1
Apr
2020
Interpreting Medicine Buddha
Medicine Buddha is also known as Vaidurya Prabha Raja. Medicine Buddha is also called the King of Lapis Lazuli or Sapphire Light.
Table of Contents
The Viability of Medicine Buddha
In this portion, we are going to learn about the viability of Medicine Buddha. After that, we will learn the short etymological description of the word Medicine Buddha itself.
Etymology of Medicine Buddha
Medicine Buddha is called Bhaishajyagur in Sanskrit. Medicine Buddha is also known as sang Gye men la in Tibet. And in English Medicine Buddha is also known as the Buddha, Guru of Medicine.
Earlier, we learn about the viability of Medicine Buddha. Now, we are going to learn about the iconography of the Medicine Buddha.
Iconography of the Medicine Buddha
In the iconography of Medicine Buddha, we will learn about his body posture, hand and leg gesture, and different representations of Medicine Buddha in thangka and statue.
Posture of Medicine Buddha
Medicine Buddha is dark blue in color. Medicine Buddha has one face and two hands. Medicine Buddha is held in the right in a gesture like that of supreme generosity.
Medicine Buddha is held a myrobalan plant. The left hand of the Medicine Buddha is placed in the lap in the gesture of meditation supporting the black begging bowl of a monk – filled with nectar. Medicine Buddha is adorned with the patchwork robes of a fully ordained monk and the left arm covered.
Medicine Buddha is appearing in the nirmanakaya aspect of a buddha he is seated in vajra posture above a lotus and lion supported tiered throne.
Earlier, we learn about the viability of Medicine Buddha and the iconography of the Medicine Buddha. Now, we are going to learn about depicting Medicine Buddha.
Depicting Medicine Buddha Thangka
The thangka of Medicine Buddha is from Tibet. It is made between 1800 – 1899 AD. Medicine Buddha is from Buddhist lineage. The base of the painting is Ground Mineral Pigment on Cotton. Currently, this painting is in the Rubin Museum of Art.
By depicting this thangka, we will learn about the presentation if MedicineBuddha with Amitayus Buddha, Hayagriva, and Padmasambhava, etc.
Amitayus Buddha
Amitayus Buddha is in the top center of the Medicine Buddha in the thangka. Amitayus Buddha is known as the Buddha of Long Life. Amitayus Buddha is also known as Nine Deity Mandala according to the lineage of Mahasiddha Jetair.
At the center is the buddha of long-life Amitayus who is red in color with one face and two hands placed in the mudra of meditation. Amitayus Buddha is holding a golden vase of long-life nectar. Amitayus Buddha is adorned with a crown, gold and jewel ornaments and variously colored silks.
Amitayus Buddha sits in vajra posture on a moon disc and lotus blossom. Amitayus Buddha, has Eight identical forms surround the central figure.
Hayagriva
Hayagriva is in the bottom center of the Medicine Buddha in the thangka. Hayagriva is red and who is with one face and two hands.
In Tibetan and Japanese Buddhism, Hayagriva is an important deity who originated as a yaksha attendant of Avalokitesvara or Guanyin Bodhisattva in India. Hayagriva Buddha is appearing in the Vedas as two separate deities. Hayagriva Buddha was assimilated into the ritual worship of early Buddhism and eventually was identified as a Wisdom King in Vajrayana Buddhism.
In Tibet, Hayagriva was promoted especially by Buddhist teacher Atisa and appeared as a worldly Dharmapala. His special ability is to cure diseases and especially skin diseases even as serious as leprosy which is said to be caused by nagas. In Japanese Mahayana Buddhism, Hayagriva is considered a form of Avalokiteśvara with the wrathful form of one of the six Avalokitesvara’s intended to save the sentient beings of the six realms.
Padmasambhava
Padmasambhava is in the lower right of the Medicine Buddha in the thangka.
Earlier, we learn about the viability of Medicine Buddha, the iconography of the Medicine Buddha, and depicting Medicine Buddha. Now, we are going to learn about the presentation of Medicine Budha with prajnaparamita.
