AMITABHA (of unmeasured splendor)

ORIGIN Buddhist [India]. The fourth dhyanibuddha or meditation buddha.

KNOWN PERIOD OF WORSHIP circa 500 BC to present.

SYNONYMS Vajradharma and possibly Amitayaus.

CENTER(S) OF CULT pan-Asiatic.

ART REFERENCES metal and stone sculptures, paintings.

LITERARY SOURCES Sadhanamala and Tantric ritual texts.

One of five mystic spiritual counterparts of a human buddha in Vajrayana Buddhism. A product of the Adibuddha who represents the branch of the cosmos concerned with consciousness. He originates from the red mantra HRIH and lives in the western paradise Sukhavati. The cult may have been influenced by Iranian light religions.

His SAKTI is PANDARA and he is normally accompanied by two peacocks. Color: red. Attributes: lock of hair, lotus, monk’s robe and water jar.

Amitabha is also taken as a tutelary god in Lamaism [Tibet] in which case his attributes include bell, jewel and three monkish robes. Emanations include PADMAPANI, MANJUSRI and many other minor names.

See also AKSOBHYA, AMOGHASIDDHI, RATNASAMBHAVA and VAIROCANA.