List of bodhisattvas
In Buddhist thought, a bodhisattva is a being who is dedicated to achieving complete Buddhahood. Conventionally, the term is applied to beings with a high degree of enlightenment. Bodhisattva literally means a "bodhi being" in Pali and Sanskrit. Mahayana practitioners have historically lived in many other countries that are now predominantly Hindu or Muslim; remnants of reverence for bodhisattvas has continued in some of these regions.
The following is a non-exhaustive list of bodhisattvas primarily respected in Buddhism.
Primary Bodhisattvas
Ākāśagarbha, Khmer: អាកាសគភ៌; Thai: พระอากาศครรภโพธิสัตว์; sinhalese:ආකාශගර්භ;) is a bodhisattva who is associated with the great element of Space.Avalokiteśvara
The bodhisattva of Great compassion, the listener of the world's cries who uses skillful means to come to their aid; the most universally acknowledged bodhisattva in Mahayana Buddhism, also appears in Theravada and Vajrayana Buddhism. This bodhisattva gradually became identified predominantly as female in East Asian Buddhism and its name may originally have been Avalokitāśvara.Kṣitigarbha
.
Kṣitigarbha is a bodhisattva primarily revered in East Asian Buddhism and usually depicted as a Buddhist monk. His name may be translated as "Earth Treasury", "Earth Store", "Earth Matrix", or "Earth Womb". Kṣitigarbha is known for his vow to take responsibility for the instruction of all beings in the six worlds between the death of Gautama Buddha and the rise of Maitreya, as well as his vow not to achieve Buddhahood until all hells are emptied. He is therefore often regarded as the bodhisattva of hell-beings, as well as the guardian of children and patron deity of deceased children in Japanese culture.Mahāsthāmaprāpta
Mahāsthāmaprāpta is a mahāsattva representing the power of wisdom, often depicted in a trinity with Amitābha and Bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara, especially in Pure Land Buddhism. His name literally means "Arrival of the great strength".Maitreya,
In some Buddhist texts such as the Amitabha Sutra and the Lotus Sutra, he is referred to as Ajita.
Burmese: အရိမေတ္တယျ;, Khmer: សិអារ្យមេត្រី, អរិយមេត្តយ្យ; Mongolian: Майдар, Асралт; Sinhalese:මෛත්රීය බුදුන්; Thai: พระศรีอริยเมตไตรย; ).
According to Buddhism, Maitreya is regarded as the future buddha in "Bhadrakalpa". In Buddhist tradition, Maitreya is a bodhisattva who will appear on Earth in the future, achieve complete enlightenment, and teach the pure dharma. According to scriptures, Maitreya will be a successor to the present Buddha, Gautama Buddha. The prophecy of the arrival of Maitreya refers to a time in the future when the dharma will have been forgotten by most on the terrestrial world. This prophecy is found in the canonical literature of all major schools of Buddhism. Maitreya has also been adopted for his millenarian role by many non-Buddhist religions in the past such as the White Lotus as well as by modern new religious movements such as Yiguandao.Mañjuśrī
Mañjuśrī is a bodhisattva associated with prajñā in Mahayana Buddhism. In Tibetan Buddhism, he is also a yidam. His name means "Gentle Glory". Mañjuśrī is also known by the fuller Sanskrit name of Mañjuśrīkumārabhūta, literally "Mañjuśrī, Still a Youth" or, less literally, "Prince Mañjuśrī".Samantabhadra'''
, Khmer: សមន្តភទ្រ; ; Sinhalese: සමන්තභද්ර;, Thai: พระสมันตภัทรโพธิสัตว์\
Classification
Four Great Bodhisattvas
There are several lists of four Bodhisattvas according to scripture and local tradition.Popular Chinese Buddhism generally lists the following, as they are associated with the Four Sacred Mountains:
The Womb Realm Mandala of Esoteric Buddhism provides another enumeration. These bodhisattvas are featured in the Eight Petal Hall in the center of the mandala.
