Himalayan Art Resources

Buddhist Deity: Marichi Iconography

Marichi Main Page

Subjects, Topics & Types:
- Description (below)
- Faces & Arms
- Colours
- Shingon & Tibetan Buddhist Comparison
- Confusions
- Others...

Videos:
- Marichi: Goddess of the Dawn
- Sow Faced Deities

Faces & Arms:
- One Face, Two Hands: HAR #87489, Ashokanta, Others
- Three Faces, Six Hands
- Three faces, Eight Hands (Kalpoktam)
- Three Faces, Fourteen Hands
- Five Faces, Ten Hands (Kalpoktam Vidhini Sita)
- Six Faces, Twelve Hands: Odiyana, Odiyana Krama

Colours:
- Red Forms (all)
- Yellow Forms (all)
- Orange
- White
- Others...

Additional Topics:
- Marichi in a Stupa
- Riding a Chariot
- Riding a Sow
- Riding a Horse (or horse drawn chariot)
- Holding a Needle & Thread
- Mandalas
- As a retinue figure: Tara, Three Deity Configuration
- Six Deities of Vajrasana
- Others...

Marichi Profile:
Gender: Female
Identity: Individual deity (not an emanation)
Tantra Identity: Mother of the Tatagata Family of Kriya Tantra
Tantra Class: Kriya Tantra
Source Text: Marichinama Dharani, Mayamarichijata Tantra
Function/activity: Removing obstacles
Metaphor: Light

Special Characteristics:
Appearance: Peaceful, semi-peaceful or wrathful
Colour: Yellow, red, black or white
Attributes: needle, thread
Consort: (none)
Mount: pig (sow), chariot drawn by pigs, horse


The translations below are from the Drub Tab Gyatsa edited version of the Bari Gyatsa by Ngorchen Kunga Zangpo.

[29] Oddiyana Marichi, [six faces, twelve hands].
In the middle of the circle of the eight great charnal grounds is a vase stupa. Inside is a chariot drawn by seven pigs. ...Marichi, with a body red in colour. [With] six faces, the main face is red, the two right faces black and white, the two left faces yellow and green and above a black pig face. All six possess three eyes and bared fangs. The right six of the twelve hands hold, a sword, wheel, pestle, arrow, axe and a one pronged vajra. The six left, a wrathful gesture together with a lasso, skullcup, branch of the ashoka tree, Brahma's head, a bow and a trident. Carrying a katvanga in the bend of the left elbow. Brown hair bristling upwards. A necklace of human heads and adorned with jewels and snakes. Wearing a lower garment of tiger skin. Seated in a manner with the left leg extended. In front is Devi, with a body red in colour, one face [and] four hands. The right [hands] hold a vajra and needle. The left, a branch of the ashoka tree and a wrathful gesture together with a lasso. Wearing a yellow inner garment and a lower garment of tiger skin. Adorned with jewel ornaments. Seated in the vajrasana [posture].

[30] Kalpoktam Marichi.
Inside a vase stupa ...Marichi, with a body yellow in colour, three faces and eight hands. The main face is yellow, the right red and the left a blue pig face. Each face has three eyes. The four right hands hold, a vajra, hook, arrow and needle. The four left, a branch of the ashoka [tree], bow, thread and a wrathful gesture. Wearing a red inner garment and adorned with jewels and a garland of small bells. In the east is red Vettali with a pig face. [With] four hands the right hold, a needle and hook. The left, a lasso and [branch of] the ashoka tree. Wearing a red inner garment. In the south is yellow Vadali with four hands, the right hold a branch of the ashoka [tree] and a needle, the left a vajra and lasso. In the west is white Varali with four hands, the right [hold] a vajra and needle, the left a lasso and branch of ashoka [tree]. In the north is red Varahamukhi with three eyes [and] four hands. The right hold a vajra and arrow, the left a lasso and branch of the ashoka [tree]. Also, all are youthful maidens, adorned with all ornaments. Seated in a posture with the left leg extended.

[31] Kalpoktam Vidhina Sita Marichi.
Inside a vase stupa on a lotus [and] moon, ...White Marichi with five faces, ten hands and four legs. The main face is white, the right black, the left a red pig face, behind is a green face and above is a yellow face. The five right hands hold, a sun disc, a blue vajra, arrow, hook and needle. The five left, a moon disc, bow, branch of the ashoka tree, wrathful gesture together with a lasso and a thread. Adorned with jewels and a garland of small bells. Wearing a white inner and lower garment. [Seated] above a chariot drawn by seven pigs, in a manner with the left leg extended pressing [down on] Vishnu, Shiva, Indra and Brahma. In front of the chariot a crocodile is resting, above is black Great Devi Pig Face with one face and two hands, [holding a] vajra and wrathful gesture. In the right direction is red Great Devi Pig Face with four hands. The right [hands] hold a hook and needle, the left, a wrathful gesture together with a lasso and thread. In the left direction is red Great Devi Pig Face with four hands. The first two [hands] hold a bow and arrow drawn near to the ear, the lower two, a vajra and branch of the ashoka [tree]. Also, each of the three have jewel ornaments and garments of silk. Seated in a manner with the left leg extended. Under the pig drawn chariot is the sun, etc. and the nine planets resting in the form of a man as the accumulated hindrances of mischief causers.

[32] Ashokanta Marichi.
On the back of a yellow pig is a lotus and moon, ...Marichi, yellow, [with] one face and two hands. The right [in the gesture of] supreme generosity, the left holding a branch of the ashoka tree. Having jewel ornaments and garments of silk. Standing with the legs straight.

[33] Oddiyana Krama Marichi, [six faces, twelve hands].
Marichi, with a body red in colour, six faces and twelve hands. The main face is red, the two right faces blue and black, the two left faces white and black and a black pig face above. Each has three eyes and bared fangs. The right six of the twelve hands hold, a sword, vishvavajra, one pronged vajra, axe, arrow and pestle. The left six, a wrathful gesture together with a needle, trident, branch of the ashoka [tree], bow, lasso and Brahma's head. Brown hair bristling upwards. Adorned with a garland of human heads and bone ornaments. Wearing a tiger skin as a lower garment. Laughing fiercely [with] Ha Ha and seated in a posture with the left foot extended, subduing the four maras.

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Jeff Watt [5-2019]

(The images below are only a selection of examples from the links above).