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SANSKRIT IMAGES
By Permission From:
www.tctv.ne.jp/
tobifudo/butuzo/
hotoke/hotokes.html
Handbook on Viewing Buddhist Statues
A totally wonderful
book. Many images
shown on this page
were scanned from
this book; Japanese language only; 192 pages; 80 or so
color photos. By author Ishii Ayako.
Click here to
buy book at Amazon
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MYO-O GROUP - TOP PAGE
Myo-o (Myo-ou, Myou-ou) -- Vidyaraja in Sanskrit
Kings of Light, Kings of Luminescent Wisdom
Worshipped mostly by Shingon Sect of Esoteric Buddhism
Origin India, Brahman and Hindi Deities
The Myo-o are warlike emanations who represent the luminescent wisdom of the Buddha, and guard the four cardinal directions and the center. Introduced to Japan in the 9th century, the Myo-o were originally Hindu deities adopted into the pantheon of Esoteric Buddhism to vanquish blind craving. The teachings of Esoteric Buddhism are mystical and hard to understand, and require a high level of devotion and austerity to master. Elaborate and secret ritual practices (utilizing mantras and mudras and mandalas) are used to help partitioners develop and realize the eternal wisdom of the Buddha. This form of Buddhism is not taught to the general public, but is confined mostly to Buddhist priests and those far along the path toward enlightenment.
Esoteric Buddhism's main practitioners in Japan were Priest Kukai (774 - 835 AD) and Priest Saicho (767 - 822 AD). Kukai, also called Kobo Daishi, founded the Shingon Sect of Esoteric Buddhism, while Priest Saicho founded the Tendai Sect. Myo-ou are also called "Hotoke" (Figures of Buddha) in Esoteric Buddhism -- those who protect Buddhism and force its outside enemies to surrender. Today, the Myo-o are revered mainly by the Shingon sect, which emphasizes the Great Sun Sutra (Maha-vairocana Sutra) and worships Dainichi Nyorai (Mahavairocana) as the Cosmic Buddha. Indeed, the Myo-o are the messengers of Dainichi Nyorai, and represent Dainichi's wrath against evil and ignorance.
GODAI MYO-O, FIVE GREAT KINGS
In contrast to the saintly images of the Nyorai (Buddha) and Bosatsu (Bodhisattva), images of the Myo-o are ferocious and menacing, for their threatening postures and facial expressions are designed to subdue evil spirits and convert nonbelievers. They are often depicted engulfed in flame, which according to Buddhist lore, represents the purification of the mind by the burning away of all material desires. They carry vicious weapons to protect believers and subdue evil. Among Myo-o sculptures, the "Godai Myo-o" (the grouping called the "Five Great Kings") is the most prevalent; among individual Myo-o, the most widely venerated in Japan is Fudo "The Immovable." The group of five serve the Nyorai, while another group of eight serve the Bosatsu. The group of eight is called Hachidai Myo-o All eight are discussed below.
The Five Great Kings
Nara National Museum (Japanese language only)
www.narahaku.go.jp/meihin/cyokoku/cyo_fra.html
Fudo (center); (L to R) Gundari, Daitoku, Kongo-Yasha, Gosanze
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FUDO-MYOO,
or OFUDOSAN
Sanskrit Seed - KAN
Sanskrit Seed - UN
Name:
Acalanatha
which means
"Immovable"
Acala-vidyaraja
(God of Fire)
Some resources
also say Fudo
is the Hindu
God Shiva
Flames in background said to represent the purification of the mind; in Kamakura, Fudo is enshrined at Joju-in and Myo-o-in. The flame behind Fudo, some say, originated from the vomit of the mythical Karura.
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Fudo Mantra in Japanese
Positioned in Center. Personification of Dainichi Nyorai; best known of the five, and one of the main deities of the Shingon sect. Converts anger into salvation; furious, glaring face, as Fudo seeks to frighten people into accepting the teachings of Dainichi; carries "kurikara" or devil-subduing sword in right hand (also represents wisdom cutting through ignorance); holds rope in left hand (to catch and bind up demons); often has third eye in forehead (all-seeing); often seated or standing on rock (because Fudo is "immovable" in his faith).
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Gozanze
Sanskrit Seed
UN
Name:
Trilokavijaya
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Gozanze Mantra in Japanese
Positioned in East. Three threatening faces; eight arms; the enemy of foolishness and anger. Carries "Arrow of Mercy" to shoot at people who stray from path toward enlightenment; stands on two monsters, Daijizaiten and Uma.
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Gundari
Sanskrit Seed
UN
Name:
Kundali
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Gundari Mantra in Japanese
Positioned in South. Three faces; eight arms (most holding weapons). Snakes usually coiled around ankles or neck. The enemy of devils.
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Daitoku
Sanskrit Seed:
KIRIIKU
Name:
Yamantaka
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Daitoku Mantra in Japanese
Positioned in West. Six faces; six legs; six arms holding various weapons; riding a white cow (cow is symbol of enlightenment); has power to suppress evil and create goodness. Guardian deity for Amida Nyorai in the Western Pure Land; power to vanquish poisonous snakes and dragons; worshiped as a deity of victory; Museum of Fine Arts (Boston) has statue of Daitoku from the 10th century.