The Avataṃsaka Sūtra mentions four bodhisattvas, each of whom expounds a portion of the Fifty-two Stages of Bodhisattva Practice.
- Dharmaprajñā
- Guṇavana
- Vajraketu
- Vajragarbha
Five Great Bodhisattvas
Chapter 7 of the Humane King Sutra provides an enumeration of five bodhisattvas, known as the "Five Bodhisattvas of Great Power." There are two Chinese translations of this text, each providing an entirely different name to these figures. Their association with the cardinal directions also differs between versions. They are as follows:| Old translation | Direction | New translation | Direction |
| 無量力吼 | West | Vajrapāramitā | Central |
| 雷電吼 | North | Vajrayakṣa | North |
| 無畏方吼 | East | Vajratīkṣṇa | West |
| 龍王吼 | South | Vajraratna | South |
| 金剛吼 | Central | Vajrapāṇi | East |
Ten Bodhisattvas
Ten Bodhisattas refer to ten future Buddhas as successors of Shakyamuni (Gautama) Buddha, in the following order. They are introduced as:"Metteyyo Uttamo Rāmo, Paseno Kosalobibū, Dīghasoṇīca Caṅkīca, Subo, Todeyya Brahmano. Nāḷāgirī Pālileyyo, Bhodhisatthā imedasa anukkamena sabhodiṁ, pāpuṇissanti nāgate".
- The noble Maitreya Buddha
- King Uttararama
- King Pasenadi of Kosala
- Abhibhū
- Dīghasoṇī
- Caṅkī
- Subha
- A Brahmin named, Todeyya
- An elephant named, Nāḷāgirī
- The king of elephants, named Pālileyya
Sixteen Bodhisattvas
The Niṣpannayogāvalī provides a list of bodhisattvas known as the "Sixteen Honored Ones of the Auspicious Aeon." They also appear in a Sutra with the same title. They are as follows, along with their respective associated directions:| East | South | West | North |
|
| Akṣobhya | Ratnasaṃbhava | Amitābha | Amoghasiddhi |
|
Twenty-five Bodhisattvas
According to the Sūtra on Ten Methods of Rebirth in Amitābha Buddha's Land, those people who are devoted to attaining rebirth in the Western Pure Land are protected by a great number of bodhisattvas. Twenty-five of them are given by name:- Avalokiteśvara
- Mahāsthāmaprāpta
- Bhaiṣajyarāja
- Bhaiṣajyasamudgata
- Samantabhadra
- Dharmeśvara
- Siṃhanāda
- Dhāraṇī
- Ākāśagarbha
- Guṇagarbha
- Ratnagarbha
- Vajragarbha
- Vajra
- Girisāgaramati
- Raśmiprabharāja
- Avataṃsakarāja
- Gaṇaratnarāja
- Candraprabharāja
- Divākararāja
- Samādhirāja
- Samādhīśvararāja
- Maheśvararāja
- Śuklahastarāja
- Mahātejarāja
- Anantakāya
Misc
Padmasambhāva,,
Padmasambhāva "Lotus-Born", also known as Guru Rinpoche, is a literary character of terma, an emanation of Amitābha that is said to appear to tertöns in visionary encounters and a focus of Tibetan Buddhist practice, particularly in the Nyingma school.Sangharama
Only revered in Chinese Buddhism and Taoism, Sangharama refer to a group of devas who guard viharas and the faith, but the title is usually referring to the legendary Chinese military general Guan Yu, who became a dharmapala through becoming a Buddhist and making vows.
