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Mahāmāyūrī Vidyārājñī Altar
Mahāmāyūrī Vidyārājñī Altar
The Mahāmāyūrī Altar is another consecrated sacred space in our outdoor area. The statue of the deity is positioned underneath a tree facing west. In the morning, the sun rises and shines through the tree and its leaves behind the statue while during the golden hours, the setting sun usually lights up the entire open area in front of the altar. In the evening, prayer rituals and chanting practices are done by the sangha in the moonlight.
Mahāmāyūrī Vidyārājñī
Mahāmāyūrī, also known as the Great Peacock Wisdom King (孔雀明王), is a deity in Buddhist and Hindu traditions. In Buddhism, Mahāmāyūrī is a prominent figure in the Esoteric or Vajrayana Buddhist practices. She is considered a Wisdom King, a powerful and enlightened deity who protects practitioners and assists them in their spiritual journey.
Mahāmāyūrī is often depicted as a radiant figure with a peacock crown, symbolizing her association with the peacock, which is considered a sacred bird in many cultures. The peacock's feathers represent beauty, protection, and wisdom. Here at Jinyin Temple, Mahāmāyūrī rides a golden King Peacock, and has four arms, each holding a lotus, a Bijapūraka (karma fruit), an auspicious fruit, and a peacock tail. The lotus flower represents respect and love, the Bijapūraka represents regulation, the auspicious fruit represents accumulation of merits, and the peacock tail represents alleviation from disasters. Despite being one of the Wisdom Kings, who usually have a wrathful manifested appearance, Mahāmāyūrī is usually portrayed with a benevolent, compassionate, solemn, and calm expression rather than a wrathful one.
As a Wisdom King, Mahāmāyūrī embodies the qualities of wisdom, compassion, and transformation. She is believed to possess the power to dispel ignorance, delusion, and negative influences, and to grant blessings and spiritual insight to her devotees. She is particularly associated with the practices of healing, longevity, and protection. Her mantra and rituals are often recited or performed to seek her assistance in overcoming obstacles, illness, and spiritual hindrances.
It is worth noting that Mahāmāyūrī’s depiction and significance can vary across different Buddhist and Hindu traditions, and her worship may differ accordingly. However, her overarching attributes of wisdom, protection, and transformative power remain central to her portrayal in various contexts.
