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