,, )
Sitātapatrā "the White Parasol" is a protector against supernatural danger. She is venerated in both Mahayana and Vajrayana traditions. She is also known as Uṣṇīṣa Sitatapatra. Sitātapatrā is a powerful independent deity as she was emanated by Gautama Buddha from his uṣṇīṣa. Whoever practices her mantra will be reborn in Amitābha's pure land as well as gaining protection against supernatural danger and black magic.Skanda
,, )
Skanda is regarded as a devoted guardian of viharas and the Buddhist teachings. He is the leader of the twenty-four celestial guardian deities mentioned in the Golden Light Sutra. In Chinese temples, Skanda faces the statue of the Buddha in the main shrine. In others, he is on the far right of the main shrine, whereas on the left is his counterpart, Sangharama, personified as the historical general Guan Yu. In Chinese sutras, his image is found at the end of the sutra, a reminder of his vow to protect and preserve the teachings.Supuṣpacandra
Mentioned in Shantideva's Bodhisattvacaryāvatāra.
One of two attendants of Bhaisajyaguru, together with Candraprabha.
One of two attendants of Bhaisajyaguru, together with Sūryaprabha.Tara
Female bodhisattva, or set of bodhisattvas, in Tibetan Buddhism. She represents the virtues of success in work and achievements. Also a manifestation of Avalokiteśvara.
Vasudhārā whose name means "stream of gems" in Sanskrit, is the bodhisattva of wealth, prosperity, and abundance. She is popular in many Buddhist countries and is a subject in Buddhist legends and art. Originally an Indian bodhisattva, her popularity has spread to Theravadin countries. Her popularity, however, peaks in Nepal, where she has a strong following among the Buddhist Newars of the Kathmandu Valley and is thus a central figure in Newar Buddhism. She is named Shiskar Apa in Lahul and Spiti.
The central figure of the Vimalakirti Sutra where he is depicted as the ideal Buddhist lay follower.
- Agnidatta
- Ākāṅkṣitamukha
- Amoghadarśin
- Anantamati
- Anantapratibhāna
- Anantavikrāmin
- Anārambaṇadhyāyin
- Anikṣiptadhura
- Aniñjya
- Anupalipta
- Anupamamati
- Aśokadatta, bodhisattva of the south
- Āśvāsahasta
- Bhadrapāla
- Bhadraśrī
- Brahmajāla
- Bhaiṣajyasena
- Buddhaghoṣa
- Buddhiśrī
- Candrabhānu
- Candraśrī
- Candrasūryatrailokyadhārin
- Caryamati, bodhisattva of the west
- Daśaśataraśmihutārci
- Devarāja
- Dhācaṅiṁdhara
- Dhanaśrī
- Dharaṇīdhara
- Dharaṇīṃdhara
- Dharaṇīśvararāja
- Dharmadhara
- Dharmaketu
- Dharmakṣema
- Dharmamati
- Dharmavyūha
- Dharmeśvara
- Dhṛtiparipūrna
- Dundubhisvara
- Gadgadasvara
- Gajagandhahastin
- Gambhīraghoṣasvaranādita
- Gandhahastin
- Guhyagupta
- Harisiṃha
- Indrajāla
- Jālinīprabha
- Jayadatta, bodhisattva of the north
- Jayamati
