LJ Name Change - who is Black Samvara

[samvara]

BLACK SAMVARA belongs to a class of personal deities that act as role models in meditation - images of the Buddha that a meditator aspires to become. Each feature of such a deity refers to an aspect of that enlightened ideal. Samvara's three eyes show that he sees the past, the present and the future. His twelve arms show that he understands the twelve steps of dependent origination that bring about birth in this suffering world and that he knows how to end them.

The name Samvara comes from a word that means 'supreme bliss,' the bliss that comes from Tantric meditation. Equal to Buddha, Samvara is beyond the extremes of samsara and nirvana. to signal this, his right foot presses down on the goddess called 'Night of Time' (Kalaratri), who represents nirvana, his left foot rests on Bhairava, 'The Terrifier,' who represents samsara.

The objects a deity holds in his or her hands are of paramount important. the vajra, or 'thunderbolt,' in Samvara's right hand symbolises the skilful methods of compassionate action. The bell in his left hand symbolises wisdom. Even imagery that seems violent has a peaceful intent. The severed head of Brahma shows that Samvara avoids all illusion. His axe cuts off death and rebirth at the roots.

In the four corners are dakinis, celestial goddesses who inspire meditators. The fierce offering in the foreground symbolises transcendence over the desires of the senses.