The is a Japanese grouping of Buddhist deities, particularly in the Shingon and Tendai sects of Buddhism. The deities are, in fact, not only Buddhas, but also include bodhisattvas.[1] In Shingon services, lay followers recite a devotional mantra to each figure, though in Shingon practice, disciples will typically devote themselves to only one, depending on what the teacher assigns. The chanting of the mantras of the Thirteen Buddhas is a basic practice followed by Shingon and Tendai lay followers. They are also important in funeral and apotropaic / protective rituals.
The Thirteen Buddhas are also an important part of a traditional Japanese Buddhist funeral service, with each deity having a corresponding memorial service for the deceased.[2] The names of the thirteen figures are given below in Japanese and Sanskrit and the corresponding date of their service after the death:
While the thirteen figures have several mantras associated to each respectively, those listed below pertain to the standard formula used in Japanese ritual. The Shingon[3] and Tendai[4] schools each use a different method of transliteration of the original Sanskrit.[5] Bhaisajyaguru is the only figure whose mantra fundamentally differs between traditions.
(Sanskrit) namaḥ samanta vajrāṇāṃ caṇḍa mahāroṣaṇa sphoṭaya hūṃ traṭ hāṃ māṃ
(Shingon) nōmaku sanmanda bazara dan senda makaroshada sowataya un tarata kanman
(Japanese: ノウマク・サンマンダ・バザラダン・センダマカロシャダ・ソワタヤ・ウン・タラタ・カン・マン)
(Tendai) namaku samanda bazaranan senda makaroshana sowataya un tarata kanman
(Japanese: ナマク・サマンダ・バサラナン・センダ・マカロシャナ・ソワタヤ・ウン・タラタ・カンマン)
(Sanskrit) namaḥ samanta buddhānāṃ bhaḥ
(Shingon) nōmaku sanmanda bodanan baku (Japanese: ノウマク・サンマンダ・ボダナン・バク)
(Tendai) namaku samanda bodanan ba (Japanese: ナマク・サマンダ・ボダナン・バ)
(Sanskrit) oṃ a ra pa ca na
(Shingon) on arahashanō (Japanese: オン・アラハシャノウ)
(Tendai) on a ra ha sha na (Japanese: オン・ア・ラ・ハ・シャ・ナ)
(Sanskrit) oṃ samayas tvaṃ
(Shingon) on sanmaya satoban (Japanese: オン・サンマヤ・サトバン)
(Tendai) on samaya sataban (Japanese: オン・サマヤ・サタバン)
(Sanskrit) oṃ ha ha ha vismaye svāhā
(Shingon) on kakaka bisanmaei sowaka (Japanese: オン・カカカ・ビサンマエイ・ソワカ)
(Tendai) on kakakabi samaei sowaka (Japanese: オン・カカカビ・サマエイ・ソワカ)
(Sanskrit) oṃ maitreya svāhā
(Shingon) on maitareiya sowaka (Japanese: オン・マイタレイヤ・ソワカ)
(Tendai) on maitariya sowaka (Japanese: オン・マイタリヤ・ソワカ)
(Sanskrit) oṃ huru huru caṇḍāli mātangi svāhā
(Shingon) on korokoro sendari matōgi sowaka (Japanese: オン・コロコロ・センダリ・マトウギ・ソワカ)
(Sanskrit) oṃ bhaiṣajye bhaiṣajye bhaiṣajya samudgate svāhā
(Tendai) on baiseizeibaiseizei baiseijasanborgyatei sowaka (Japanese: オン・バイセイゼイバイセイゼイ・バイセイジャサンボリギャテイ・ソワカ
(Sanskrit) oṃ ārolik svāhā
(Shingon) on arorikya sowaka (Japanese: オン・アロリキャ・ソワカ)
(Tendai) on arorikya sowaka (Japanese: オン・アロリキャ・ソワカ)
(Sanskrit) oṃ saṃ jaṃ jaṃ saḥ svāhā
(Shingon) on san zan saku sowaka (Japanese: オン・サン・ザン・サク・ソワカ)
(Tendai) on sanzen zensaku sowaka (Japanese: オン・サンゼン・ゼンサク・ソワカ)
(Sanskrit) oṃ amṛta teje hara hūṃ
(Shingon) on amirita teisei kara un (Japanese: オン・アミリタ・テイセイ・カラ・ウン)
(Tendai) on amirita teisei kara un (Japanese: オン・アミリタ・テイセイ・カラ・ウン)
(Sanskrit) oṃ akṣobhya hūṃ
(Shingon) on akishubiya un (Japanese: オン・アキシュビヤ・ウン)
(Tendai) on akishubiya un (Japanese: オン・アキシュビヤ・ウン)
(Sanskrit) oṃ a vi ra hūṃ khaṃ vajradhātu vaṃ
(Shingon) on abiraunken basara datoban (Japanese: オン・アビラウンケン・バサラ・ダトバン)
(Tendai) on abiraunken basara datoban (Japanese: オン・アビラウンケン・バサラ・ダトバン)
(Sanskrit) namo ākāśagarbhāya oṃ ārya kāmāri mauli svāhā
(Shingon) nōbō akyashakyarabaya on arikya mari bori sowaka (Japanese: ノウボウ・アキャシャキャラバヤ・オン・アリキャ・マリ・ボリ・ソワカ)
(Tendai) namo akyashagerubaya onarikya maribori sowaka (Japanese: ナモ・アキャシャゲルバヤ・オンアリキャ・マリボリ・ソワカ)
Eight of the thirteen figures are traditionally assigned as guardians of the twelve Earthly Branches of the Chinese zodiac.[6]
| Earthly branch | Guardian | |
|---|---|---|
| Kannon (Avalokitesvara) | ||
| Kokuzo (Akasagarbha) | ||
| Kokuzo (Akasagarbha) | ||
| Monju (Manjushri) | ||
| Fugen (Samantabhadra) | ||
| Fugen (Samantabhadra) | ||
| Seishi (Mahasthamaprapta) | ||
| Dainichi (Vairocana) | ||
| Dainichi (Vairocana) | ||
| Fudo (Acala) | ||
| Amida (Amitabha) | ||
| Amida (Amitabha) |