- Jñānadarśana
- Jñānagarbha
- Jñānākara
- Jñānamati
- Jñānaprabha
- Jñānaśrī
- Jyotirasa
- Kṣetralaṃkṛta
- Lakṣaṇakūṭasamatikrānta
- Lakṣaṇasamalaṁkṛta
- Mahābrahmāśaṅku
- Mahāghoṣasvararāja
- Mahākaruṇācandrin
- Mahāmati
- Mahāmeru
- Mahāpratibhāna
- Mahāvikrāmin
- Mahāvyūha
- Maṇicūḍa
- Maṇiratnacchattra
- Mārajit
- Mārapramardin
- Megharāja
- Meru
- Merudhvaja
- Merukūṭa
- Merupradīparāja
- Merurāja
- Meruśikharadhara
- Meruśikharasaṁghaṭṭanarāja
- Merusvara
- Nakṣatrarāja
- Nakṣatrarājasaṃkusumitābhijña
- Nārāyaṇa
- Nityaprahasitapramuditendriya
- Nityodyukta
- Nityotkaṇṭhita
- Nityotkṣiptahasta
- Nityotpalakṛtahasta
- Pradānaśūra
- Padmagarbha
- Padmanetra
- Padmapāṇi, bodhisattva of the southeast
- Padmaśrī
- Padmaśrīgarbha
- Padmavyūha
- Padmottara, bodhisattva of the nadir
- Prabhāketu
- Prabhāvyūha
- Prabhūtaratna
- Prajdākūṭa
- Prajñākūta
- Pralānaśūra
- Prāmodyarāja
- Praṇidhiprayātaprāpta
- Praśāntacāritramati
- Pratibhānakūṭa
- Pratisaṃvitpraṇādaprāpta
- Pratisaṃvitprāpta
- Pṛthivīvaralocana
- Pūrṇacandra
- Ratiṁkara
- Ratnacandra
- Ratnacūḍa
- Ratnadhvaja
- Ratnadvīpa
- Ratnagarbha
- Ratnajaha
- Ratnajāli
- Ratnākara
- Ratnaketu
- Ratnakūṭa
- Ratnamudrāhasta
- Ratnamukuṭa
- Ratnananda
- Ratnapāṇi
- Ratnaprabha
- Ratnaprabhāsa
- Ratnasaṁbhava
- Ratnaśikhara
- Ratnaśrī
- Ratnayaṣṭi
- Ratnavara, bodhisattva of the northwest
- Ratnavīra
- Ratnavyūha
- Ratnayaṣṭin
- Ratnolkādhārin
- Sadāparibhūta, one of Śākyamuni's past lives
- Sāgaramati
- Sahacittotpādadharmacakrapravartin
- Śailaśikharasaṃghaṭṭanarāja
- Samadarśin
- Samādhigarbha
- Samādhivikurvaṇarāja
- Samantacandra
- Samantacāritramati
- Samantanetra
- Samantaprabha, bodhisattva of the east
- Samantaprāsādika
- Samanteryapatha
- Samatāvihārin
- Samaviṣamadarśin
- Sarvabhayahara
- Sarvamalāpagata
- Sarvamaṅgaladhārin
- Sarvanīvaraṇaviṣkambhin
- Sarvapuṇyalakṣaṇadhārin
- Sarvārthanāman
- Sarvasattvapriyadarśana
- Sarvaśūra
- Sarvatīrthamaṅgaladhārin
- Satatamabhayaṁdad
- Satatasamitābhiyukta
- Satatodyukta
- Siṃha
- Siṃhaketu
- Siṃhaghoṣābhigarjitaśvara
- Siṃhamati
- Siṁhanādanādin
- Siṁhavikrīḍita
- Siddhārthamati
- Śrīgarbha
- Śubhagarbha
- Śubhakanakaviśuddhiprabha
- Śubhavimalagarbha
- Sujāta
- Sumati
- Sumeru
- Supratiṣṭhitabuddhi
- Sūryagarbha
- Sūryaprabha, bodhisattva of the southwest
- Suvarnacūḍa
- Suvarṇagarbha
- Suvikrāntamati
- Svaraviśuddhiprabha
- Svaravyūha
- Tathāgatagarbha
- Trailokyarikrāmin
- Uṣṇīṣavijayā
- Uttaramati
- Vairocana
- Vairocanarāśmipratimaṅḍitadhvajarājan
- Vajragarbha
- Vajramati
- Vajrasena
- Vardamānamati
- Varuṇa
- Vidyuddeva
- Vidyutdeva
- Vijayavikrāmin, bodhisattva of the northeast
- Vikurvaṇarāja
- Vimalagarbha
- Vimalanetra
- Vimukticandra
- Viśālanetra
- Viśeṣamati
- Vyūharāja