Ancient Psychedelia: Alien Gods & Mushroom Goddesses
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 27c) Thrace. Supposedly Depicting Danubian Horsemen and their Goddess Epona The Vajrayogini, in Tantric Buddhism, is considered the essence or deity of the feminine and her presence and adoration are afforded a very high status among adherents. The following is a verse from the Tantras: Women are heaven, women are the teaching (dharma) Women indeed are the highest austerity (tapas) Women are the Buddha, women are the Sangha Women are the Perfection of Wisdom. Candamaharosana (Tantra viii: 29–30) (15) Avalokiteśvara or Padmapani is a bodhisattva who is said to embody the compassion of all Buddhas. One of her or his epithets is the “thousand-armed.” S/he is also “Holder of the Lotus” or (“Lord of the World”). Avalokiteśvara can be said to be either female or male. Tara, the “mother of liberation” was said to be born from one of her/his tears. (16) Guan Yin is the female aspect of this deity in China; she is a goddess of mercy and compassion. She is referred to as the most widely beloved Buddhist deity. Quoting from the tsemrinpoche.com website: “The earliest record of Avalokiteshvara or Guan Yin was mentioned in the Lotus Sutra, which is known as Saddharma Pundarika Sutra in Sanskrit. Guan Yin or Avalokiteshvara was mentioned in the 25th chapter of this ancient Sanskrit text. Within this chapter, her sacred name was explained as ‘The One Who Perceives the Cries of the World’.” (17) As one of the thirty-three (33) manifestations of Avalokitesvara, Guan Yin is “the blue throated one” (nilakantha). S/he is also “Dragon head Guan Yin” as well as “Extend Life,” “Power and Virtue,” “Various Treasures,” “Rock Cave,” “Non-Duality,” “Pure Water,” “Who Gives Medicine,” “Pure Light,” “Enjoyment” and “Compassion.” (18) |
If one looks at the “thousand armed” deity something immediately comes to mind, the underside of the cap of the mushroom. Notice the halo of the thousand arms surrounds the head in a way that reveals a mushroom goddess. Once again, we return to the cap, the original spoked wheel. This is also reflected in the cobra hood with several heads, such as that which surrounds the Buddha (28e) or the statue at Angkor Wat (27n). (28e) Buddha. Thailand  (27n) Angkor Wat Cambodia (15) Williams, Wynne, Tribe; Buddhist Thought: A Complete Introduction to the Indian Tradition, pages 198, 240 (16) Leighton, Taigen Dan (1998). Bodhisattva Archetypes: Classic Buddhist Guides to Awakening and Their Modern Expression. New York: Penguin Arkana. pp. 158–205 (17) https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/art-architecture/guan-yin-day.html (18) The Thousand-Armed Avalokitesvara, Lokesh Chandra, 1988 |
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