Ratnasambhava
Encyclopedia
Ratnasambhava is one of the Five Dhyani Buddhas
(or "Five Meditation Buddhas") of Vajrayana
or Tantric Buddhism
. Ratnasambhava's mandalas and mantras focus on developing equanimity and equality and, in Vajrayana buddhist thought is associated with the attempt to destroy greed and pride. His consort is Lochana and his mount is a horse or a pair of lions. His wrathful manifestation is Gundari
. Often included in his retinue is the worldy dharmapāla
Jambhala.
of Golden Light) and in the Guhyasamaja Tantra
(4th Century CE), and subsequently appears in a number of vajrayana texts. The most elaborate account of him is to be found in the Panchakara section of the Advyavajra sangrah.
of feeling or sensation and its relationship with consciousness. His activity in promoting Buddhism
is enriching and increasing knowledge of Dharma
. Ratnasambhava is associated with the jewel symbol, which corresponds with his family, Ratna or jewel. In artwork he is shown in the mudra
of giving.
He is usually coloured yellow or gold. He is associated with the element earth
, the heavenly quarter of the south
and the season of autumn. His cardinal direction is the south.
In the Bardo Thodol
, he is depicted in union with Mamaki and attended by the male bodhisattvas Akashagarbha and Samantabhadra
and the female bodisattvas Mala and Dhupa
.
In Tibet, , also known as Jambhala and Kubera, is considered a worldly dharmapāla, and is often depicted as a member of the retinue of Ratnasambhava.
The Wisdom King
Gundari
is a manifestation of Ratnasambhava (Hōshō Nyorai).
Five Dhyani Buddhas
In Vajrayana Buddhism, the Five Dhyani Buddhas , also known as the Five Wisdom Tathāgatas, the Five Great Buddhas and the Five Jinas , are representations of the five qualities of the Buddha...
(or "Five Meditation Buddhas") of Vajrayana
Vajrayana
Vajrayāna Buddhism is also known as Tantric Buddhism, Tantrayāna, Mantrayāna, Secret Mantra, Esoteric Buddhism and the Diamond Vehicle...
or Tantric Buddhism
Tantra
Tantra , anglicised tantricism or tantrism or tantram, is the name scholars give to an inter-religious spiritual movement that arose in medieval India, expressed in scriptures ....
. Ratnasambhava's mandalas and mantras focus on developing equanimity and equality and, in Vajrayana buddhist thought is associated with the attempt to destroy greed and pride. His consort is Lochana and his mount is a horse or a pair of lions. His wrathful manifestation is Gundari
Gundari
Kuṇḍali Vidyarāja or Amṛtakuṇḍalin, ch: 軍荼利明王, Jūntúlì míngwáng; ja: 軍荼利明王, Gundari Myōō) is one of the five major Wisdom Kings in Buddhism. He is the dispenser of Amrita, the celestial nectar of immortality.Kuṇḍali is a manifestation of Ratnasambhava....
. Often included in his retinue is the worldy dharmapāla
Dharmapala
In Vajrayana Buddhism, a dharmapāla is a type of wrathful deity. The name means "Dharma-defender" in Sanskrit, and the dharmapālas are also known as the Defenders of the Law , or the Protectors of the Law, in English....
Jambhala.
Textual History
The first documented mention of Ratnasambhava is found in the Ārya Suvarna-prabhā-sottamasutrendrarājamahāyana Sutra (Sutraof Golden Light) and in the Guhyasamaja Tantra
Guhyasamāja tantra
The Guhyasamāja Tantra is one of the most important scriptures of esoteric Buddhism. In its fullest form, it consists of seventeen chapters, though a separate "explanatory tantra" known as the Later Tantra is sometimes considered to be its eighteenth chapter...
(4th Century CE), and subsequently appears in a number of vajrayana texts. The most elaborate account of him is to be found in the Panchakara section of the Advyavajra sangrah.
Characteristics
Ratnasambhava is associated with the skandhaSkandha
In Buddhist phenomenology and soteriology, the skandhas or khandhas are any of five types of phenomena that serve as objects of clinging and bases for a sense of self...
of feeling or sensation and its relationship with consciousness. His activity in promoting 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...
is enriching and increasing knowledge of Dharma
Dharma
Dharma means Law or Natural Law and is a concept of central importance in Indian philosophy and religion. In the context of Hinduism, it refers to one's personal obligations, calling and duties, and a Hindu's dharma is affected by the person's age, caste, class, occupation, and gender...
. Ratnasambhava is associated with the jewel symbol, which corresponds with his family, Ratna or jewel. In artwork he is shown in the mudra
Mudra
A mudrā is a symbolic or ritual gesture in Hinduism and Buddhism. While some mudrās involve the entire body, most are performed with the hands and fingers...
of giving.
He is usually coloured yellow or gold. He is associated with the element earth
Classical element
Many philosophies and worldviews have a set of classical elements believed to reflect the simplest essential parts and principles of which anything consists or upon which the constitution and fundamental powers of anything are based. Most frequently, classical elements refer to ancient beliefs...
, the heavenly quarter of the south
South
South is a noun, adjective, or adverb indicating direction or geography.South is one of the four cardinal directions or compass points. It is the opposite of north and is perpendicular to east and west.By convention, the bottom side of a map is south....
and the season of autumn. His cardinal direction is the south.
In the Bardo Thodol
Bardo Thodol
The Liberation Through Hearing During The Intermediate State , sometimes translated as Liberation Through Hearing or Bardo Thodol is a funerary text...
, he is depicted in union with Mamaki and attended by the male bodhisattvas Akashagarbha and Samantabhadra
Samantabhadra
Samantabhadra , is a bodhisattva in Mahayana Buddhism associated with Buddhist practice and meditation. Together with Shakyamuni Buddha and fellow bodhisattva Manjusri he forms the Shakyamuni trinity in Buddhism...
and the female bodisattvas Mala and Dhupa
Dhupa
Dhupa is, in dharmic religions , the ritual offering of incense during puja to an image of a deity, or other object of veneration. It is also the Sanskrit word for incense or perfume itself....
.
In Tibet, , also known as Jambhala and Kubera, is considered a worldly dharmapāla, and is often depicted as a member of the retinue of Ratnasambhava.
The Wisdom King
Wisdom King
In Vajrayana Buddhism, a Wisdom King is the third type of deity after Buddhas and bodhisattvas...
Gundari
Gundari
Kuṇḍali Vidyarāja or Amṛtakuṇḍalin, ch: 軍荼利明王, Jūntúlì míngwáng; ja: 軍荼利明王, Gundari Myōō) is one of the five major Wisdom Kings in Buddhism. He is the dispenser of Amrita, the celestial nectar of immortality.Kuṇḍali is a manifestation of Ratnasambhava....
is a manifestation of Ratnasambhava (Hōshō Nyorai).