Five buddha families (Skt. pañcakula; Wyl. rigs lnga, Tib. rik nga) —
Diagram of the Five Buddha Families<ref>Version based on the Nyingma, inner tantras</ref> | |||||
family | buddha | vajra | ratna | padma | karma |
direction | centre | east | south | west | north |
colour | blue | white | yellow | red | green |
family symbol | eight-spoked wheel | vajra | jewel | lotus | double vajra or sword |
masculine buddha<ref>each family is associated with one of the buddhas of the five families</ref> | Vairochana<ref>in the Sarma tantras, Akshobhya is often at the centre of the mandala, instead of Vairochana</ref> | Vajrasattva-Akshobhya<ref>in the Sarma tantras, Vairochana is often in the eastern direction, instead of Akshobhya</ref> | Ratnasambhava | Amitabha | Amoghasiddhi |
wisdom<ref>each buddha is associated to one of the five wisdoms</ref> | wisdom of dharmadhatu | mirror-like wisdom | wisdom of equality | wisdom of discernment | all-accomplishing wisdom |
poison<ref>each wisdom is a transmutation of one of the five poisons</ref> | delusion or ignorance | anger | pride | desire | jealousy |
skhanda<ref>each buddha is associated to one of the five skandhas</ref> | form | consciousness | feeling | perception | formations |
feminine buddha<ref>in union with each of the five buddhas</ref> | Dhatvishvari | Buddhalochana or Mamaki | Mamaki or Lochana | Pandaravasini | Samayatara |
element<ref>each female buddha represents the purity of one of the five elements</ref> | space | water | earth | fire | air |
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