Buddhist Deity: Marichi (Red Forms)
Marichi Iconography PageSubjects, Topics & Types:
- One face (& sow), two arms
- One face (& sow), four arms
- Three faces (& sow), six arms
- Three faces, fourteen arms
- Five faces (& sow), six arms (3 types)
- Confusions
- Others...
[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]."
[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." (The One Hundred Methods of Accomplishment by Ngorchen Konchog Lhundrub (1497-1557), bibliographic information. Based on the Bari Gyatsa of Bari Lotsawa Rinchen Drag, 1040-1112 [P3731]).
Jeff Watt 11-2020
