Bhaisajyaguru
Bhaiṣajyaguru, or Bhaishajyaguru, formally Bhaiṣajya-guru-vaiḍūrya-prabha-rāja, is the Buddha of healing and medicine in Mahāyāna Buddhism. Commonly referred to as the "Medicine Buddha", he is described as a doctor who cures suffering using the medicine of his teachings.
The image of Bhaiṣajyaguru is usually expressed with a canonical Buddha-like form holding a gallipot and, in some versions, possessing blue or deep green skin. Though also considered to be a guardian of the East, in most cases, Akshobhya is given that role. As an exceptional case, the honzon of Mount Kōya's Kongōbu-ji was changed from Akshobhya to Bhaiṣajyaguru.
Origin
Bhaiṣajyaguru is described in the eponymous Bhaiṣajya-guru-vaiḍūrya-prabha-rāja Sūtra, commonly called the Medicine Buddha Sūtra, as a Bodhisattva who made twelve great vows. His name is generally translated as "Medicine Guru, King of Lapis Lazuli Light". "Vaiḍūrya" is a precious stone which most translators have rendered as lapis lazuli. Librarian Marianne Winder has proposed that "vaiḍūrya" originally meant beryl; however, pure beryl is colorless, while its blue variant, aquamarine, is described as a 'precious blue-green color-of-sea-water stone' rather than the usual dark blue attributed to Bhaiṣajyaguru. While there is a dark blue variety of aquamarine called maxixe, it is a New World gemstone — found primarily at the Maxixe Mine in the Piauí Valley near Itinga, Minas Gerais, Brazil — and was not known before 1917.On achieving Buddhahood, Bhaiṣajyaguru became the Buddha of the eastern pure land of Vaiḍūryanirbhāsa "Pure Lapis Lazuli". There, he is attended to by two Bodhisattvas symbolizing the light of the sun and the light of the moon respectively:
The Tang Chinese Buddhist monk Xuanzang visited a Mahāsāṃghika monastery at Bamiyan, Afghanistan, in the 7th century CE, and the site of this monastery has been rediscovered by archaeologists. Birchbark manuscript fragments from several Mahāyāna sūtras have been discovered at the site, including the Bhaiṣajya-guru-vaidūrya-prabha-rāja Sūtra.
A Sanskrit manuscript of the Bhaiṣajya-guru-vaiḍūrya-prabha-rāja Sūtra was among the texts attesting to the popularity of Bhaiṣajyaguru in the ancient northwest Indian kingdom of Gandhāra. The manuscripts in this find are dated before the 7th century, and are written in the upright Gupta script.
His twelve vows
The twelve vows of Medicine Buddha upon attaining Enlightenment, according to the Medicine Buddha Sūtra are:- I vow that my body shall shine as beams of brilliant light on this infinite and boundless world, showering on all beings, getting rid of their ignorance and worries with my teachings. May all beings be like me, with a perfect status and character, upright mind and soul, and finally attaining enlightenment like the Buddha.
- I vow that my body be like crystal, pure and flawless, radiating rays of splendid light to every corner, brightening up and enlightening all beings with wisdom. With the blessings of compassion, may all beings strengthen their spiritual power and physical energy, so that they could fulfill their dreams on the right track.
- I vow that I shall grant by means of boundless wisdom, all beings with the inexhaustible things that they require, and relieving them from all pains and guilt resulting from materialistic desires. Although clothing, food, accommodation and transport are essentials, it should be utilized wisely as well. Besides self-consumption, the remaining should be generously shared with the community so that all could live harmoniously together.
- I vow to lead those who have gone astray back to the path of righteousness. Let them be corrected and returned to the Buddha way for enlightenment.
- I vow that I shall enable all sentient beings to observe precepts for spiritual purity and moral conduct. Should there be any relapse or violation, they shall be guided by repentance. Provided they sincerely regret their wrong-doings, and vow for a change with constant prayers and strong faith in the Buddha, they could receive the rays of forgiveness, recover their lost moral and purity.
- I vow that all beings who are physically disabled or sick in all aspects be blessed with good health, both physically and mentally. All who pay homage to Buddha faithfully will be blessed.
- I vow to relieve all pain and poverty of the very sick and poor. The sick be cured, the helpless be helped, the poor be assisted.
- I vow to help women who are undergoing sufferings and tortures and seeking for transformation into men. By hearing my name, paying homage and praying, their wishes would be granted and ultimately attain Buddhahood.
