

Tārā is a meditation deity worshiped by practitioners of the Tibetan branch of Vajrayana Buddhism to develop certain inner qualities and to understand outer, inner and secret teachings such as karuṇā (compassion), mettā (loving-kindness), and shunyata (emptiness).

"Blue Tara, the Divine Mother of protection. Erupting from brilliant darkness, the skull-garlanded Tibetan protector deity Palden Lhamo rides her viper bridled mule, symbolizing her uncompromising dedication to protecting the Buddhist path of wisdom and compassion from adversarial forces. Such visionary depictions in Tibetan Buddhist art represent the transmutation of volatile energies."

White Tara Mantra. This is a beautifully layered mantra calling on White Tara for her Divine Love, compassion, wisdom, and protection: oṃ tāre tuttāre ture mama āyuḥ-puṇya-jñāna-puṣṭiṃ kuru svāhā. Ocean waves come in and out of the background in the spirit of her purification.

White Tara, also called "the Mother of all Buddhas" is the perfect embodiment of graceful power, wisdom, and purity. ... Sometimes the White Tara is called "the Goddess of Seven Eyes" because, in addition to the third eye, she is also depicted with eyes in her hands and feet.

Green Tara is a female Buddha and one of the most well-known goddesses in the Buddhist world. Tara has many forms and appears in various colors—with each hue representing a different aspect of her energy.

Black Tara is a Tibetan goddess of power, worshipped in both Hindu and Buddhist traditions. ... Black Tara administers tests for the soul, determining our evolvement and our spiritual enlightenment. She rules over spirits, exorcisms, and healing of both the body and the mind.

Extremely Powerful Shri Narasimha Mantra  Lord Narasimha is the fourth incarnation of Lord Vishnu. In his half-lion half-human, he was designed to free the world and alleviate the sufferings of devotees symbolizing the fight against evil and tyranny. Lord Narayana is considered to be the origin of the other transcendental forms of God. He is significantly worshipped by Vaishnavites as the ‘Great Protector.’ Also according to the scriptures, Lord Narasimha is amsha, an expansion of Narayana. Rig Veda refers to Vishnu’s qualities as Narasimha being ‘some wild beast, dread, prowling and mountain roaming’. In evolution theory, this avathar reflects the transformation of an animal to man.

Om, a symbol in Hinduism   Brahman connotes the highest Universal Principle, the Ultimate Reality in the universe. In major schools of Hindu philosophy, it is the material, efficient, formal, and final cause of all that exists. It is the pervasive, infinite, eternal truth and bliss which does not change, yet is the cause of all changes. Brahman as a metaphysical concept is the single binding unity behind the diversity in all that exists in the universe.

Sadhu, sādhvī or sādhvīne (female), is a religious ascetic, mendicant or any holy person in Hinduism and Jainism who has renounced the worldly life. They are sometimes alternatively referred to as jogi, sannyasi or vairagi. Credits information for the only education to  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sadhu

Viṣṇu (the "preserver" in the Hindu Trimurti) is one of the chief deities of Hinduism. Vishnu esteemed as the Supreme Being in Vaishnavism as identical to the metaphysical concept of Brahman (Atman, the self, or unchanging ultimate reality). It is notable for embracing various incarnations (avatars such as Rama and Krishna) to preserve and protect dharmic principles whenever the world threatened with evil, chaos, and destructive forces. Moreover, Vishnu is one of the five equivalent deities worshipped in Panchayatana puja in the Smarta Tradition of Hinduism. Credits information for the only education to  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vishnu Vishnu surrounded by his Avatars https://youtu.be/zKC17254flc

Śiva (The auspicious one) also known as Mahadeva (The great god) who creates, protects, and transforms the universe as the Supreme Being in Hinduism. He is one deity in Panchayatana puja of the Smarta tradition of Hinduism in the aniconic form of lingam. Śiva is known as Adiyogi Shiva, who is the god of yoga, meditation, and arts. He is also the top form of Ishvar is unformed, unlimited, unequaled and unchanging absolute Brahman, and eternal soul or self (Atman). Śiva has both benevolent and fearsome depictions of Shiva:   •  In benevolent aspects, he is Yogi who lives as an ascetic life with wife Parvati and his two children, Ganesha and Kartikeya on Mount Kailash. • In his fierce aspects, he often illustrated, killing demons. Photo: Shiva Lingam with tripundra.  Credits information for the only education to  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shiva Mahashivratri Sri Rudra Abhishekam Mantra - Powerful For Good Health & Protection Against Enemies https://youtu.be/Vdjm...

