Item: Medicine Buddha

Medicine Buddha (Sanskrit: Bhaishajyaguru. Tibetan: sang gye men la. English: the Buddha, Guru of Medicine).

Tibetan: Sang gye men la

Also known as Vaidurya Prabha Raja, the King of Lapis Lazuli (or sapphire) Light, he is typically dark blue in colour with one face and two hands, held in the right, in a gesture like that of supreme generosity, is held a myrobalan plant (Latin: terminalia chebula. Skt.: haritaki). The left hand is placed in the lap in the gesture of meditation, supporting the black begging bowl of a monk - filled with nectar. Adorned with the patchwork robes of a fully ordained monk and the left arm covered, appearing in the nirmanakaya aspect of a buddha he is seated in vajra posture above a lotus and lion supported tiered throne.

Directly above and below are seven further buddhas which make up the group known as the Eight Medicine Buddha Brothers. Each of the buddha figures is coloured gold

1. Bhaishajyaguru, Vaidurya Prabha Raja
2. Ashokattamshri
3. Suvarnabhadra Vimala
4. Abhijnaraja
5. Shakyamuni
6. Suparakirtita Namashri
7. Nirghosharaja
8. Dharmakirti Sagara

At the top center is Shakyamuni Buddha. At the top left is Amitayus the Buddha of Long-Life. At the top right is the female long-life goddess Ushnishavijaya.

Jeff Watt 4-2022