Five forms of Jambhala

Five forms of Jambhala :

This composition depicts the assembly of the five directional forms of the wealth deity Jambhala, the practices of which are specifically designed to generate wealth. The appear together in a beautiful landscape with the central figure's radiant aura encircled by rainbow light, flowers, and clouds that extend upwards into the sky and support the lotus thrones of the two upper figures. Below the central figure is a pink lotus with a white moon-disc, upon which rests a golden bowl containing jewels and other precious symbols, and an elaborate red heart-shaped torma or 'sacrificial cake' offering crowned with a small golden vase, white crescent moon, golden sun and jewel.

At the centre is Blue Jambhala with his light-blue consort Vasudhara, as they sit together in sexual union upon a white moon disc and multi-coloured lotus. He is semi-wrathful and deep blue in colour, with two arms, three round red eyes, bared fangs, and he wears the five silk and eight jewel ornaments of a sambhogakaya deity. He sits in a posture of royal-ease with his right foot resting upon a small lotus-pedestal, with his right hand resting upon his knee as he holds a large citron or bijapura fruit, and with his left hand holding a jewel-disgorging mongoose. His consort, Vasudhara, is a wealth-bestowing goddess and likewise wears gold ornaments and silk garments. She sits upon his lap in face-to-face union, with her long black hair hanging freely down her back and her arms extended, with her left hand holding a pink lotus, and her right hand open-palmed.

In the bottom left corner (East) is White Jambhala, who is semi-wrathful with two arms, three eyes, and sits in a posture of royal-ease as rides amidst clouds on the back of a fierce, jewel-grasping turquoise dragon. He is adorned with the five silk and eight jeweled ornaments of a sambhoghakaya deity. With his right hand he wields aloft a jewel-topped golden club, and with his left hand he holds a jewel-disgorging mongoose.

In the top left corner (South) is Yellow Jambhala, who is semi-wrathful with two arms, three round red eyes, and the corpulent yellow body of a yaksha spirit. He is adorned with the five silk and eight jeweled ornaments of a sambhoghakaya deity, and sits in a posture of royal-ease upon a white moon disc and pink lotus, with his right foot resting upon a small lotus pedestal. With his right hand resting upon his knee he holds a citron or bijapura fruit, and with his left hand he holds a jewel-disgorging mongoose.

In the top right corner (West) is Red Jambhala with his consort, as they dance together in sexual union upon a white moon disc that rests upon two golden wealth vases above the seed-head of a multicolored lotus. He is semi-wrathful, with two arms, three round red eyes, and he wears the five silk and eight jewel ornaments of a sambhogakaya deity. He stands in dancing bow-and-arrow posture as he embraces his consort while holding a precious eight-faceted gemstone in this right hand, and a jewel-disgorging mongoose with his left hand. Bharati, his light red consort, likewise wears gold ornaments and divine silk garments, and stands with her left leg pressing against his, and her right leg wrapped around his waist. With her two outstretched right and left hands she holds an eight-faceted gemstone and a blood-filled skull-cup.

In the bottom right corner (North) is Black Jambhala, who is wrathful, dwarf-like, naked and black like a bee, with two arms, three round red eyes, upward-blazing facial hair, and an erect penis. He is further described as being of low-born appearance, with the body of a child, unpierced ears, bared fangs, and a fierce frowning expression. He appears here in pratyalidha posture as he leans towards the right with his two feet trampling upon a 'wealth-owner' in the form of Vaishravana that lies prone upon the moon-disc of his multicoloured lotus. He is shown here wearing the gold ornaments of a crown, earrings, two necklaces, bracelets, armlets and anklets. His black hair hangs about his shoulders, and a poisonous serpent serves as his garland or sacred-thread. With his right hand he holds a golden bowl filled with jewels in front of his heart, and with his left hand he holds a jewel-disgorging mongoose.

© text by Robert Beer