Vasudhara: The Goddess of Wealth and Abundance

In Tibetan Buddhism, particularly in the Mahayana and Vajrayana traditions, goddess Vasudhara is the major goddess of wealth, prosperity, and abundance.  Among the qualities of this goddess are the material wealth and spiritual wealth giving that brings the worldly success and the ultimate goal of enlightenment.  Besides material wealth, Vasudhara also represents the inestimable Buddha's preaching and the gradual acquisition of the virtues of loving-kindness and wisdom.

Iconography and Symbolism

Vasudhara is depicted as a lustrous, youthful, and gentle figure whose presence signifies wealth, abundance, and the flourishing of understanding.

• Golden or Green Color: Her body color is most often a combination of gold and green, indicating prosperity, health, and the flow of both spiritual and material wealth.  Gold is primarily perceived as the material sign of wealth and wisdom, whereas green may denote health and growth.
• Ornaments: Visualized with a vessel overflowing with jewels and grains. This represents that she possesses an unending source of wealth and bounty. This also implies that she will grant both physical and spiritual support to people asking for her blessings.
• Graceful Posture: She is frequently depicted in a soft, composed manner with one leg drawn up and the other stretched out. This attests to her generosity and readiness to walk with the person wanting to develop spiritually.
• Giving Gesture: Usually, the right hand of Vasudhara is depicted in the mode of generosity (varada mudra); this indicates that she is ready to bestow wealth and blessings upon those who truly seek her help.

Role in Buddhist Practice

Vasudhara is highly regarded as a source of the blessings of prosperity, good luck, and liberation from the hindrances to spiritual ascension. Her importance is not limited to the material world; she is the very personification of the spiritual richness and the achievement of goals, whether through everyday life or spiritual practice. As a wealth distributor, people ask her blessings for relieving their monetary hardships, obtaining the means for their religious activities, and taking care of their families and communities. Moreover, she is associated with spiritual wealth, fostering such human qualities as patience and love, and aiding in the emergence of one’s divine nature. Some faiths even consider Vasudhara to be the guardian of fertility and the patron of agriculture, thus underlining her connection with the life-giving force and the creative power of the material as well as the spiritual realms. Besides this, she is the one who, by getting rid of the negative forces and the hindrances, leads the devotees to success in their worldly affairs and to the door of enlightenment.

Legacy and Influence

Vasudhara is a god who symbolizes both material and spiritual richness and thus plays a great role in Tibetan Buddhism practice. In Vajrayana Buddhism, she is called upon during ceremonies to bring prosperity and remove barriers to one's spiritual journey. Her mantra and visualizations are common in these practices. Furthermore, Vasudhara is an icon of art in the Buddhist world, reminding people that the richness must be shared and practiced for the good of all mankind.