Khatvanga is a long club-like instrument originally created to be used as a weapon. It is a divine weapon of various significance in south asian Traditions like Shaivism and Esoteric Buddhism. The Khatvanga was adopted by some lineages of historical Tantra though it preceded such traditions. Khatvanga ( Ritual staff / club ) carried by certain tantric masters adorned with various symbols of tantric practice.
This is a weapon that comes from very ancient times. In modern times, the bone is replaced with decorated wood.Its a sort of club(gada). The handle is made up of the bone of forearm or leg. The end portion of the bone is attached to human skull.There are several different types of Khatvanga today without human skull. The skull is made using metal or wood. In some the human skull is attached to Trishul. In some the skull is attached to sword or spear.
Khatvanga is primarily used to invoke fear. It is a sort of shield to keep enemies away. It is also used by many tantrics to stay aloof from society so that people do not approach them.
Symbolically the Khatvanga represents the futility of life.
Khatvanga in Hindu tradition
In the Hindu tradition khatvangs is represented as one of the attributes of Lord Shiva as well as Lord Rudra carried the Khatwang as a staff he is also called as ‘Khatvangi’ for bearing this club. There are some different stories why Shiva is called khatvangi in which Siva commits acts of Brahmin-murder: firstly he kills Vishnu's doorkeeper the Visvaksena, and, secondly, he cuts off the fifth head of the creator god Brahma Hence based upon these activities that Siva carries the khatvariga staff because he is in some sense a Brahmin-killer so he is attributed with khatvanga. In shaivisam there different set of tradition like puranic and non puranic.
In this The Kapalika tradition was a non-Puranic form of Shaivism which holds the ancient tribal practices and beliefs in India.The word kapalikas is derived from kapala meaning "skull", and Kapalikas means the "skull-men". Generally Kapalikas are traditionally denoted with a skull-topped trident (khatvanga) and an empty skull as a begging bowl.At the beginning khatvaga was made of bones, especially, the long bones of forearm or the leg of human. Later the bhramins skull is stabbed on the bone staff. Later forearm bone is replaced with wooden staff this is supposed to carry as a component of his prescribed penance for the twelve-year rite that will expiate his sin ( killing a bhramin ) for twelve years, he should carry in hand a khatvanga and skull, remain celibate and enter a village to beg alms while proclaiming his deed. He should do the following for twelve years: He wear the skin of a animals reside in the wilderness make the head of a corpse his banner have a hut built in a cemetery and live in it for attaining the title of kaplika. In hindu tradition ferocious Forms of Shiva like bhairava , rudra Goddess Kali, Goddess Chamunda are depicted as holding Khatvanga. In the southern region of India especially in Tamil nadu & Kerala very rarely we can see the deities with katvangam.
Khatvanga in Buddhist tradition
The Buddhist khatvanga was derived from the emblematic staff of the early Indian Shaivite ( kapalika) tradition. In Vajrayana Buddhism the staff takes many new forms and functions. For Tantric practitioners emulating the behaviour of the major meditational deities such as Hevajra and Chakrasamvara hols the staff its called as katvanga it is described in the Tantric literature in a detailed manner and contains many deep meaning's locked in the mnemonic symbolism. It symbolizes the body of a human whose nature is great spontaneous bliss and its essence is absolute bodhichittva.
The trident symbolizes the control over the 3 poisons. The 9 links in the chain are the 9 stages of spiritual work. The crossed vajra symbolizes the balance between compassion and wisdom. The three heads symbolize the three bodies of a Buddha or Shiva. As for the vessel shown in staff is filled with the bodhichitta nectar.
The five-colored ribbons represent the five poisons that are transmitted into five medicines. The vajra at the lower end means that samsara has no base or root.
The #Khatvanga is primarily an attribute for deities who are in semi-peaceful semi-wrathful appearance sometimes it will shown to the wrathful deities. In vajrayana Buddhist tradition several forms of the Mahakala is worshipped as wisdom protector and he holds the katvanga and kabala. For male and female meditational deities are represented in simple solitary aspect such as Hevajra, Chakrasamvara, Vajrayogini, the katvanga staff represents the consort. Padmasambhava the mythic tantric saint who ensured the flourishing of Buddhism in Tibet in the 8th century was famous for supporting a katvanga staff against the left shoulder. Many male and female deities cradle a staff in the bend of the elbow, some hold the katvanga in the hand while embracing a consort.
#Khatvanga_in_Tamil nadu
A #khatvanga Shiva from kumbakonam. He is shown with four hands and he holds khatvanga and khabala in his upper hands and in his lower hands he shows abaya muthara and kadihastham in veerasanam. PC:akhil kuttu
#Khatvanga bhairava from thiruvarur thiyagarajar temple. He is shown in two hands and attributed with khatvanga and khabala in standing posture. Pc: akhil kuttu
#Katvaanga Shiva from Lalgudi Sapthrishisvarar Temple near Tiruchirapalli. He is shown in verrasan and in his upper hands he holds katvangam and kudaveenai. Pc: Rk.Lakshmi
#Khatvanga_in_Himalayan_region
pc: Google images
#Khatvanga_in_Himalayan_region
#Vera_ganapthi from Side street at Patan, Nepal. In india ganesha is worshipped in different forms Veera ganapthi form is the one among the 32 forms of ganesha as he holds Vhetala, the weapon of power(shakti), arrow, bow, wheel(Chakra or discus), sword, club, staff, hammer, mace, hook, nagapasha (serpent noose), spear, plough, and the shining axe. Kattavaga is represented as one the scared symbols of ganeshas astamangala in Tamil nadu.
