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Womb Realm

Metaphysical space inhabited by the Wisdom Kings in Vajrayana Buddhism From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Womb Realm

In Vajrayana Buddhism, the Womb Realm (Sanskrit: garbhakoṣadhātu, Traditional Chinese: 胎蔵界; Pinyin: Tāizāngjiè; Rōmaji: taizōkai) is the metaphysical space inhabited by the Five Compassion Buddhas. The Womb Realm is based on the Mahavairocana Tantra. The name of the mandala derives from chapter 2 of the sutra, where it is said that the buddha Mahāvairocana revealed the mandala's secret teachings to his disciple Vajrasattva from his "womb of compassion".[1] In other translations, the term Matrix Realm or Matrix Mandala is used.[2]

Thumb
Japanese Womb Realm mandala, 9th century, Tō-ji, Kyōto, Japan.
Thumb
Womb World from Mandala of the Two Worlds (Kongōkai Taizōkai mandara). Hanging scroll, textile. Japan, 15th century.

The Womb Realm is a very popular subject for mandalas, and along with the Diamond Realm (vajradhātu) Mandala forms the Mandala of the Two Realms. This mandala, along with the Diamond Realm, form the core of Chinese Tangmi and Japanese Tendai and Shingon Buddhist rituals, including abhisheka "initiation". In this ritual, new initiates are blindfolded and asked to toss a flower upon a mandala. Where the flower lands helps decide which Buddhist figure the student should devote themselves to.[3]

In traditional Tangmi and Shingon halls, the Womb Realm Mandala is hung on the east wall, symbolizing the young stage of Mahāvairocana.[4] In this setting, the Diamond Realm Mandala is hung on the west wall symbolizing the final realization of Mahāvairocana.[5]

Womb Realm map

Summarize
Perspective

The following is a basic outline of the main halls or quarters of the Womb Realm Mandala:[6]

More information Central Eight Petal Lotus Hall ...
Outside Vajra Hall
Hall of Mañjuśrī
Hall of
Kṣitigarbha		 Hall of Śākyamuni Hall of
Sarvanīvaraṇaviṣkambhin
Lotus
Hall of Avalokiteśvara		 Hall of Universal Knowledge Hall of
Vajrapāṇi

Central
Eight Petal Lotus Hall
Wisdom Holders (Vidyādhara) Hall
Hall of Ākāśagarbha
Susiddhi Hall
Close

Center Eight Petal Hall

The central eight petal hall. The center figure represents the young stage of Vairocana. He is surrounded by eight Buddhas and bodhisattvas (clockwise from top: Ratnasambhava, Samantabhadra, Saṅkusumitarāja, Manjushri, Amitābha, Avalokiteśvara, Amoghasiddhi and Maitreya)

Vairocana is depicted in regal attire wearing a jewelled crown in the center of an eight-petaled lotus. Four Buddhas, representing the four directions, are depicted directly above, below, left, and right of Vairocana.[7] The Buddha of the East, Ratnaketu, is illustrated on the top, the Buddha of the South, Samkusumita-raja to the right, the Buddha of the West, Amitabha, to the bottom, and the Buddha of the North, Divyadundubhimeganirghoṣa (Amoghasiddhi), to the Left.[7] Four bodhisattvas, Samantabhadra, Manjushri, Guanyin, and Maitreya, are illustrated between the Buddhas, clockwise.[7]

Vajras are illustrated between the petals of nine deities and symbolize the knowledge or wisdom (jnana) that crush illusions.[7]

Four vases containing a lotus and a three-pronged Vajra, are placed at the corners of the Center Hall. The hall is marked off by a five-colored boundary path with each color referring to one of the five buddhas, knowledges, directions, roots, conversions, syllables, elements, and forms.[8]

See also

References

Further reading

External links

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