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Kongou-Yasha
Seed Sound:
UN
Name:
Vajra-yaksa
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Kongou-Yasha Mantra in Japanese
Positioned in North. Three angry faces; six arms (or one head and four arms); destroyer of foolish human desires; symbolizes strength; Tendai Buddhists replace Kongo Yasha with 鳥枢沙摩明王
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Aizen
Seed Sound:
U-UN
Name:
Ragaraja
In some sects, considered manifestation of Vairocana
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Aizen, Kamakura Period, at Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine Museum in Kamakura
Aizen Mantra in Japanese
God of Love, King of Sexual Passion, converts earthly desires (love/lust) into spiritual awakening; saves people from the pain that comes with love; three faces, three eyes; six arms (typically holding weapons; often wears crown containing a shishi (magical lion); red body, symbolizing the power to purify sexual desire; often carries a bow and arrow (like Cupid); enshrined at Kakuonji Temple in Kamakura.
Kamakura Era
Photo courtesy Tokyo National Museum
Aizen is revered in Japan's gay quarters as the patron of love.
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Kujaku
Kujyaku
Skt.
Mahamayuri
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 Rain God or Peacock Wisdom King.
Wards off evil from poisoning or calamity; prayed to in times of drought, poisoning, and disaster; rides a peacock (in India, the peacock is famous for eating poisonous snakes); one face, four arms. Another photo can be viewed here.
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Bato
Batou
Skt.
Hayagriva
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 Myo-o with Horse Head. Most often shown with three faces and eight arms; able to eat anything, thus called on in times of need -- i.e., Bato will "eat" your troubles away.
Bato Myo-o is one of the many incarnations of Bato Kannon, and is more venerated in China than in Japan. Visit the Bato Kannon link for more details. Above photo courtesy of www1.kcn.ne.jp/~yosikatu/sikokureijyou01.htm
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Shinshoji Temple (in Narita, near Narita Int'l Airport)
Shinshoji is dedicated solely to the Myo-o. Its main object of worship is a statue of Fudo Myo-o. Behind the main hall stands a huge tower (erected in 1984) housing a complete set of the Godai Myo-o (The Five Myo-o).
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Fudo Myo-o Mask
Available online at:
www2.cyberoz.net/city/
sanden/jindex.html
Fudo Myo-o
Heian, Kyoto Nat'l Museum
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Myo-o - The Knowledge Kings
The Vidyarajas
These esoteric deities are the kings of mystic knowledge who represent the power of the Buddhas to vanquish blind craving. They are known as the the kings of mystic knowledge because they wield the mantras, which are the mystical spells made up of Sanskrit syllables imbued with the power to protect practitioners of the Dharma (Buddhist Law) from all harm and evil influences. The Vidyarajas appear in terrifying wrathful forms because they embody the indomitable energy of compassion which breaks down all obstacles to wisdom and liberation.
There are two groups of Vidyarajas that are well known. The most famous is the group of five led by Fudo Myo-o. These five are the emanations of the Buddhas of the four cardinal directions and the center which figure prominently in Esoteric Buddhist practice. There is also a group of eight, which includes Aizen Myo-o, who are emanations of the Bodhisattvas.
The two Vidyarajas who appear on the mandala are Achalanatha and Ragaraja, known in Japanese as Fudo Myo-o and Aizen Myo-o respectively. They are each represented by their respective bijas, "seed syllables" that embody their essence. In this case, the seed syllables are written in Siddham, a variant of Sanskrit. They are the only parts of the mandala written in the form of Sanskrit bijas. According to Jacqueline Stone, Fudo Myo-o and Aizen Myo-o represent, espectively, the doctrines that "samsara is nirvana" (shoji soku nehan in Japanese) and "the defilements are bodhi" (bonno soku bodai in Japanese)." The first principle means that nirvana is not another realm but the true reality of the world of birth and death. The second principle means that bodhi, or enlightenment, is not the eradication of the defilements, but their liberation and transmutation into the wholesome energy of the enlightened mind.
 Fudo Myo-o and Aizen Myo-o are sometimes identified with the Ni-o, the Two Deva Kings, who are a dual form of Dainichi Nyorai, who is a personification of the Dharmakaya or universal body of the Buddha. As such, Fudo Myo-o represents the element of spirit or mind, the Diamond World Mandala, and subjective wisdom; while Aizen Myo-o represents the five elements of earth, air, fire, water, and space, as well as the Womb World Mandala, and objective truth. Together the pair represent all of the things which are united in the universal life of the Buddha - body and mind, wisdom and truth, and the two mandalas (Ryokai Mandara). The Two Nio Kings are often found guarding the main gates to temple and monasteries as fierce giant warriors. Above text courtesty:
campross.crosswinds.net/ShuteiMandala/myo-o.html
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Above
Kujaku (Sanskrit Mahamayuri) = Peacock Wisdom King
Heian Era Painting
National Treausre, Tokyo National Museum
Photo courtesy of www.kyohaku.go.jp/tokuten/elegance/eleg3e.htm
LEARN MORE
- Nara Museum
www.narahaku.go.jp/meihin
www.narahaku.go.jp/meihin/cyokoku/016.html
- Sanskrit Font for Windows
plaza.harmonix.ne.jp/~kokura/main/font/font.html
- Kyoto National Musuem and Esoteric Buddhism
www.kyohaku.go.jp/tokuten/myoho/myoho1e.htm
http://www.kyohaku.go.jp/tokuten/elegance/eleg2e.htm
http://www.kyohaku.go.jp/tokuten/elegance/eleg5e.htm
- Excerpt from Ed Jacobs: www3.tky.3web.ne.jp/~edjacob/sculpture.html
Go Dai Myo-o statues are generally regarded as artistically inferior to the Nyorai of the Asuka and Nara periods. When many of the Myo-o sculptures were made in the Heian period, Japanese sculpture was said to be in decline, partly because many of important monasteries were in remote locations, and partly because more attention was paid to correct iconography than artistic beauty.
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