The assembly mandala of Bardo deities depicts a perfected state of beings and the central deities within, symbolizes the perfected states of the meditators' own awareness, psycho-physical aggregates, elemental properties and sensory and mental process.
The peaceful deities symbolize the natural purity of these fundamental components of beings while the wrathful deities are the transformative aspects of the energies. The outer deities of these mandalas are the mode of activities of an enlightened being.
Similarly the eight female Bodhisattvas are described as follows. They represent the four sense objects and the four phases of the conceptual thought (past, present, future and indeterminate stage).
The Eight Female Bodhisattvas are typically associated with offering goddesses and the goddesses of the Five Senses: Lasya, Malya, Gita, Nrtya, Pushpa, Dhupa, Aloka and Gandha. They are also referred to as the eight offering goddesses. They are the consorts of the eight great Bodhisattvas:
1. Lasya, Vajra family: Goddess of Beauty - The consort of Kshitigarbha
Quartz White in Color
To the front of Vajrasattva
Holding a mirror and a bell
Symbolizing the purity of visual phenomenon.
2. Pushpa, Vajra family: Goddess of Flowers - The consort of Sarvanivaranavishkambhin
Pearl White in color
Behind of Vajrasattva
Holding a flower
symbolizing the purity of past conceptual thoughts.
3. Malya, Ratna family: Goddess of Garlands - The consort of Akashagarbha
Saffron yellow in color
In front of Ratnasambhava
Holding a garland
symbolizing the purity of indeterminate conceptual thoughts.
Golden yellow in color
Behind of Ratnasambhava
Holding an incense
symbolizing the purity of Fragrance.
5 . Gita, Padma family: Goddess of Song - The consort of Vajrapani
Marsh mallow pink in color
In front of Amitabha
Holding a gong
symbolizing the purity of Sound.
6 . Aloka, Padma family: Goddess of Light - The consort of Samantabhadra
Lotus pink in color
Behind of Amitabha
Holding a butter lamp
symbolizing the purity of future conceptual thoughts.
Poopy Green in color
In front of Amoghasiddhi
Holding a conch shell
symbolizing the purity of present conceptual thoughts.
8 . Nrtya, Karma family: Goddess of Dance - The consort of Avalokiteshvara
Marine Green in color
Behind Amoghasiddhi
Holding a food offering
symbolizing the purity of taste.
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Aspiration For Bodhichitta
For those in whom the precious Bodhichitta has not arisen
May it arise and not decrease
But increase further and further.
Dedication of Merit
By this merit may we obtain omniscience then.
Having defeated the enemies wrong-doings.
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With its stormy waves of birth, old age, sickness and death.
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