Material: Painted - Resin (Poly Gold Series)

Size: 12cm

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About Uṣṇīṣavijayā

Uṣṇīṣavijayā (Sanskrit: Uṣṇīṣavijayā), also known as Buddha's Crowned Victory, is a highly significant female deity in Tantric Buddhism. She is considered the manifestation of Shakyamuni Buddha's crown (uṣṇīṣa), symbolizing boundless light, wisdom, and the virtues of the crown. She is dedicated to relieving suffering, prolonging life, and dispelling calamities. In Tibetan Buddhism, she is often listed alongside Amitabha (the Buddha of Longevity) and White Tara as one of the "Three Deities of Longevity." She is situated to the right of the Buddha of Longevity, symbolizing blessings, longevity, and auspiciousness. Surrounding her are the four dakinis of pacification, growth, attraction, and destruction, who together summon the five essences to help practitioners achieve longevity and liberation. She is often depicted as a majestic female figure with three faces and eight arms. The center face is white and serene, holding a lotus in her right hand and a vase in her left. The right face is red and wrathful, holding a vajra, while the left face is green and holding a bow and arrow, symbolizing the union of compassion and wisdom.

The Origin and Story of Vajrayogini

The origin of Vajrayogini comes from the "Sutra of the Buddha's Crown of Victory Dharani" (also known as the "Sutra of the Buddha's Crown of Victory Dharani Mantra"), one of the most popular Dharani sutras in Tang Dynasty Buddhism. It is said to have been translated into China by the Indian monk Buddhapāli in the first year of the Yifeng reign of Emperor Gaozong of Tang (676). The sutra states that Vajrayogini manifested from the crown of Shakyamuni Buddha's crown to teach the Dharani Mantra to dispel the karmic obstacles of sentient beings and prolong their lives. The story of the origin of this sutra is highly dramatic, embodying the Buddhist spirit of compassion and salvation.

The story synopsis: When Shakyamuni Buddha and his disciples were residing in the Jetavana Grove in the kingdom of Sravasti, a celestial being named "Sādhāṇī" (Sūtrasamita Heaven) in the Thirty-three Heavens (Trayastrimsa Heaven) suddenly heard a voice from the sky informing him that his life was coming to an end and he would be condemned to the Avici Hell, where he would suffer endless torment. Terrified, Sādhāṇī fled to the human world overnight, prostrating himself before the Buddha and begging for help. The Buddha, observing the cause and effect, instructed him to recite the "Buddha's Crown Victory Dharani Mantra" and personally manifested the Victory Buddha Consort from his crown. The Buddha instructed Sādhāṇī to recite this mantra daily, and he did so. As expected, his lifespan was extended to countless aeons, and he transformed his karmic obstacles into merit, ultimately attaining supreme enlightenment and becoming a Buddha to save all sentient beings.

This story not only emphasizes the extraordinary merits of chanting mantras but also reflects the essence of Vajrayogini as the "Supreme Manifestation": she is the combined manifestation of the Buddha's body, speech, and mind, specifically providing immediate relief for sentient beings suffering from short life and negative karma. During the Tang Dynasty, this sutra became a national phenomenon, and in the 11th year of Emperor Taizong's Zhenguan reign (637), he issued an imperial decree ordering monks and nuns throughout the country to chant the Vajrayogini mantra daily to pray for national peace and prosperity. Another related legend occurs at Mount Wutai during the Tang Dynasty: the Indian Brahmin monk Buddhapāli journeyed to Mount Wutai to pay homage to Manjushri Bodhisattva. En route, he encountered a storm. After chanting the Vajrayogini mantra, auspicious signs appeared in the sky, and Manjushri Bodhisattva personally appeared to guide him to safety. This story further highlights Vajrayogini's miraculous power in protecting practitioners and resolving obstacles.

Vajrayogini has nine manifestations, the most common of which is a serene and solemn female figure in white. Her body is as pure and flawless as the autumn moon, her appearance resembles that of a young girl, and she sits on a lotus pedestal, radiating immeasurable light. Her origins are not only documented in the classics but are also woven into the historical transmission of Chinese and Indian Buddhism, becoming a symbol of longevity.

The Role of Vajrayana in Buddhist Ritual

In Buddhist ritual, Vajrayana plays a central role in salvation and blessing. Particularly in the practices of Vajrayana and Pure Land Buddhism, she is the deity dedicated to prolonging life, dispelling disasters, and removing obstacles. Her mantra, the "Buddha's Crown Vajra Dharani Mantra" (abbreviated as Vajrayana Mantra), is considered the most powerful protective method, capable of destroying negative karma, increasing lifespan, and fulfilling all wishes. It is often incorporated into daily chanting, fire offerings, and rituals for the deceased.

Specifically:

- **Longevity Practices and Blessing Rituals**: As one of the three deities of longevity, Vajrayana often appears in longevity empowerments or longevity ceremonies. Practitioners make offerings to her image (placed to the right of the Amitayus Buddha), chant the mantra, and visualize her eight arms holding a treasure, praying for increased longevity and the elimination of illness and suffering. For example, in the Tibetan Buddhist "Longevity Dharma Assembly," she is responsible for "carrying karma" (increasing merit), helping practitioners avoid the misfortune of short life and receiving immeasurable blessings.

- **Liberation and Flame Mouth Rituals**: In transcendental rituals such as the Yoga Flame Mouth, there is a dedicated chapter reciting the Vajra Mantra to liberate the deceased and resolve karmic obstacles. Her role is similar to that of a "mother who rescues those in distress," opening the door to liberation for those in the bardo or nearing death, preventing them from falling into the lower realms.

- **Daily Respect and Fire Offerings**: Believers often set up altars at home or in temples and recite the Vajra Mantra (a mantra of approximately 100 characters, including "Om Yu Na Bo Gya Sva Bhaga") daily to ward off disasters and increase their blessings and longevity. During fire offerings, she is regarded as the "Karma-destroying Deity," and offerings symbolizing negative karma are burned to transform them into pure merit.

**Cultural and Folk Applications**: Since the Tang Dynasty, the teachings of Vajrayogini have been widely disseminated, often engraved on stone pagodas (such as the Tang Dynasty Vajrayogini Sutra Pillar) for public viewing and prayer. In modern Buddhist communities, she remains a guardian deity for pregnant women, the elderly, and the sick. Chanting her mantra can grant blessings of the "Nine Transformations," encompassing both peaceful and wrathful states, useful for coping with various crises.

In short, Vajrayogini is not merely a static Buddha image but a dynamic force of compassion. In rituals, she bridges sentient beings with the Buddha's wisdom and helps them escape the sea of ​​suffering. Practicing her teachings requires a pure mind and sincere offerings to achieve the profound blessings she brings. For a deeper understanding, consult the original text of the "Sutra of the Buddha's Crown Vajrayogini" to personally experience her extraordinary blessings.