- I vow to free all beings from evil thought and its control. I shall lead them onto the path of light through inculcating them with righteousness and honour so that they will walk the Buddha way.
- I vow to save prisoners who have genuinely repented and victims of natural disasters. My supreme powers will bless those who are sincere and be freed from sufferings.
- I vow to save those who suffer from starvation and those who committed a crime to obtain food. If they hear my name and faithfully cherish it, I shall lead them to the advantages of Dharma and favour them with the best food that they may eventually lead a tranquil and happy life.
- I vow to save those who suffer from poverty, tormented by mosquitoes and wasps day and night. If they come across my name, cherish it with sincerity and practice dharma to strengthen their merits, they will be able to achieve their wishes.
Iconography
Translations
Chinese
There are several popular Chinese translations of sūtras associated with Bhaiṣajyaguru used throughout East Asian Buddhist traditions, with two of the most popular ones being one by Xuanzang and the other by Yijing both translated in the Tang dynasty. The Taisho Tripitaka and Qianlong Tripitaka each contain four translations of the sūtra:- By Srimitra in the fourth century CE.
- By Dharmagupta in 615 CE
- By Xuanzang in 650 CE
- By Yijing in 707 CE
- Srimitra: The Sūtra on Abhiṣeka that Removes Sins and Liberates from Saṃsāra Taught by the Buddha
- Dharmagupta: Sūtra of the Vows of the Medicine Buddha
- Xuanzang: Sūtra of the Vows of the Medicine Buddha of Lapis Lazuli Crystal Radiance
- Yijing: Sūtra of the Vows of the Medicine Buddha of Lapis Lazuli Crystal Radiance and Seven Past Buddhas
The version translated by Yijing includes not only the vows of Yaoshi but also the vows of six other Buddhas.
Local forms and practices
China
In Chinese Buddhist practice, the Buddha Bhaiṣajyaguru is commonly referred to as simply Yaoshi Fo, meaning "Medicine Teacher Buddha", or Yaoshi Rulai, meaning "Medicine Teacher Tathāgata". In many liturgies and ritual contexts, Yaoshi's name is also frequently chanted as either Yaoshi Liuli Guang Rulai, meaning "Yaoshi Rulai of Lapis Lazuli Light", or Xiaozai Yanshou Yaoshi Fo, meaning "Yaoshi Fo who averts calamities and extends lifespans".Worship of Yaoshi in China first began during the Eastern Jin dynasty with the translation of The Sūtra on Abhiṣeka that Removes Sins and Liberates from Saṃsāra Taught by the Buddha by the Kuchean monk Po–Śrīmitra, and was solidified further through the translation of even more sūtras in later periods. The practice of veneration of Yaoshi has remained popular in China, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia and other overseas Chinese communities as he is depicted as one of the most prominent Buddhas, among others such as Śākyamuni and Amitābha. He can also be viewed as the healing attribute of Śākyamuni, as he is often called the "Medicine King" in sūtras. Chinese Buddhist traditions ascribes the 30th day of the ninth lunar month according to the Chinese calendar as Yaoshi's "Birthday", and during this day, monastics and lay followers typically perform rituals and other practices devoted to Yaoshi. In Chinese Buddhist temples, Yaoshi is frequently enshrined as either one out of three Buddha statues in the Daxiongbao Hall or in a dedicated hall devoted to him called the Yaoshi Hall. He is venerated across many commonly performed ceremonies, such as the Yaoshi Bao Chan, a repentance ritual that is specifically dedicated to him.File:Bhaisajyaguru Lingyin Temple.jpeg|thumb|Statue of Yaoshi Fo, flanked by his attendants Riguang Pusa and Yueguang Pusa at Lingyin Temple in Hangzhou, China.One common practice of Yaoshi devotion is the creation of images and statues of Yaoshi, with the earliest known example being an image of Yaoshi carved at the Yungang Grottoes, which dates back to the Northern Wei Dynasty. By the Tang dynasty, Yaoshi images became more common and their uses became more widespread. Multiple historical records describe not only government officials and monks and nuns, but also ordinary citizens commissioning and creating Yaoshi statues for a variety of purposes, including wishing for blessings for pregnancies as well as dedication towards deceased loved ones. The practice of creating Yaoshi statues remained popular after the Tang dynasty into contemporary times, with numerous extant statues in sites like the Dazu Rock Carvings dating to subsequent dynasties. Aside from statues, paintings and embroidered images of Yaoshi were also common as a way of memorializing the deceased and praying for blessings. For example, when the Tang Emperor Dezong's daughter, Princess Tang'an, passed away, the Emperor ordered the national artisans to embroider Yaoshi's image "using exquisite colors to radiate brilliance, in order to bring good fortune and to guide the deceased." After the Tang dynasty, Yaoshi continued to remain a popular subject in Buddhist paintings even until the Qing dynasty. For instance, the famous Song dynasty poet Su Shi, also widely known as Su Dongpo, who commissioned a painting of Yaoshi after his grandchildren were cured of a prolonged illness. He also wrote a eulogy of praise in commemoration of Yaoshi and the event. Another prominent example is the famous Qing dynasty artist Ding Guanpeng, who painted "The Assembly of Yaoshi Buddha of Lapis Lazuli Light" for the Qing Qianlong Emperor, which depicted Yaoshi together with his retinue: Sūryaprabha, Candraprabha, the Eight Great Bodhisattvas, the Twelve Heavenly Generals, Mahākāśyapa, Ānanda and over forty other deities.
