Sanskrit Seed Syllable for Amida Buddha Pronounced Kiriiku in Japan

Amida, which means Infinite Light or Infinite Life, is one of the loftiest savior figures in Japanese Buddhism, and Amida faith is concerned primarily with the life to come. Amida is also one of the Five Buddha of Wisdom (see Learn More section). The world-famous Big Buddha statue in Kamakura, around 15 meters in height, is Amida Buddha.

Before attaining Buddhahood, Amida was known as Hozo Bodhisattva (Sanskrit = Dharmakara). Hozo made 48 Vows which serve as the basis for the modern vows taken by lay followers, monks, and nuns in Tibet, China, and Japan. In the 48 Vows, Hozo pledged that, upon attaining Buddhahood, he would create the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss (the Japanese terms Jodo = Pure Land, and Gokuraku = Land of Ultimate Bliss, refer to the same realm). Hozo guaranteed rebirth there to anyone who recites his name with utmost sincerity, even those on their death bed. Hozo fulfilled the vows and thereafter became Amida Buddha. The Pure Land Sects devoted to Amida Buddha are even today among the most popular of all Buddhist sects in Japan. To followers, Amida has eclipsed the Historical Buddha as the most popular divinity in Japan's Mahayana tradition.

Sanskrit, Chinese, & English Names for Amida Buddha


Japanese Readings & Spellings


Buddhism for the Common Folk of Japan. Three deities -- Amida Buddha (this page), Kannon Bodhisattva, and Jizo Bodhisattva -- are intimately connected with Japan's popular Pure Land sects, which came to prominence among the common folk during the Kamakura period (1185 - 1333 AD). All three remain the bedrock of folk Buddhism in modern Japan -- Amida for the coming life in paradise, Kannon for salvation in earthly life, and Jizo for salvation from hell. Both Kannon and Jizo serve Amida. The three, along with Fudo Myo-o, are perhaps the most widely venerated Buddhist deities in Japan, and statues of all four, in stone or wood or plastic or ceramic, are found throughout the Japanese islands.


MUDRA (HAND GESTURES) OF AMIDA BUDDHA IN JAPAN

• Welcoming Mudra of Amida Buddha (Jp. = Raigou-in)
  Below text courtesy of JAANUS (Japanese Architectural & Art Net Users System)
  Literally "Welcoming Mudra." A mudra or hand gesture in which the forefinger, middle finger or occasionally third finger is joined to the thumb; it is formed with both hands, with the right hand raised and the left hand pendent. Its name derives from the fact that it was believed to be the mudra displayed by Amida Buddha when he came to welcome the dead into his Pure Land (Jp. = Joudo) called "Utmost Bliss" (Jp. = Gokuraku; Skt. = Sukhavati). Hence this mudra name is not applied to similar mudras used with deities other than Amida. With the growing popularity of the Pure Land faith in Japan during the late Heian and Kamakura periods, great numbers of images of Amida displaying the Raigou-in Mudra were produced, and many of them are still extant. The Raigo-in mudra is closely associated with the "Mudras of the Nine Grades of Amida" (Jp. = Amida Kubon-in). According to Japanese lore, Amida greets the deceased in nine different ways, and this in turn depends on the type of life led by the departed. There are three grades (Skt. = varga), called the upper, middle, and lower. Each of these is subdivided into three more categories, giving a total of nine. The systematization of the various forms of the Raigou-in during Japan's Edo period resulted in the following three popular types from among Amida's nine mudras.
  
   
• Mudra of the upper grade, lower birth (joubon geshou-in; thumb/forefinger joined)
• Mudra of the middle grade, lower birth (chuubon geshou-in; thumb/middle finger joined)
• Agmudra of the lower grade, lower birth (gebon geshou-in; thumb/third finger joined)
   

• Welcoming Mudra - Reverse Form. In addition to the Welcoming Mudra (Jp. = Raigou-in) with Amida's right hand raised and the left hand pendent, there are also examples of the reverse form, and this is known as the "Reverse Raigou" (Jp. = Gyakuraigou or Sakate Raigou). This form developed under the influence of Chinese images of Amida dating from the Song dynasty, and examples are found in Japan from the Kamakura period onwards. In images of Amida in China and along the Silk Road, on the other hand, it is this "reverse" form that predominates, and from that point of view it is rather the Japanese Raigou-in that ought to be termed "reverse." But these terms have already won wide currency in Japan. 
  
   
• Meditation Mudra of Amida Buddha (Jp. = Mida-no-Jouin; also Amida-no-Jouin)
  This mudra of Amida in meditation is found almost exclusively in Japan, and is associated only with Amida Buddha. In China, this mudra is rarely seen. Outside of Japan, Amida is mostly portrayed with the ordinary meditation mudra (Jp. = Zenjouin, the Hokkaijouin). In Japan, however, the ordinary meditation mudra was not used for images of Amida Buddha. Instead, the Mida-no-Jouin was used exclusively for Amida Buddha to help differentiate between Dainichi Buddha and Amida Buddha. [end abridged and adapted text from JAANUS] 
  
   
• Standing Amida Statue in this eStore. The standing Amida statue in our eStore displays the Welcoming Mudra of the Upper Grade, Lower Birth. These various grades stem from the concept of the Six Levels of Existence, known more commonly in the West as the "Wheel of Life" or the "Cycle of Suffering." We are all born into one of the six levels (beings in hell, hungry ghosts, animals, bellicose beings, humans, deva). When we die, we are reborn (reincarnated) again, either into a higher or lower level. Where we are reborn depends on the kind of life we have led while still living. See the Six Levels of Existence for many more details (outside link). For a review of the most important Mudra (Hand Gestures), please see our sister site (outside link).

Japanese Mantra for Amida Buddha
 On Amiritadeisei Karaun

LEARN MORE ABOUT AMIDA BUDDHA AT
THE A-TO-Z PHOTO DICTIONARY (Sister Site)

• Amida Buddha. Guide to Japanese Amida Sculpture (outside link)
   
• 48 Vows of Amida -- Before Becoming a Buddha -- (outside link)
   
• Amida Raigo Triad (outside link)
   
• Amida's Cloud Bosatsu (outside link)
   
• Amida Buddha Photo Tour (outside link)
• Five Buddha (Tathagata) of Wisdom (outside link)
   
• Mudra. Hand Gestures and Their Meaning (outside link)
• JAANUS: Japanese Architectural & Art Net Users System (outside link; very wonderful)