[INDOLOGY] Iconography of Brahmā

[Paul Thomas]

Hello Colleagues,

I have three questions about the iconography of Brahmā.

First, in the Buddhist *Laghukālacakratantra *and its commentary the
*Vimalaprabhā*, Brahmā and Brahmāṇī are consistently described as holding a
*śūciḥ *in one of their hands.  This is translated by the Tibetans as *khab*,
which means "needle," so they, possibly with the input of Indian scholars,
understood it as *sūciḥ* (all the mss. I am using are Bengali or
Nepalese).  Along with the editors of these texts, I wonder if this is some
kind of obscure form of *sruk*, as that makes sense as something Brahmā or
Brahmāṇī would be holding.  I'm not sure why they would be holding a needle.

Second, they are also described as holding a *pātram*.  What kind of vessel
would this be, a platter of some kind?  Would it contain anything?  Why
carry an empty vessel?

Finally—and this one should be easy—they are of course also sometimes
described as carrying a *kamaṇḍaluḥ*/*kuṇḍī*/*kuṇḍikā*.  Thus is of course
more well-known.  I have seen this translated as "water-pot" or
"water-pitcher," but was this vessel really only intended to carry water?
Also is it more of a "pitcher" or "flask" (*kalaśaḥ*), or is it something
else?

Thank you and best wishes,
Paul
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