Comparative and Critical Study of Mantrashastra

Author(s): Mohanlal Bhagwandas Jhaveri, K V Abhayankar
Publisher: Sarabhai Manilal Nawab

Page 98

MANTRAYANA-VAJRAYANA
89
Yana. The Yogāchāra school which evolved out of Sūnyavāda of the Mādhyamakas did to an extent contribute to the development of Tantras, but it was the Vajrayana which was the chief contributor.
Vajrayāna literally means 'adamantine vehicle' but really 'Sünya vehicle'. Sūnyatā is called Vajra, because it is firm and sound, cannot be changed, cut or pierced, cannot be burnt, and cannot be destroyed. According to the Mādhyamakas Nirvāṇa is Sūnya;according to Yogāchāra which is a later development of Şūnyavāda, besides Sünya Vijnāna, a positive element, is present. While according to Vajrayāna, besides the two, the element of Mahāsukha 'eternal bliss' is also present. This Vajrayāna further introduces the theory of five Dhyāni Buddhas,* presiding over five Skandhas, and families of the five Dhyāni Buddhas who come forth when needed. Five Bodhisattvas and their Saktis are the first to emanate. It also introduced the worship of various deities with their Saktis and a large number of gods or goddesses and their Sadhanās, Stutis etc. Vajrayānas can be said to be direct development of the Yogācāra school and the Viinānavāda it inculcates rather the Madhyamaka school.
Asanga, brother of the famous Vasubandhu, who flourished in the fourth century of the Christian era is said to have introduced
*The five Dhyani Buddhas are Akşobhya presiding over Vijnana Skandha, Vairocana over Röpa Skandha, Ratnasambhava over Vedana Skandha, Amitabha over Samjnã Skandha, and Amoghasiddhi over Samskåra Skandha. Their colours are given below. Vajradhara embodies in Himself all the five Dhyani Buddhas, is of blue colour and has two hands crossed on his breast, the right holding an adamant (Vajra) and the left a bell. He is supposed to be over all the Dhyani Buddhas and is called the Sixth.
जिनो वैरोचनो ख्यातो रत्नसम्भव एव च। अमिताभोऽमोघसिद्विरक्षोभ्यश्च प्रकीर्तितः ।। वर्णा अमीषां सितः पीतो रक्तो हरितमेचकौ ।।-साधनमाला पृ. ५६८-६९
$ The writer acknowledges his indebtedness for much of the information about Mantrayāna and Vajrayana given here to the learned authors of the Introduction to Sadhanamála, Shaktasampradaya (Gujarati)and Introduction to Shri Chakrasambhāra.