Bodhisatva figures are basically various sublime Gods in Buddhist Culture. Each of them depicts their own nature. Here are some of the famous Bodhisatva Figures:
Shakymuni Buddha-fourth of the one thousand Founding Buddha’s predicted to appear during the current eon-is shown seared on a jewelled platform upon which is a variously colored lotus supporting cushions of the sun (of which only the gold-coloured edge is visible) as well as the moon. Eight snow lions (two in each corner) symbolizing fearlessness support this specially prepared throne, indicating that whoever sits here possesses the fearlessness of a fully enlightened being.
Avalokeswara (Chenrezik in Tibetan) is a bodhisatva who embodies the compassion of all Buddhas. He comes in two manifistations one with four arms and the other in thousand arms. One prominent Buddhist story tells of foru armed Avalokeswara vowing never to rest until he had freed all sentient beings from samsara (The Wheel Of Life). Despite strenuous effort, he realizes that still many unhappy beings were yet to be saved. After struggling to comprehend the needs of so many, his head splits into eleven pieces. Amitabha, seeing his plight, gives him eleven heads with which to hear the cries of the suffering. Upon hearing these cries and comprehending them, Avalokeswara attempts to reach out to all those who needed aid, but found that his two arms shattered into pieces. Once more, Amitābha comes to his aid and invests him with a thousand arms with which to aid the suffering multitudes.
Green Tara is known as the ‘Swiftone’ or the ‘Swift Liberator’ due to her immediate response to those who request her aid. Green Tara’s compassion for the welfare of all living beings is said to be even stronger than a mother’s love for her children. She is the one who helps us cross over the ocean of suffering and guides us upon the path of enlightenment.
Tara means “Star” and “Savior” of leader. In the seventh century Tibet made its entrance on to the international political stages. King Srong Chong Gonpo unified Tibet and Nepal. He made two important political marriages with the princes from neighbouring countries. Both ladies practiced Buddhism and therefore Buddhism’s temporarily gained a solid footing in Tibet. They brought a form of civilization to the Tibet.
Zambala (also known as Dzambhala, Dzambala, or Jambhala) is the God of Wealth and appropriately a member of the Jewel Family ( Ratnasambhava). In Hindu mythology, Zambala is known as Kubera. Zambala is also believed to be an emanation of Avalokeswara or Chenrezik, the Bodhisattva of Compassion. There are five different wealth Zambala, each has their own practice and mantra to help eliminate poverty and create financial stability.
Gyalten Sogdzin Rinpoche said that Zambala is the protector of all Lineages and of all sentient beings from all sickness and difficulties. Zambala is a Bodhisattva of material and spiritual wealth as well as many other things, especially of granting financial stability.
”Because in this world, there are all kinds of wrathful and negati
ve emotions or bad spirits, and sometimes they will harm you and other sentient beings, Dzambhala must take on such a wrathful and powerful form to protect us from these harmful spirits and negative karma. Especially, Dzambala helps us minimize or decrease all misfortunes and obstacles and helps us increase all good fortune and happiness.”
Manjushree is most popularly known as the Godess of wisdom. According to Swayambhu Purana, the Kathmandu Valley was once a lake. It is believed that Manjushree saw a lotus flower in the center of the lake and cut a gorge at Chovar to allow the lake to drain. The place where the lotus flower settled became Swayambhunath Stupa and the valley thus became habitable.
Mantra: “OM AH RA PA TSA NA DHI”
Padmasambhava(“Lotus-Born”), also known as Guru Rinpoche, was an 8th-century Indian Buddhist master. Although there was a historical Padmasambhava, nothing is known of him apart from helping the construction of the first Buddhist monastery in Tibet at Samye, at the behest of Trisong Detsen, and shortly thereafter leaving Tibet due to court intrigues.
A number of legends have grown around Padmasambhava’s life and deeds, and he is widely venerated as a ‘second Buddha’ across Tibet, Nepal, Bhutan, and the Himalayan states of India.In Tibetan Buddhism, he is a character of a genre of literature called terma, an emanation of Amitābha that is said to appear to tertöns in visionary encounters and a focus of guru yoga practice, particularly in the Rimé schools. The Nyingma school considers Padmasambhava to be a founder of their tradition.
The Vajra Guru (Padmasambhava) mantra: “OM AH HUM VAJRA GURU PADMA SIDDHI HUM”
Amitabha is the principal buddha in Pure Land Buddhism, a branch of East Asian Buddhism. In Vajrayana Buddhism, AmitAbha is known for his longevity attribute, magnetising red fire element, the aggregate of discernment, pure perception and the deep awareness of emptiness of phenomena. According to these scriptures, Amitabha possesses infinite merits resulting from good deeds over countless past lives as a bodhisattva named Dharmakāra. Amitābha means “Infinite Light” so Amitabha is also called “The Buddha of Immeasurable Life and Light”.
The basic doctrines concerning Amitābha and his vows are found in three canonical Mahāyāna texts:
Devanagiri version: om amitabha hrih
Tibetan version: Om ami dewa hri