Brahmā (Svayambhu: self-born) is the creator of god or the creative aspect of Vishnu in Hinduism. He is also Vāgīśa a (Lord of Speech) who created the four Vedas, one from each of his mouths. His consort is Saraswati, and he is the father of Four Kumaras, Narada, Daksha, Marichi, and many more. Moreover, Brahma is synonymous with the Vedic god Prajapati, and he is also known as Vedanatha (god of Vedas), Gyaneshwara (god of Knowledge), Chaturmukha (having Four Faces) Svayambhu (self-born) as well as linked to Kama and Hiranyagarbha (the cosmic egg). Brahma, along with other deities, is sometimes viewed as a form (saguna) of the otherwise formless (nirguna) Brahman, the ultimate metaphysical reality in Vedantic Hinduism. Credits information for the only education to  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brahma Brahma Mantra | Om Kham Brahma | Most Powerful Mantra for Inner Peace | Meditation Mantras https://youtu.be/ad9mNsOUUT8 Photo: Brahma Indian, Pahari, about 1700 Probably Nurpur, Punja...

Mahākāla is a deity common to Hinduism, Buddhism, and Sikhism. According to Hinduism, Mahākāla is a manifestation of Shiva and is the consort of Hindu Goddess Mahakali and most prominently appears in Kalikula sect of Shaktism. Mahākāla also appears as a protector deity known as a Dharmapala in Vajrayāna Buddhism, particularly most Tibetan traditions (Citipati). In Sikhism, Mahākāla is referred to as Kal, who is the governor of Maya. Credits information for only studying to T wo-armed Mahakala, Eastern India, circa 1100.   Mahakala, 12th century, Rubin Museum of Art. Credits photos for only studying to   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki

Palden Lhamo or Panden Lhamo (“Glorious Goddess”) or Remati are all forms of Shri Devi a category of female tantric Buddhist deity who appears in dozens of different forms. She usually appears as a wrathful deity with a primary role as a Dharmapala. She is specifically a Wisdom Protector, an enlightened being. Palden Lhamo is one of three Dharmapalas of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism alongside Mahakala and Yamantaka She is the wrathful deity considered to be the principal protectress of Tibet. Credits information for only studying to Palden Lhamo, Tawang Monastery. Offerings to the Goddess Palden Lhamo, Tibet. Distemper on cloth, 67 x 44 1/8 in. (170.2 x 112 cm). Palden Lhamo is the principal protectress of Tibet and the only female of the Eight Guardians of the dharma. This black-ground (Tibetan: nag thang) painting was installed in the chapel (Gonkhang) dedicated to the wrathful protective deities (Dharmapalas), a room reserved for tantric initiation rites within a Tibetan mona...

Yamāntaka or Vajrabhairava is the “lord of death” deity of Vajrayana Buddhism. Sometimes he is conceptualized as “conqueror of death”. He belongs to the Anuttarayoga Tantra class of deities popular within the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism. The story of Kalantaka, an aspect of the Hindu god Shiva who saves his follower from the clutches of death Yama and is seen as the deity of adherence and origin of the Mahamrityunjaya Mantra of Buddhism and Hinduism. Credits information for only studying to Yamantaka, Fear-Striking Vajra, Lord of Death (Tibetan: Gshin-rje-gshed), multiheaded, holding vajra, rope, dagger, riding a water buffalo, statue of a guardian, enormous strength, Tibetan Esoteric Buddhism, Art Institute, Chicago Yamantaka_or Vajrabhairav taken at the British Museum - Asian Gallery.

