Various Gods of Buddhism
Buddhism is namely self-awareness, other-awareness and perfect enlightenment and accomplishment.
Three Kayas : According to the Tien-tai Sect, the Buddha (Sakyamui) has three bodies, namely, Dharmakaya (Absolute body), also called Vairocana Buddha, which stands for the Buddhist body agglomerated by the Buddhist truth (Buddhist doctrine)；Sambhogakaya (Body of Bliss), also called Rocana Buddha, which indicates that based on the body as the cause, one can seek enlightenment, the fruit of Buddhahood, and enjoy the body of the Buddhist kingdom (the Pure Land) after practice；Nirmanaraya (Body Capable of Transformation), also called Sakyamuni Buddha, which refers to all sorts of incarnates presented when Buddha comes among all the living creatures in order to redeem them, specifically the body of Sakyamuni Buddha.
Buddhas of the Middle, East and West(also called the Horizontal Buddhas of the Three Worlds): The Buddhas of the Middle, East and West are embodiment of pure land belief. Buddhism says that the world is divided into dirty land (where earthlings live) and pure land (the Buddhist kingdom where saints live). There is one Buddha and two Bodhisattvas in charge of civilization in each world. There are pure lands in the ten directions in the world. But the most famous pure lands are the Buddhist Paradise of the West, the Land of Pure Lapis Lazuli of the East World" and the Maitreya Pure Land in the upper world.
Buddhas of the Past, Present and Future(also called the Vertical Buddhas of the Three Times): The Buddhas of the Past, Present and Future embody the succession relationship of the Buddhas in time and denotes that the power of Buddha will exist forever and be passed down one geration after another. The one in the center is the Buddha of the Present, namely, Sakyamui. The one in the left is the Buddha of the Past, which is represented by the Buddha of Fixed Light. The one in the right is the Buddha of the Future.
Three Saints of Hua-yen: It is believed that the boundless universe is the Hwazan World (also called "lotus world", it includes a multi-hierarchy world.) and Dharmakaya (Absolute body), also called Vairocana Buddha, is the hierarch, dictator and noumenon of the Hwazan World. Vairocana Buddha is illocal. The whole Hwazan World is just a manifestation of Vairocana Buddha and all the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas are also his incarnations. Vairocana Buddha has two most intimate assitants, namely, Manjusri Bodhisattva and Samntabhadra Bodhisattva (also his incarnations). The three are called "Three Saints of Hua-yen". The Hua-yen Sect replaces its worship of other Buddhas with that of Vairocana Buddha. Therefore, some Buddhist temples specially enshrine and worship "the Three Saints of Hua-yen".
Bodhisattva refers to those who enlighten themselves and others. The common Bodhisattvas in the Buddhist temple are Manjusri Bodhisattva, Samntabhadra Bodhisattva, Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva, Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva and Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva. They are also respectively combined into "Three Scholars"(Manjusri, Samntabhadra, Mahasthamaprapta), "Four Scholars"(Manjusri, Samntabhadra, Mahasthamaprapta and Ksitigarbha, also called "Four Bodhisattvas")and "Five Hosts"(Manjusri Bodhisattva, Samntabhadra Bodhisattva, Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva, Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva).
Manjusri Bodhisattva: It is called Manju Bodhisattva for short, which is transcribed as "wonderful auspiciousness" and "merits". He is in charge of wisdom(namely, the epistemology of Buddhism). The treasure sword in his hand symbolizes keen wisdom and the lion under his body signifies powerful wisdom. He is called the Great wisdom. It is said that the Buddhist rite of Manju is in the Wutai Mountain, Shanxi Province.
Samntabhadra: He is in charge of law(namely power of Buddha). He holds a Ruyi club and rides the white elephant with six ivories(denotes Six Paramitas). He is called the Bodhisattva of the Great Practice. It was said that Samntabhadra Bodhisattva ever preached in. It is said that the Buddhist rite of Samntabhadra is in the E'mei Jiuhua Mountain, Sichuan Province.
Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva : It is also called Guan Zi Zai and Guang Shi Yin, etc. In order to avoid the taboo of Li Shiming, Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty, she is also called Kwan-yin. She holds a vase in pure glaze in left hand and a willow branch in right hand. Since she has a great compassionate heart, help the needy and relieve the distressed, and spread inspiration, she is called the Bodhisattva of the Great Compassion. In order to redeem the living beings, she has 33 incarnations. The Sea Island Avalokitesvara is also called Sea Crossing Avalokitesvara. This Avalokitesvara enlightens all the living creatures and release them from the abyss of misery. Her left retinue is Sudhana Bodhisattva and the one standing at her right side is Fille Dragon Bodhisattva. It is said that the Buddhist rite of Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva is in the Putuo Mountain, Zhejiang Province.
Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva : Since he is patient and peaceful like the earth and reclusive and profound like the ground(the Dasa-cakra-kslitigarbha Sutra)，he is called Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva. Also because he is determined to release all the living creatures from purgatory to justify Buddhism and takes an oath that he would never become a Buddha if the Hell is not emptied. Hence, he is called the Bodhisattva of the Great Vows. He holds a tin wand in hand or a Ruyi ball in both hands. It is said that the Buddhist rite of Ksitigarbha is in the Jiuhua Mountain, Anhui Province.
Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva : According to the Amitayur-dhyana Sutra, he uses the light of wisdom to illuminate all things, release the sentient beings from the Three Miserable Realms (namely, the three evil paths of the Hell, hungry ghost and beasts) and hence gains the superpower". Therefore, he is called Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva. The treasure vase on his head keeps the light of wisdom. He illuminates all the living creatures in the world with the light of wisdom, disembarrass them of the disaster of war and gains supreme power. It is said that the Buddhist rite of Mahasthamaprapta is in the Wolf Mountain, Jiangsu Province.
Arhat is namely self-enlightener, who has extinguished all the worries and should be supported by mankind and nature. They enter Nirvana forever and no longer have to go through the cycles of life and death. Moreover, they advocate Buddhist doctrines. There are Sixteen Arhats, Eighteen Arhats and Five hundred Arhats in the Buddhist temples. The Buddha Jih (Ji Gong) in the folk legend is also ranked among Arhats.
Sixteen Arhats : Sakyamui orders Sixteen Arhats to live in the world and enlighten others.
Eighteen Arhats : With the development of Buddhism, they were developed from Sixteen Arhats.
Five Hundred Arhats : It is said that when Sakyamui entered Nirvana, his disciple, Kasyapa, ever summoned numerous Bhikslus in the city of royal palace and to recall and chant the Buddhist sutra together, which is the first gathering; later King Sha of Shanise listened to the suggestion of his retinue Bhikslus and gathered together five hundred Arhats in Kasmira (present-day Kashmir) to discuss and expound the Tripitakas (Sutra, Vinaya and Abdhidharma) with Shiyou at the seat of honor. It is the fourth gathering.
Buddha Jih : Daoji, a Buddhist monk of the South Song Dynasty, has the secular name of Li Xinyuan. He is widely known as Ji Gong. He didn't comply with commandments, had a preference for wine and meat and acted like a crazy man. Hence, he was called "insane monk". It is said that Buddha Jih is the reincarnation of Arhat. But he was late for reporting to the Arhat Hall. Being not senior, he had no choice but stand in aisle and even squat on the beam. Generally he is enshrined in the Arhat Hall.
Dharma Protectors : They are originally characters who punish the evil and protect the good in the ancient Indian myths. Buddhism calls them "heaven", who are the heavenly gods protecting and holding the Buddhist doctrine. Famous Dharma protectors include four Heavenly gods, Veda, General Heng & Ha (Kongo Misshaku) and Garanshin God Guan Yu, etc.
Four Heavenly Gods : The veda-guardian or Maharajas, who controlls the eastern quarter, is called Dhtarara. He is dressed in white color, wearing armour and holding lute in hand；the veda-guardian or Maharaja of the southern quarter is called Viruhaka. He is dressed in black, wearing armour and holidng a treasure sword in hand (protecting Dharma from infringement)；The veda-guardian or Maharajas, who controlls the western quarter, is called Virapaksa. He is dressed in red, wearing armour and having a dragon or snake wound round his hand；The veda-guardian or Maharajas, who controlls the eastern quarter, is called Vaisramana. He is dressed in green, wearing armour and holding a treasure umbrella in the right hand. Since the Ming and Qing Dynasty, the four Heavenly Gods are chinalized into four Buddhist Heavenly Gods protecting the nation, making people feel at ease and guaranteeing good crop weather.
Veda : He is originally a celestial general below the Maharaja of the southern quarter. Veda once received the decree of the Buddha to take charge of matters concerning the patrol of the east, west and south continents and Dharma protector, namely, protecting Buddhist monks and Dharma. Hence, he is called "the telepathy of the three continents".
General Heng & Ha : He is originally Kongo Misshaku in India，who is the captain of Sakyamui's armed escort which is composed of five hundred guardians holding Kongo symbols. Under the influence of the Chinese novel Creation of the Gods, he was chinalized into two Kongo with Herculean stregthen guarding the mountain gate of the temple，namely what the earthlings called General Heng & Ha.
