Akasagarbha statue in Singoji, 9th cen.

Ākāśagarbha Bodhisattva (Chinese: 虛空藏菩薩; pinyin: Xū kōng zàng pú sà, Japanese: Kōkūzō Bosatsu) is one of the eight great bodhisattvas. His name can be translated as "boundless space treasury" or "void store" as his wisdom is said to be boundless as space itself. He is sometimes known as the twin brother of the "earth store" bodhisattva Ksitigarbha, and is even briefly mentioned in the Sutra of The Great Vows of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva.

Kūkai (Kōbō-Daishi), the founder of Shingon Buddhism, is said to have repeatedly chanted a mantra of Ākāśagarbha as a young Buddhist acolyte. As he chanted the mantra, he experienced a vision whereby Ākāśagarbha told him to go to China to seek understanding of the Mahavairocana Sutra.^[1]

Mantra

Kokuzo, the Bodhisattva of the Sky Matrix, of the Gumonji Ritual, 13th century.

The mantra of Ākāśagarbha is popularly used by Shingon Buddhists and artists. It is believed to give rise to wisdom and creativity and dispel ignorance.^[2]

• Chinese: Na Mo Xu Kong Zang Pu Sa
• Vietnamese: Nam Mo Hu Khong Tang Bo Tat
• Translation: Blessed be Akasagarbha Bodhisattva,

A different mantra is used for both Japanese and Sanskrit:

• Japanese: nōbō akyasha kyarabaya on arikya mari bori sowaka.
• Sanskrit: namo ākāśagarbhaya oṃ ārya kamari mauli svāhā.
• English Translation: Wish the whole universe, "OM", to pray all human beings flourish with all dedication.
• Chinese Translation: 請天地萬物,祝願全人類開花太平盛世!

Further information regarding Akashagarbha Bodhisattva, and tantric rituals surrounding him are only given to students initiated in esoteric Buddhist lineages by an approved teacher.

References

1. ^ Abe, Ryuichi (1999). The Weaving of Mantra: Kukai and the Construction of Esoteric Buddhist Discourse. Columbia University Press. p. 74. ISBN 0231112866. 
2. ^ The Heart of the Buddha's Teaching by Thich Nhat Hanh

External links

• Japanese Buddhist Statuary: Kokuzo
• The Koyasan Shingon-shu Lay Practitioner's Daily Service
• Icons of Akasagarbha Bodhisattva