Tara, tārā, Ārya Tārā, or Shyama Tara, also known as Jetsun Dölma in Tibetan Buddhism, is an important figure in Buddhism. She appears as a female bodhisattva in Mahayana Buddhism, and as a female Buddha in Vajrayana Buddhism. She is known as the “mother of liberation”, and represents the virtues of success in work and achievements. Tārā is a meditation deity worshiped by practitioners of the Tibetan branch of Vajrayana Buddhism to develop certain inner qualities and to understand outer, inner and secret teachings such as karuṇā (compassion), mettā (loving-kindness), and shunyata (emptiness). Tārā may more properly be understood as different aspects of the same quality, as bodhisattvas are often considered personifications of Buddhist methods. There is also recognition in some schools of Buddhism of twenty-one Tārās. Tara. Bihar, 10th century. Indian Museum, Kolkata. The goddess’s right hand is posed in varada mudra, the mudra of giving. Credits information for the only education to...

Mañjuśrī is a bodhisattva associated with prajñā (insight) in Mahāyāna Buddhism. In Tibetan Buddhism, he is also a yidam. His name means “Gentle Glory” in Sanskrit. Mañjuśrī is also known by the fuller name of Mañjuśrīkumārabhūta, literally “Mañjuśrī, Still a Youth” or, less literally, “Prince Mañjuśrī”. Another deity name of Mañjuśrī is Mañjughoṣa. Manjusri Kumara (bodhisattva of wisdom), India, Pala dynasty, 9th century, stone. Credits information for the only education to  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tara_(Buddhism)#Forms   See less — at  Honolulu Academy of Arts Center

Yab-yum (Tibetan literally, "father-mother") is a common symbol in the Buddhist art of India, Bhutan, Nepal, and Tibet. It represents the primordial union of wisdom and compassion, depicted as a male deity in union with his female consort. The male figure represents compassion and skillful means, while the female partner represents insight.  In yab-yum, the female is seated on the male’s lap. There is a rare presentation of a similar figure but reversed, with the male sitting on the female’s lap, called yum-yab. Heruka in Yab-Yum form. Statue on display at the Gangaramaya Temple museum in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Credit information for the only education to  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yab-Yum   See less — at  Gangaramaya Temple

Vajrayāna, Mantrayāna, Tantrayāna, Tibetan Buddhism, Tantric Buddhism, and Esoteric Buddhism are terms referring to the various Buddhist traditions of Tantra and “Secret Mantra”, which developed in medieval India and spread to Tibet, Bhutan, and East Asia. Vajrayāna is usually translated as Diamond Vehicle or Thunderbolt Vehicle, referring to the vajra, a mythical weapon which is also used as a ritual implement. Founded by medieval Indian Mahāsiddhas, Vajrayāna subscribes to the literature known as the Buddhist Tantras. It includes practices that make use of mantras, Dharanis, mudras, mandalas, and the visualization of deities and Buddhas. According to Vajrayāna scriptures, the term Vajrayāna refers to one of three vehicles or routes to enlightenment, the other two being the Śrāvakayāna (also known pejoratively as the Hīnayāna) and Mahāyāna. Monks attending the 2003 Kalachakra empowerment in Bodhgaya, India. Some empowerment ceremonies can include large numbers of initiates. Credits in...

     Mahāyāna (“Great Vehicle”) is one of two main existing branches of Buddhism and a term for the classification of Buddhist philosophies and practice. The Buddhist tradition of Vajrayāna is sometimes classified as a part of Mahāyāna Buddhism, but some scholars consider it to be a different branch altogether. “Mahāyāna” also refers to the path of the Bodhisattva seeking complete enlightenment for the benefit of all sentient beings, also called “Bodhisattvayāna”, or the “Bodhisattva Vehicle”. A bodhisattva who has accomplished this goal is called a Samyaksaṃbuddha, or “fully enlightened Buddha”. A Samyaksaṃbuddha can establish the Dharma and lead disciples to enlightenment. Buddhist carving of thousand-armed Guanyin (Avalokiteśvara) in Leshan, Sichuan, China. Source: China - Stone carving in Leshan Reference: McKay Savage from Chennai, India Credits information for the only education to  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahayana   — at  Leshan,sichuan Pr...