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Last Update: Oct. 10, 2005
Added new photo and text
Ashuku Nyorai
Sanskrit = Akshobhya Tathagata
Lord of Eastern Paradise called Abhirati (Sanskrit)
English = Land of Exceeding Great Delight
Typically associated with color blue.
One of the Five Tathagata of Wisdom.
Found most often in Japanese Mandala,
with right hand typically in Earth-Touching Mudra
Origin = India
Protects Eastern Quarter in Japanese Ryokai Mandara
Clipart courtesy of www.dharmanet.com.br/ashuku.htm
Ashuku (sometimes spelled "Asuku") is one of four deities guarding Dainichi Nyorai in the Diamond Mandala (Sanskrit = Vajradhatu, Japanese = Kongokai Mandara). The five, with Dainichi in the center surrounded by the four protectors (each representing a compass direction) are especially important to the Shingon Sect of Japanese Esoteric Buddhism. See the Godai Nyorai (Five Tathagata) page for details on the five. Ashuku Nyorai is not heavily represented in Japanese artwork outside of Shingon traditions.
At Kakuon-ji Temple in Kamakura, there is a wooden statue of Ashuku (see below photo), reportedly carved in 1322 AD by a local sculptor named "Inko" (whose years of birth and death are unknown). During the Kamakura Era, there were sculptors whose name began with "in," like Inkei and In'no. Inkei fashioned a sedentary statue of Priest Ken'nichi Koho (enshrined at Kencho-ji Temple in Kamakura), while In'no is thought to be the creator of a statue of Priest Sho-in Myogen (enshrined at Engaku-ji Temple, also in Kamakura). Both are considered excellent sculptors of the 14th century, and belong to a school of sculpture called the "In" school. <above paragraph courtesy of Kondo Takahiro>
Ashuku Nyorai, Treasure of Kakuon-ji Temple (Kamakura)
Height = 115 cm (about 3.77 feet); Date 1322 AD
Wood Carving by Inko; deity holding medicine jar in left hand
The statue of Ashuku Nyorai enshrined at Kakuon-ji Temple in Kamakura (see above photo) was originally thought to be Yakushi Nyorai (the Medicine Buddha), for Yakushi is typically shown holding a medicine jar in the left hand. But at some point, the temple priests discovered an inscription hidden inside the head of the statue, which gave both the name of the deity (Ashuku) and the artist (Inko) who carved the statue. Nevertheless, Yakushi Nyorai is also closely associated with the eastern quarter -- Yakushi is the Lord of the Eastern Pure Land of Lapis-Lazuli, while Ashuku is the Lord of the Eastern Land of Exceeding Great Delight. In some traditions, Yakushi and Ashuku are said to inhabit the same body.
 
Ashuku Nyorai Mantra and Drawing
Mantra courtesy www.dharmanet.com.br/ashuku.htm
Drawing courtesy of www.tctv.ne.jp/tobifudo/bonzisyo/set/kon5.html
BELOW TEXT COURTESY OF:
http://www.manjushri.com/BUDDHA/Akshobhya.html
Ashuku = Japanese
Aksobhya = Sanskrit (means "Immovable" or "Unshakable")
Chinese = Ah-Chu-For. Tibetan = Mi Kyu Pa or Sang Gye
Ashuku is mentioned in several Mahayana sutras, the Vimalakirti Nirdesa being the most famous. He is a major deity within Vajrayana Buddhism, residing in the eastern quarter of the mandala, surrounded by numerous forms of the green and white Tara Bosatsu. Ashuku is found throughout all four tantra classifications, most notably in the Anu-yoga class. His consort is Lochana, and they represent the Tathagata family, space, and all encompassing wisdom.
Ashuku Nyorai
Unknown date and location
Photo courtesy of www.manjushri.com/BUDDHA/Akshobhya.html
HUM
Sanskrit Seed Sound
SANSKRIT IMAGES with permission From:
www.tctv.ne.jp/tobifudo/butuzo/hotoke/hotokes.html
Ashuku Nyorai, Guardian of the East, in the
Kongokai Mandala (Diamond World Mandala)
Photo courtesy of the Mandala Explorer (Japanese language)
LEARN MORE
- Five Satellite Deities of Kongokai Japanese Mandara
www.tctv.ne.jp/tobifudo/bonzisyo/set/kon5.html
Japanese language only; above blue drawing from this site
- Dharmanet (Spanish language only)
www.dharmanet.com.br/ashuku.htm
Above clipart and mantra from this site.
- Ashuku Nyorai at Kakuon-ji Temple (Kamakura)
www.asahi-net.or.jp/~QM9T-KNDU/kakuonji.htm
Site covers over 70 temples and shrines in Kamakura area.
By Kondo Takahiro.
- Manjushri.com - Akshobhya Tathagata
www.manjushri.com/BUDDHA/Akshobhya.html
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