Gnostic Glossary: Hindu Pantheon

Svabhava

(Sanskrit स्वभाव; Tibetan: rang bzhin) From bhava, “becoming, being, attitude, state of being” and sva, “own.” In general use, svabhava means “innate nature.”

1. In Hinduism, svabhava can refer on the cosmic scale to the ultimate nature of all things (Brahma), or down at the personal scale to our apparant self-nature.

2. A term used in Buddhist philosophy to clarify what is inherently existent, and what is not (nisvabhāva, rang bzhin med). Mahayana Buddhism posits the doctrine of the inherent emptiness (sunyata) of all things (svabhava), and is therefore called svabhava-sunyata. This is the core message of the prajnaparamita scriptures.

“The producers of form from no-form — the root of the world — the devamatri and svabhavat, rested in the bliss of non-being.” – The Voice of the Silence

“Ishvara wills. The equilibrium of the Gunas is disturbed through Kaala under the influence of Ishvara. Kaala is a Sakti of Ishvara. Then transformation takes place through Svabhava, which is the essence of Prakriti. The development of the Mahat Tattva follows from Karma. Originally this world was enveloped in darkness. Ishvara or the Lord, though unmanifest Himself, caused this universe to be gradually manifested. By dint of His Will, the Lord, the undecaying substratum or reality of the universe gave the first impetus to nature to shake off her state of primal equipoise and to be gradually and successfully evolved in those twenty-four categories and elements such as intellect, egoism, root-elements or Tanmatras. Prana, Mind, the five Bhutas or elements which were necessary for the formation of the present universe.” – Swami Sivananda, Self-knowledge

Tara

(Sanskrit तारा; Tibetan: Dolma) Literally, “savior” or “she who liberates.” A symbolic representation of the Divine Mother, who is formless but takes forms like this out of compassion for beings like us.

tara

In Hinduism, Tara is seen as a form of Shakti, the vital energy of the gods, and is thus a manifestation of Durga or Parvati. In Hindu Tantra, Tara is very similar to Kali.

In Tibetan Buddhism, Tara is seen as an emanation of Avalokitesvara (Christ). She is considered the embodiment of the compassion of all the gods, and is thus seen as the mother of all the Buddhas. She appears in twenty-one forms; the two most common are White Tara (associated with healing and long life) and Green Tara (associated with protection). Her veneration is very popular in Tibetan Buddhism.

The mantra of Tara is oṃ tāre tuttāre ture svāhā (oṃ tāre tu tāre ture soha). 

Vajrasattva

(Sanskrit; Tibetan dorje tekpa) Literally, Diamond Vehicle, or Diamond Soul. In Buddhism, Vajrasattva is a symbol of the purifying aspect of divinity.

“People imagine that our Father who is in Heaven is a Lord who is seated there. Yet, if we profoundly reflect on this, we discover the Monad, the number one, the origin of all of the other unities or Monads. It is clear that the Monad needs something in life in order to Self-realize. What is it that the Monad needs? We find the answer in the light of Sanskrit. It needs “Vajrasattva,” which means “a Diamond Soul.” This is a Soul that has no “I,” that has eliminated all of the subjective elements of perception; these subjective elements are the “I’s” and the three traitors of Hiram Abiff, or in other words, Judas, the demon of desire, who is mistakenly confused with the Astral Body; Pilate, the demon of the mind, who is confused with the Mental Body; and Caiaphas, the demon of Evil Will.” – Samael Aun Weor, Tarot and Kabbalah

Vishnu

The one who works everywhere.

(Sanskrit विष्णु)

“…Vishńu, from the root Vis, ‘to enter’ or ‘pervade;’…” – Vishnu Purana

“Brahma, Vishnu and Siva are the three aspects of God. Brahma is the creative aspect; Vishnu is the preservative aspect; and Siva is the destructive aspect. There is no polytheism in Hinduism. Siva, Vishnu, Brahma, Sakti are different aspects of the one Lord.” – Swami Sivananda, Hindu Gods and Goddesses

“An eternal breath exists within the heart of every life. All of the breaths of life are the Great Breath emanated from the Absolute in the dawn of the Mahamanvantara. All the breaths are resplendent Dragons of Wisdom. The Great Breath is the Cosmic Christ, the Army of the Voice, Kwan-Yin, the Melodious Voice, Avalokiteshvara, Vishnu, Osiris, the Central Sun.” – Samael Aun Weor, Kundalini Yoga

“The Cosmic Christ is called “Christos” by the Greeks, “Osiris” by the Egyptians, “Vishnu” by the Hindus, “Kuan Yin,” the Melodious Voice by the Chinese, “Avalokiteshvara” by Tibetans. The Cosmic Christ is the Army of the Voice, the great breath, the central sun, the Solar Logos, the Word of God.” – Samael Aun Weor, The Major Mysteries

“Christ is Vishnu in the sacred land of the Vedas. He is the Second Logos, sublime emanation of Brahma, the First Logos.” – Samael Aun Weor, The Three Mountains

“The incarnation of Vishnu into a human being is what is called an Avatar. Properly, Vishnu is the Christ, the Solar Logos. This is why in India they say that reincarnation is performed by Vishnu. Krishna spoke about this by saying, “Only the Devas reincarnate.” – Samael Aun Weor, Tarot and Kabbalah