File:药师如来像页.png|thumb|Tang dynasty painting of Yaoshi. Held at the Palace Museum in Beijing.
Another major component of the worship of Yaoshi is the ceremonial lighting of lamps. This practice derives from the Bhaiṣajya-guru-vaiḍūrya-prabha-rāja Sūtra that was translated by Xuanzang, and typically involves the temple setting up an altar consisting of forty-nine lamps, which are supposed to remain continuously lit for the entirety of the ritual period. Traditionally, oil lamps were used, but some temples may also use electrical lighting in contemporary times. Due to Yaoshi's rites being frequently performed to pray for longevity, these lamps have become commonly known in Chinese as changming deng. Five-coloured life-extending banners known as fan are also typically set up together with the lamps. After the lamps are lit and banners are set up, the Bhaiṣajya-guru-vaiḍūrya-prabha-rāja Sūtra is typically recited for the entirety of the ritual period. Historical records show that this ritual was already in practice during the early Tang dynasty. In contemporary times, this ritual is still practiced widely by modern Chinese Buddhist temples, especially during the eighth lunar month, which is traditionally devoted to the rites of Yaoshi according to the Chinese Buddhist liturgical calendar.
File:SSID-13428094 藥師如來法門講述錄.pdf|thumb|Full digitized copy of a modern edition of the Yaoshi Rulai famen jiangshu lu, which provides a description of Yaoshi and practices centered around him in Chinese Buddhism.
In contemporary Chinese Buddhist practice, the Bhaiṣajya-guru-vaiḍūrya-prabha-rāja Sūtra, in which Yaoshi and his twelve vows are described in great detail, is a sūtra that is commonly recited in Chinese temples. The mantra of Yaoshi, the Bhaiṣajyaguru Vaiḍūrya Prabhasa Tathāgatā Abhisecani Dhāraṇī, is counted as one of the Ten Small Mantras commonly recited in daily morning liturgical services at Chinese Buddhist monasteries. The canonical source for this mantra is the Saptatathāgatapūrvapraṇidhānaviśeṣavistara. In the sūtra, which describes the great vows of Yaoshi as well as those of six other Buddhas, Yaoshi is described as having entered into a state of samādhi called "Eliminating All the Suffering and Afflictions of Sentient Beings". From this samādhi state, he radiated light from his uṣṇīṣa and spoke the mantra:
Sanskrit
- Romanization: Namo bhagavate bhaiṣajyaguru-vaiḍūryaprabharājāya tathāgatāya arhate samyaksaṃbuddhāya tadyathā: oṃ bhaiṣajye bhaiṣajye bhaiṣajya-samudgate svāhā.
- Hanzi: 南無薄伽伐帝。鞞殺社。窶嚕薜琉璃。 鉢喇婆。喝囉闍也。怛他揭多也。阿囉喝帝。三藐三勃陀耶。怛姪他。唵。鞞殺逝。鞞殺逝。鞞薩社。三沒揭帝。莎訶。
- Pinyin: Námó bóqiéfádì, píshāshè, jùlū bìliúlí, bōlǎpó, hèlàshéyě, dátuōjiēduōyē, ēlàhèdì, sānmiǎosānbótuóyē, dázhítuō, ān, píshāshì, píshāshì, píshāshè, sānmòjiēdì, suōhē.
- Translation: Give Praise to Honorable Medicine-teacher lapis-light-king, the Exalted One, The perfected disciple, Perfectly Self-Awakened One! Like this: "Auspicious one! on medicine, on medicine, the medicine appears, so be it!"