Samantabhadra Bodhisattva
From Buddhist Encyclopedia
Also known as Vajradhara, Viśvabhadra, Primordial Buddha, Adi Buddha, etc.
- Chinese : 普贤 puxian
- Japanese : Fugen
- Korean : Pohyon
- Mongolian : Qamugha Sain
- Tibetan : kun-tu bzang-po
- Vietnamese : Pho-hien
Samantabhadra is the Lord of the Truth (Chinese: 理), who represents the practice and meditation of all Buddhas. Together with Shakyamuni and Manjusri he forms the Shakyamuni trinity. He is the patron of the Lotus Sutra and, according to the Avatamsaka Sutra, made the Ten Great Vows which are the basis of a Bodhisattva.
Samantabhadra is most commonly described as a bodhisattva himself, although some esoteric traditions regard him as a primordial Buddha (see, for example, the Kunjed Gyalpo Tantra).
Literally 'He whose bounty is omnipresent', he represents the Buddhist ideals of Law and Compassion. Alongside Manjusri, he is one of the three acolytes of Shakyamuni. In Japan this Bodhisattva is mainly worshipped by the Tendai and Shingon sects, and as the protector of the Lotus Sutra.
Samantabhadra is looked upon by the Nyingma tradition as the Primordial Buddha, awakened since the very beginning. With his naked deep blue body in union with his white consort, he represents the symbol of dharmakaya and is of central significance in the Mahamudra teaching. Indeed he is the special divine patron in Japan of those who practise Hokkesammai (ecstatic meditation).
Samantabhadra also named Vajradhara, which means holder of the vajra, implying that Samantabhadra is the holder or protector of Buddhism. Vajradhara holds the vajra in his right hand and the bell in his left. His hands are crossed at the wrists, a gesture symbolizing highest energy and the union of compassion and wisdom necessary to reach enlightenment.
The Yogacara school claim that Samantabhadra was the founder of the Yoga system.
From the primordial Samantabhadra (Vajradhara) were manifested the Five Wisdom Buddhas.
| About Buddha Five Wisdom Buddhas Kasyapa Buddha Bodhisattvas |
Iconography
Unlike his more popular counterpart Manjusri, Samantabhadra is rarely depicted alone and is usually found in a trinity on the right side of Shakyamuni, mounted on a white elephant. In those traditions that do accept the Avatamsaka Sutra as its root instruction, Samantabhadra and Manjusri flank Vairocana Buddha, the central Buddha. Samantabhadra is sometimes shown in Chinese art with feminine characteristics, riding an elephant with six pairs of tusks while carrying a lotus leaf parasol, with similar dress and features to some feminine depictions of Kuan Yin. It is in this guise that Samantabhadra is revered as the patron bodhisattva of the monasteries associated with Mount Emei in western China.
Among those esoteric traditions that treat Samantabhadra as the Primordial Buddha, he is always represented naked, with a dark blue body, in union with his consort Samantabhadri.
