Acala
Encyclopedia
In Vajrayana
Buddhism
, Ācala (alternatively, Achala or Acalanātha (अचलनाथ) in Sanskrit) is the best known of the Five Wisdom Kings of the Womb Realm
. He is also known as Ācalanātha, Āryācalanātha, Ācala-vidyā-rāja and . The Sanskrit term ācala means "immovable"; Ācala is also the name of the eighth of the ten completion stages of the Bodhisattva
path (the Eighth Bhumi
). His siddham seed-syllabe is "".
Ācala is the destroyer of delusion and a principal protector of Buddhism. His immovability refers to that aspect of mind (Buddha Nature) which is forever unmoved - perfectly stable and unchanging. Despite his fearsome appearance, his role is to aid all beings by showing them the true essence of the teachings of the Buddha, leading them into perfect mental discipline.
He is seen as a protector and aide in attaining goals. Shingon Buddhist temples dedicated to Ācala perform a periodic fire ritual
in devotion to him.
The buddha Akshobhya
, whose name also means "the immovable one", is sometimes merged with Ācala. In most traditions, however, Ācala is not technically a Buddha
, but one of the Five Wisdom Kings of the Womb Realm
as found in the Japanese Shingon sect of Buddhism
.
In some forms of Japanese Vajrayana Buddhism, Fudō Myōō (Ācala) is considered as one of the Thirteen Buddhas
and is usually invoked first for spiritual protection. Fudō Myōō, meaning "Immovable Wisdom King", is the patron deity of the Yamabushi
. He usually holds a sword and a lariat, is clad in monastic rags, has one fang pointing up and another pointing down, and a braid on the left side of his head. His statues are generally placed near waterfalls and deep in the mountains and in caves.
Vajrayana
Vajrayāna Buddhism is also known as Tantric Buddhism, Tantrayāna, Mantrayāna, Secret Mantra, Esoteric Buddhism and the Diamond Vehicle...
Buddhism
Buddhism
Buddhism is a religion and philosophy encompassing a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha . The Buddha lived and taught in the northeastern Indian subcontinent some time between the 6th and 4th...
, Ācala (alternatively, Achala or Acalanātha (अचलनाथ) in Sanskrit) is the best known of the Five Wisdom Kings of the Womb Realm
Womb Realm
In Vajrayana Buddhism, the Womb Realm is the metaphysical space inhabited by the Five Wisdom Kings. The Womb Realm is based on the Mahāvairocana Sutra...
. He is also known as Ācalanātha, Āryācalanātha, Ācala-vidyā-rāja and . The Sanskrit term ācala means "immovable"; Ācala is also the name of the eighth of the ten completion stages of the Bodhisattva
Bodhisattva
In Buddhism, a bodhisattva is either an enlightened existence or an enlightenment-being or, given the variant Sanskrit spelling satva rather than sattva, "heroic-minded one for enlightenment ." The Pali term has sometimes been translated as "wisdom-being," although in modern publications, and...
path (the Eighth Bhumi
Bhumi (Buddhism)
The bodhisattva's path of awakening in the Mahayana tradition progresses through ten hierarchically arranged stages, referred to as the "bodhisattva bhūmis"...
). His siddham seed-syllabe is "".
Ācala is the destroyer of delusion and a principal protector of Buddhism. His immovability refers to that aspect of mind (Buddha Nature) which is forever unmoved - perfectly stable and unchanging. Despite his fearsome appearance, his role is to aid all beings by showing them the true essence of the teachings of the Buddha, leading them into perfect mental discipline.
He is seen as a protector and aide in attaining goals. Shingon Buddhist temples dedicated to Ācala perform a periodic fire ritual
Homa (ritual)
Homa is a Sanskrit word which refers to any ritual in which making offerings into a consecrated fire is the primary action...
in devotion to him.
The buddha Akshobhya
Akshobhya
In Vajrayana Buddhism, Akṣobhya is one of the Five Wisdom Buddhas, a product of the Adibuddha, who represents consciousness as an aspect of reality...
, whose name also means "the immovable one", is sometimes merged with Ācala. In most traditions, however, Ācala is not technically a Buddha
Buddhahood
In Buddhism, buddhahood is the state of perfect enlightenment attained by a buddha .In Buddhism, the term buddha usually refers to one who has become enlightened...
, but one of the Five Wisdom Kings of the Womb Realm
Womb Realm
In Vajrayana Buddhism, the Womb Realm is the metaphysical space inhabited by the Five Wisdom Kings. The Womb Realm is based on the Mahāvairocana Sutra...
as found in the Japanese Shingon sect of Buddhism
Buddhism
Buddhism is a religion and philosophy encompassing a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha . The Buddha lived and taught in the northeastern Indian subcontinent some time between the 6th and 4th...
.
In some forms of Japanese Vajrayana Buddhism, Fudō Myōō (Ācala) is considered as one of the Thirteen Buddhas
Thirteen Buddhas
The Thirteen Buddhas is a purely Japanese grouping of important Buddhist deities, particularly in the Shingon sect of Buddhism. The deities are, in fact, mostly not Buddhas at all, but also include bodhisattvas and Wisdom Kings...
and is usually invoked first for spiritual protection. Fudō Myōō, meaning "Immovable Wisdom King", is the patron deity of the Yamabushi
Yamabushi
' are Japanese mountain ascetic hermits with a long tradition as mighty warriors endowed with supernatural powers. They follow the Shugendō doctrine, an integration of mainly esoteric Buddhism of the Shingon sect, with Tendai and Shinto elements...
. He usually holds a sword and a lariat, is clad in monastic rags, has one fang pointing up and another pointing down, and a braid on the left side of his head. His statues are generally placed near waterfalls and deep in the mountains and in caves.
External links
- Fudo Myo-O, 不動明王 O-Fudo-sama in Japan
- Ellen Schattschneider "Fudo Myoo (Acala)" - In: immortal wishes (2003)
- Shingon Buddhist International Institute
- www.fudomyoshugedo.webs.com