#Bhairava or mahakala seen in Monkey temple in Kathmandu.Here he is shown with two arms he holds vajra in right arm and in his left arm he holds kappala an Khatvanga here he stands in samabanga.
#Padmasambhava Guru Rinpoche Statue at hemis monastery ladakh.
Padmasambhava also known as Guru Rinpoche (“Precious Guru”) or “The Second Buddha is widely credited with bringing Buddhism to the Tibetan lands. According to these legends, Padmasambhava was born amidst miraculous circumstances and grew up as a prince in oddiyana ( oddhisa ) at India. At the young age the prince turns into a tantric practiser then he travels around India and learns the teachings and practicing in sacred charnel grounds. Eventually he arrives in Yanglesho, where he gathers the texts of Vajrakiala ends a drought by defeating some local spirits, and gains realization and started to preach vajrayana Buddhism.
Pathmasambava is depicted in youthful appearance of 16 years old and he his shown complexion of fair and red tinged and shown in seated royal posture. He wears a five petal lotus crown on his head. His two eyes are wide open with a piercing gaze. He wears a red silk cloth in his right hand he holds a Vajra. In his left hand rests in the gesture of equanimity as he holds a kapala (skull bowl ) brimming with Amrit and containing the vase of longevity that is also filled with Amrit of deathless wisdom and ornamented on top by a wish-fulfilling tree. The Khatvanga that rests on his left arm is a particular divine attribute of Padmasambhava.
#Vajrayogini statue inside the Kyabje Pabongka Rinpoche’s personal retreat cave at Tibet. Vajrayogini is also called Vajravarahi, in Vajrayana (Tantric Buddhism) female embodiment of the cognitive function which leads to Buddhahood. She is the Queen of all the Dakinis ( energetic beings in female form, evocative of the movement of energy in space ).Vajravarahi is described with red in color with human face with three eyes and bared fangs. Having a crown of five human skulls and a necklace of fifty fresh human heads. In her right hand she holds a vajra curved knife in the left she holds the a blood filled skullcup and carrying a katvanga [in the bend of] the elbow. She is adorned with a garland of flowers and her lower garment is made of tiger skin. She is represented in dancing manner with the left leg extended in a half [vajrasana] posture.
#Khatvanga_in_Karnataka_region
PC: museum sculpture by Vicky Kannan
Hoysala sculptures: Dr ravichandran kp
A early chalukiyas style #dwarabalaka from Bangalore museum. This dwarabalaka is shown with four arms and he holds khatvanga and dhamaruka in his upper arms. In his lower arms he holds gadhayuda and showing vismaya hastam.
#Thandaveswara a form of dancing Shiva holding khatvanga from Hoysaleswara temple a 12th-century at in Halebidu, in the state of Karnataka.
#Chamunda holding khatvanga from Hoysaleswara temple a 12th-century at in Halebidu, in the state of Karnataka.
Chamunda is often said as a form of Kali, representing old age and death. She appears as a frightening old woman, projecting fear and horror.Chamunda is described as wearing a garland of severed heads or skulls (Mundamala). She is described as having four, eight, ten or twelve arms, holding a Damaru (drum), trishula (trident), sword, a snake, skull-mace (khatvanga), thunderbolt, a severed head and panapatra (drinking vessel, wine cup) or skull-cup (kapala), filled with blood. Standing on a corpse of a man (shava or preta) or seated on a defeated demon or corpse (pretasana). Chamunda is depicted adorned by ornaments of bones, skulls, and serpents. She also wears a Yajnopavita made of skulls. She is accompanied by evil spirits and also shown to be surrounded by skeletons or ghosts and beasts like jackals, who are shown eating the flesh.
#Gajasamharamoorthi holding kathvanga from Hoysaleswara temple a 12th-century at in Halebidu, in the state of Karnataka. In sculpture, Gajasurasamhara is often pictured with eight or sixteen arms. These multiple arms are uncommon in Shiva's iconography and are exclusively used in his combative forms.In such multiple-armed images, Shiva may carry various attributes like the trishula, a damaru, sword, kapala, pasha,deer, ankusha (goad), vajra (thunderbolt),arrow, gada (mace), khatavanga, tanka (a chisel-like weapon), bow, snake, the elephant's tusk and akshamala. His hands may be held in suchihasta mudra (gesture to draw or point out attention) or vismaya mudra. At least, two arms hold the elephant skin around the body.
#Female_deities_holding_Khatvanga
Pc:Google images
11th-century dancing form of #yogini holding khatvanga and khabala from Rani ki Vav at Patan in Gujarat , India.
11th century Chamunda holding khatvanga from
Eastern India, Pala period now ar Los Angeles County Museum of Art Collection. The tantric goddess Chamunda with six arms, seated in rajalilasana on a double lotus throne, emaciated with pendulous breasts, surrounded by demon figures and holding aloft the implements of a tantrika, including the khatvanga, damaru, panapatra or kapala, and severed head, wearing the flayed skin of an elephant as a cape.
12century Mahisasuramarthini sculpture from Rajasthan she holds katvanga.
---Ramu.Rm.N