Medicine Buddha with Prajnaparamita Thangka
The thangka of Medicine Buddha with Prajnaparamita is from Bhutan. It is made between 1800 – 1899 AD. Medicine Buddha with Prajnaparamita is from Kagyu, Drukpa (Kagyu), and Buddhist. The size of the painting is 59.69×43.18cm. The base of the painting is Ground Mineral Pigment on Cotton. Currently, this printing is in the Rubin Museum of Art.
By depicting this thangka, we will learn about the presentation of Medicine Buddha with Bhaishajyaguru Sutra.
At the center of the Medicine Buddha there representing the goddess, Prajnaparamita is the sutra by the same name. When painting tangkas of Medicine Buddha he switches places with Prajnaparamita and occupies one of the eight minor positions surrounding the center. Some paintings actually portray the Goddess herself rather than using the sutra text.
Bhaishajyaguru Sutra
The form and practice of Medicine Buddha are derived from the Bhaishajyaguru Sutra. And taught by Lord Shakyamuni. In the Vajrayana Tradition. This sutra is classified as a Kriya Tantra. Common to all schools of Tibetan Buddhism Medicine Buddha is particularly important to the medical traditions.
Earlier, we learn about the viability of Medicine Buddha, the iconography of the Medicine Buddha, depicting Medicine Buddha, and the representation of Medicine Budha with prajnaparamita. Now, we are going to learn about the presentation of Medicine Buddha with Ashokattamshri.
Medicine Buddha with Ashokattamshri Thangka
The thangka of Medicine Buddha with Ashokattamshri is from Tibet. It is made between 1700 – 1799 AD. It is from Buddhist lineage. The base of the painting is Ground Mineral Pigment on Cotton. The thangka of Medicine Buddha with Ashokattamshri is from a private collection.
By depicting this thangka, we will learn about Medicine Buddha.
Ashokattamshri Buddha is pink in color. He is Seated at the upper left. And viewer’s side is Dudtsi Drag in 4th in the Narang Monastery lineage. On the right side, there is Chim Namkha Drag in 7th in the Nartang lineage.
Earlier, we learn about the viability of Medicine Buddha, the iconography of the Medicine Buddha, depicting Medicine Buddha, the representation of Medicine Budha with prajnaparamita, and the representation of Medicine Buddha with Ashokattamshri. Now, we are going to learn about the presentation of Medicine Buddha with Kutagara Vajrapani.
Medicine Buddha with Kutagara Vajrapani Thangka
The thangka of Medicine Buddha with Kutagara Vajrapani is from China. It is made between 1700 – 1799 AD. Medicine Buddha with Kutagara Vajrapani is from Gelug and Buddhist lineage. The base of the painting is ground Mineral Pigment on Cotton. Currently, this painting is in the Rubin Museum of Art.
By depicting this thangka, we will learn about Medicine Buddha.
Medicine Buddha Mandala is a common practice to replace the figure of Medicine Buddha at the center of the mandala. And substitute either the figure of Prjanaparamita or to depict the Prajnaparamita text. Above the square mandala are eight red medallions containing the Eight Auspicious Symbols drawn in gold.
The Seven Jewels of Royalty are also present with the wishful-filling jewel at the middle left along with the general at the middle right. The minister, queen, wheel, and elephant are located below the bottom of the mandala. At the top center is a teacher wearing a monastic dress and a yellow Pandita hat.
Slightly below to the left is Kutagara Vajrapani who is wrathful in appearance and who blue in color. He holds upraised in his right hand a vajra scepter. In the left hand is a white skullcup.
Earlier, we learn about the viability of Medicine Buddha, the iconography of the Medicine Buddha, depicting Medicine Buddha, the representation of Medicine Budha with prajnaparamita, and the representation of Medicine Buddha with Ashokattamshri. And finally, we learn about the presentation of Medicine Buddha with Kutagara Vajrapani.
Medicine Buddha Thangka Painting
Medicine Buddha Thangka Scroll Painting is handpainted by Master Thangka Artist living in Bhaktapur Nepal. The Medicine Buddha, or Bhaisajyaguru, is the Buddha of Healing.
