The Cult of Tara

MAGIC AND RITUAL IN TIBET
winds, and drop during the Process of Perfection: 1-4 are the "four
thoughts of joy," 5-8 are the "four thoughts of highest joy," 9-12
are the "four thoughts of the joy of cessation," and 13-16 are the
"four thoughts of innate joy." 216
We may note in figures 18 and 19 the clearly pictorial intention
of the gestures that represent these goddesses. The position of the
hands in gesture 1, "Diamond Lute," for example, is clearly that
used in the fingering of the South Indian vina, as the position in gesture
4, "Diamond Drum," is that used in playing the doubleheaded
South Indian mrdamga, and that in gesture 2, "Diamond Flute,"
in fingering a flute played a bee; in gesture 7, "Diamond Song," and
gesture 8, "Diamond Dance," we see gestures reminiscent of those
of the classical Indian theater. Even more abstract notions are
represented mimetically: gesture 13, "Diamond Vision," is indicated
by the practitioner pointing to his own hand ("like a mirror," one
of my informants told me); and gesture 16, "Diamond Mental
Events," is indicated by the formation of a triangle with the thumbs
and forefingers, in imitation of the triangular shape of the feminine
"source of all events" in Tantric contemplation. We may, then, give
the following as an example of the verses and mantras that might
accompany these gestures in the presentation of the secret offerings
of sensual and divine enjoyment: 217
1) The holy most secret of offerings:
the blue-bodied lady playing the lute,
the beautiful lady with vajra and bell in her hands:
may she delight the Glorious Ones with the highest Bliss!
OM AH VAJRA-VlNE HUM!
2) The holy most secret of offerings:
the yellow-bodied lady playing the flute,
the beautiful lady with vajra and bell in her hands:
may she delight the Glorious Ones with the highest Bliss 1
OM AH VAJRA-VAMSE HUM !
3) . . . the red-bodied lady playing the tabor . . .
OM AH VAJRA-MURAJE HUM !
4) . . . the green-bodied lady playing the drum . . .
OM AH VAJRA-MRDAMGE HUM !