Mahamayuri

Mahamayuri statue. Musée Guimet

Mahamayuri (Sanskrit: महामायूरी Mahāmāyūrī, Chinese: 孔雀明王 Kǒngquè Míngwáng, Vietnamese: Khổng Tước Minh Vương, Japanese: 孔雀明王, translit. Kujaku Myōō, Korean: 공작명왕 GongJakMyeongWang), is a female Wisdom King in the Buddhist Pantheon. Mahamayuri is a peaceful personification, often portrayed as female, in contrast to the wrathful attitudes of male personifications of the Wisdom Kings.[1][2]

Known as the 'Queen of the secret sciences' and Mahamayuri-vidyarajni, the Mother of Buddha in Mahayana Buddhism,[3][4] Mahamayuri had the power to protect devotees from poisoning, either physical or spiritual.[5][6][7]

Mahamayuri's dharani, translated into Chinese by Kumārajīva, is considered to predate Mahayana Buddhism.[8] It contains the only mention of the Rig Veda in the entire Chinese Buddhist canon. It gives a large list of Yakshas throughout the classical cities in India [9](including modern Afghanistan, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri lanka) who are invoked to seek the protection of the BuddhaDharma:

"The deity Krakucchanda resides in Pataliputra.
Aparajita resides in Sthuno.
The great yaksha Bhadra resides in Saila.
The great deity Manava resides in Uttara.
The great sage Vajrapani though lives in Rajagrha
Often dwells in Mount Grdhrakuta.
The deity Garuda resides in the Vipula mountain.
Citragupta resides in Citemukha.
The yaksha Vakula resides in Rajagrha.
...
The yaksha king Mahagiri resides in Girinagara.
The yaksha Vasava resides in Vaidisa.
The yaksha Karttikeya resides in Rohitaka.
This yaksha Kumara is renowned in the great city.
...
Vaisravana who resides in the city Alakavati,
Located along the jeweled stairway of the Buddha’s descent,
Is surrounded by billions of gods and goddesses.
Such yakshas command huge and powerful contingents of troops
To subjugate adversaries and enemies,
Conquering all.
They are famous throughout all directions.
Imbued with great dignity and virtue,
They come to aid
In the battles between the heavens and asuras.

These deities of virtues and great yaksha generals are located everywhere in Jambudvipa. They uphold and protect the Buddhadharma, generating compassion."

[10]

Vaiśravaṇa (Kubera) is regarded to the chief of the Yakshas in Buddhism.

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Musée Guimet exhibit
  2. ↑ "About the Buddhist Painting, Peacock Myoo (Mahamayuri)". Kyoto National Museum. Retrieved 17 November 2017.
  3. ↑ "Kamei Peacock Tail - Kamei Glass Co., Osaka". Carnival Glass Worldwide. Retrieved 17 November 2017.
  4. ↑ "(孔雀明王咒) 的經典". paper.udn.com (in Chinese). Retrieved 17 November 2017.
  5. ↑ Art Institute of Chicago (2004). Notable Acquisitions at the Art Institute of Chicago. University of Illinois Press. p. 36. ISBN 978-0-86559-209-4.
  6. ↑ Musée Guimet exhibit
  7. ↑ "True Buddha Dharma-character Treasury - Mahamayuri". tbsn.org. Retrieved 17 November 2017.
  8. ↑ 平川彰 『インド仏教史 下』 春秋社、p.316
  9. ↑ [V. S. Agravala, " Geographical Contents of Mahamayuri JUPHS, Vol. XV, Pt. ii, 1942, p. 28]
  10. ↑ Translated into English by Cheng Yew Chung based on Amoghavajra’s Chinese Translation (Taisho Volume 19, Number 982)
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