Glossary

Vairochana is an important buddha in Mahayana and Vajrayana Buddhism. In Mahayana, Vairochana is considered the ultimate or Dharma-body of Buddha Shakyamuni. In the Charya and Yoga classes of the Four Classes of Tantra, Vairochana is the primordial Buddha or Adibuddha. In the Five Buddha Families, Vairochana is the head of the Buddha family, colored white, and usually located at the center. Across Asia, Vairochana as the Cosmic Ruler was also a powerful political symbol, and rulers associated themselves with Vairochana to enhance their claims as universal Buddhist sovereigns.

In Buddhism, Vaishravana is the guardian king (lokapala) of the north, one of the four guardian kings who are often found at the entrances to temples. Vaishravana is also sometimes worshiped as a wealth deity and at times as a martial deity. Depending on the emphasis, he is depicted as an armored warrior, often mounted on a lion, carrying a mongoose or holding a stupa/pagoda.

In the Vedas, vajras are the indestructibly hard thunderbolts that Indra hurls at his enemies. Over time, the vajra became the name for a type of ritual weapon, with a handle at the center and a five-pronged point at each end. Vajras are a central image in and symbol of tantric forms of Buddhism, which are often called “Vajrayana” or the “Vajra Vehicle.” Vajrayana ritualists use vajras (representing active compassion or method) often paired with a bell (representing wisdom) in practices of deity yoga. The Tibetan word for a vajra is “dorje,” meaning “Lord among stones.”

Vajrabhairava is a meditational deity (yidam) and also sometimes a protector deity in Vajrayana Buddhism. Vajrabhairava is usually depicted as a blue wrathful deity with the head of a buffalo, sometimes in union with a consort, Vajravetali. Vajrabhairava is a wrathful emanation of Manjushri, whose peaceful head tops his own.

In Vajrayana Buddhism, a Vajracharya is a general term of respect for a teacher or tantric master who gives teachings and abhisheka initiations. In Newar Buddhism, Vajracharya is a specific caste of non-celibate ritual professionals, who make a living performing tantric rituals on behalf of members of the community.

In the later-transmission traditions of Tibetan Buddhism, Vajradhara is considered to be the Adibuddha, the “primordial buddha” or the dharma-body of Buddha Shakyamuni and all other buddhas. Vajradhara is often depicted at the head of transmission lineages, as the source of all teachings, as a blue or white figure wearing a crown and jewelry, holding a vajra and bell crossed at his chest. Teachings about Vajradhara are found in the Highest Yoga Tantras.

The Vajradhatu refers to the ritual space described in the Yoga tantras and represented in mandalas of the five buddhas of the five families, centered on Vairochana.

Vajrakila is a deity in Vajrayana Buddhism, associated with the dagger (Skt. kila, Tib. purba) used in exorcistic tantric practices described in a meditative and ritual manual called sadhana. Vajrakila is depicted as a blue wrathful deity with wings, sometimes with the lower body of a three-bladed dagger, usually in tantric union with a consort and surrounded by a retinue of animal-headed attendants.

Vajrapani is a bodhisattva and guardian deity in Mahayana and Vajrayana Buddhism. One of the oldest Buddhist dharma-protectors (Skt. dharmapala), Vajrapani is said to have protected Buddha Shakyamuni during his career on earth. Vajrapani is often depicted as a wrathful deity with a vajra in one hand, though he also has peaceful forms. Vajrapani is the protector deity of Mongolia, and the Jibzundampa incarnation lineage are said to be his emanations.

Vajrasattva is a bodhisattva in Vajrayana Buddhism. Vajrasattva appears especially in the Yoga Sutras. Vajrasattva is usually depicted as a white seated figure, in tantric union with a consort, and is associated with purification.

The Vajravali is a collection of esoteric teachings on mandala construction written by the Indian monk Abhayakaragupta (eleventh to twelfth centuries). The Vajravali was the first attempt to systematize and provide iconographic guides for the mandalas used in various Vajrayana tantras, which were widely transmitted in Tibet.

