AMITABHA (Tib: ‘od-dpag-med)

Amitabha is one of Five Enlightened Buddhas and the ‘Lord of the padma or Lotus Family’ that is assigned to the mandala’s western quadrant. Amitabha, meaning ‘Infinite Light’, is ruby red in colour, and his symbol is the red lotus. Amitabha represents the purified aggregate of perception, and his wisdom aspect the transmutation of passion into discriminating awareness. He wears the three red robes of a nirmanakaya monk along with an inner green robe that covers his right arm, and his hands rest upon his lap in the dhyana-mudra of meditation as he holds a blue vaidurya alms-bowl full of nectar.

He sits in vajra-posture upon a white moon disc and lotus above his peacock-throne, the four faces of which are ornamented with two peacocks. A stack of coloured jewels and the ‘eight auspicious substances’ appear as offerings in front his throne. The recitation of Amitabha’s mantra is believed to lead to rebirth within his western paradise or Pure Land of Sukhavati, the ‘joyful or blissful realm’, and his worship is very popular in the Tibetan, Chinese, Korean and Japanese Mahayana Buddhist traditions.

©Painting by Chewang Dorje Lama, Nepal.

Size: 6 x 4 inches