Material: Fabric. Embroidery. Scroll. (Hayagrīva. Union)

Size: Approx. 122 x 83 cm

Description:

The meaning of "union" of Hayagrīva

Hayagrīva (Sanskrit: Hayagrīva), also known as Horse-Headed Avalokitesvara, is an important wrathful deity in Tantric Buddhism. He is the incarnation of the teaching wheel of Avalokitesvara or Amitabha Buddha. He belongs to the Padmasambhava family and is responsible for subduing demons, eliminating ignorance and karma, and saving sentient beings in the animal realm. In the Anuttarayoga Tantra, Hayagrīva sometimes appears in the form of "union" (Yab-Yum, Tibetan for "father-mother"), that is, he embraces the Buddha mother (such as red or black Vajrayogini), which is a common symbolic expression in Tantra.

The symbolic meaning of the union:

1. **The union of wisdom and compassion**:

- In the union image, Hayagriva (father) represents compassion, and the Buddha Mother (mother) represents wisdom. The embrace of the two symbolizes the perfect combination of compassion and wisdom, which is the key to becoming a Buddha. Tantric Buddhism believes that compassion or wisdom alone cannot reach the ultimate, and only the "union of wisdom and compassion" can achieve the fruition of emptiness and great bliss.

- The wrathful appearance of Hayagriva represents the destruction of ignorance and obstacles with powerful force, while the Buddha Mother guides sentient beings to transcend duality with gentle wisdom and jointly embody the path to liberation.

2. **The fusion of emptiness and bliss**:

- The union also symbolizes the unity of "emptiness" (the pure nature of the deity) and "bliss" (great bliss and light). The horse head on Hayagriva's head represents the eating of ignorance and sins and the destruction of fear; while the embrace of the Buddha Mother represents the transcendence of worldly attachments through the great bliss of enlightenment and the entry into the realm of emptiness and bliss.

- This image is not a worldly love between a man and a woman, but a symbolic way of expressing the duality of the practitioner's inner integration, and achieving a state of enlightenment that is neither two nor one.

3. **The power of subjugation and transformation**:

- Hayagriva subdues demons (such as Rakshasas, ghosts, and the Eight Classes of Gods and Dragons) in a wrathful form, and its union image further emphasizes the transformation of negative forces into positive energy of enlightenment. The participation of the Buddha Mother indicates that the wisdom can transform troubles into Bodhi and achieve ultimate purity.

4. **The practice of the highest yoga tantra**:

- In the highest yoga tantra, the practice of union with the deity involves a high degree of visualization and the cultivation of energy, channels, and drops, aiming to quickly attain Buddhahood through the purification of body, speech, and mind. The union image of Hayagriva is the core representation of this practice, helping practitioners transcend worldly attachments and realize their inherent Buddha nature.

Characteristics of Hayagriva's union:

- According to the tradition, Hayagriva's union with the Buddha Mother is usually red or black Vajravarahi. The deity may appear with three faces and six arms or one face and two arms, red or black, with a horse head on top, symbolizing the power to quickly subdue demons.

- The image of the union is often seen in Tibetan Buddhist thangkas or statues. The Horse-Headed Vidyaraja embraces the Buddha Mother, tramples on demons, and is surrounded by flames in the background, symbolizing the wisdom of Prajna destroying ignorance.

The origin of the image of the union of the Horse-Headed Vidyaraja

The origin of the image of the union of the Horse-Headed Vidyaraja is closely related to its role in Tantra and its inheritance, which can be traced back to the following aspects:

1. **Records of scriptures and tantras**:

- The practice of the Horse-Headed Vidyaraja originated from the Tantric scriptures such as the Mahavairocana Sutra and the Hayagriva Tantra. These scriptures describe the Horse-Headed Vidyaraja as the wrathful incarnation of Avalokitesvara, with the mighty power to subdue the four demons (demon of affliction, demon of aggregates, demon of heaven, and demon of death).

- In the Mother Tantra of the Highest Yoga Tantra, Hayagriva appears in the form of union with Vajrayogini as the main deity, emphasizing the practice of union of wisdom and compassion. Its image was personally spoken by Sakyamuni Buddha and introduced to Tibet by Guru Padmasambhava and other masters.

2. **The inheritance of Tibetan Buddhism**:

- The practice of Hayagriva's union is widely spread in various schools of Tibetan Buddhism (such as Nyingma, Sakya, Kagyu, and Gelug). Specific inheritances include:

- **Nyingma**: Hayagriva is respected as the main deity of the Lotus Speech Department, and the practice originated from the terma of Guru Padmasambhava and the inheritance of Longchenpa.

- **Sakya**: There are two types of Hayagriva practice, Kunshi and Jegamba.

- **Kagyu**: It includes the terma and new tantra inheritance. - **Gelug**: Inherited from Sakya Je Gampa and Nyingma Longchen, Hayagriva is the main deity of Sera Monastery.

- These traditions incorporate the image of Hayagriva in the union of the two ways into thangkas, statues and rituals, which are used for visualization and removal of obstacles.

3. **Artistic Expression of Images**:

- The image of Hayagriva in the union of the two ways is often seen in Tibetan Buddhist thangkas, murals and sculptures, especially those from the Qing Dynasty and the late Qing Dynasty (such as the collection of Gansu Museum or hand-gilded statues in Nepal). These images follow strict classical descriptions:

- Hayagriva has a red or black body, three eyes wide open, fangs exposed, a horse head on his head, a skull staff in his right hand, a hook or seal in his left hand, and embraces the Buddha Mother.

- The Buddha Mother Vajrayogini usually holds a bell, a pestle or a knife, symbolizing wisdom and convenience.

- The background is surrounded by flames, and the demons are trampled under his feet, symbolizing the destruction of ignorance and the subjugation of obstacles.

- The production of the image is guided by the iconography of Tantric Buddhism, which aims to assist practitioners in visualizing the deity and entering the state of wisdom and compassion.

4. **Cultural and practical application**:

- In Tibet, the image of Hayagriva is often used in the rituals of removing obstacles, warding off disasters and praying for salvation. Especially in natural disasters such as droughts and floods, monks and lay people will recite the ritual of Hayagriva to pray for the elimination of disasters and difficulties.

- In Japanese Buddhism, Hayagriva (Horse-Headed Avalokitesvara) is often used as the deity in animal salvation rituals because of his merit in saving animals. His image of dual cultivation is less common and is mainly popular in Tibetan Buddhist areas.

- The spread of dual cultivation images is also related to the emphasis of Tantric Buddhism on rapid enlightenment. By visualizing the unity of the deity and the Buddha Mother, practitioners can quickly purify their karma and attain the fruition of emptiness and joy.

Summary

The image of Hayagriva in union symbolizes the perfect integration of wisdom and compassion, emptiness and bliss, and embodies the essence of the practice of the highest yoga tantra. The origin of its image can be traced back to the inheritance of tantric classics and Tibetan Buddhism, integrating the promotion of Guru Padmasambhava, Atisha and other ancestors, and is artistically presented in thangkas and statues. These images are not only treasures of religious art, but also important tools for practitioners to visualize, remove obstacles and achieve enlightenment, carrying profound Buddhist principles and cultural significance.

(Thangka printed in cloth frame)