Vajrayana is one of the three great doctrinal divisions of Buddhism, along with Theravada and Mahayana. Vajrayana can be understood as tantric Buddhism. Historians debate when Vajrayana first appeared, but it was clearly understood as a separate tradition by the eighth century CE, and most of its major texts were written by the twelfth century. Vajrayana ritual and art are characterized by visualization, deity yoga, wrathful deities, mandalas, mantras, initiations and empowerments (abhisheka), and ritual sexual union. These teachings are transmitted in texts called tantras and sadhanas, as well as through secret instructions (Skt. upadesha) from a teacher. Essentially all Himalayan Buddhist traditions integrate Mahayana and Vajrayana practices.

Vajrayogini is a female meditational deity in Vajrayana Buddhism. Vajrayogini can appear as the tantric consort of Chakrasamvara, or as an independent deity and an embodiment of power in female form. Vajrayogini is depicted as a red, semi-wrathful dakini wearing bone-ornaments of the charnel grounds, bearing small fangs, often drinking blood from a skull-cup. An important form/emanation of Vajrayogini is Vajravarahi, “The Vajra-Sow,” readily identifiable by the sow’s head projecting from her own, which is symbolism related to the rooting out of the ego. Machik Labdron (1055–1153), one of the most prominent female masters in Tibetan Buddhism, is believed to be and often represented as an emanation of Vajrayogini.

Vasudhara is a goddess of wealth and prosperity in Vajrayana Buddhism, worshiped especially among Newar Buddhists in Nepal. In India and Tibet, she is typically depicted in her two-armed form, and among the Newars her six-armed manifestation is prevalent.

The Vedas are an ancient body of Sanskrit-language texts, the earliest decipherable texts of the religion we now call Hinduism. There are traditionally four Vedas:

• The Rigveda is the oldest of the Vedas, composed in the late second millennium BCE. It contains hymns (Skt. mantras) to gods like Indra, Vishnu, and the fire-god Agni.
• The Samaveda contains hymns similar to those in the Rigveda, although of a later date.
• The Yajurveda contains mantras to be spoken during fire sacrifices (Skt. yagnya).
• The Atharva Veda contains incantations for a variety of medical and exorcistic purposes.

Each Veda also contains subsidiary books, often written centuries later, which contain ritual instructions and philosophical discussions.

In Vajrayana Buddhism, Vidyadhara is a term of respect for an accomplished master of yogic meditation, one who can transmit important tantric initiations.

In Buddhism, the Vinaya is the code of conduct for members of the Sangha, that is, monks and nuns. While there are different versions of the Vinaya texts and ordination lineages, generally, monks take a different number and types of vows according to the tradition and their individual level of ordination. Vinaya as a set of rules are used in all Buddhist monasteries and nunneries, although nuns are required to take more numerous vows than monks.

Vishnu is an important god in Hinduism, whose worship dates back to the time of the ancient Rigveda (second millennium BCE). Vishnu is often revered as “The Preserver” in a trinity with Brahma (“The Creator”) and Shiva (“The Destroyer”). Vishnu is said to have many avatars, including Krishna and (according to Hindus) the Buddha. Vishnu’s wife is Lakshmi, and he is often shown to ride on Garuda. Vishnu is usually depicted as a blue peaceful man, often standing on a lotus in the primordial ocean. In his four-armed form, he holds a wheel (Skt. chakra), mace (Skt. gada), conch shell (Skt. shankha), and lotus seed (Skt. padma).

Visualization is a process of using one’s imagination to transform reality. A practitioner imagines in their mind’s eye the deity with the associated enlightened qualities they wish to embody themselves. When focused on a specific deity, visualization and related ritual practices are called deity yoga. Visualization is a fundamental element of such practices described in texts known tantras, which define a system of meditation and ritual meant to transform the mind and body.

In Hinduism, a vrata is a devotional ritual, often performed by women. Vratas typically involve making a vow of purity and fasting for a period. They can also include making a pilgrimage to a Hindu shrine, giving charitable donations, or other types of piety.