In Vajrayana Buddhism, the Five Dhyani Buddhas are representations of the five qualities of the Buddha.
They are based on the trikaya or "three body" theory of Buddhahood. Dhyani Buddhas are aspects of the dharmakaya "dharma-body", which embodies the principle of enlightenment in Buddhism.
Vairocana (aka Vairochana or Mahavairocana), is a celestial buddha who is often interpreted as the Dharma Body of the historical Buddha (Gautama Buddha, aka Shakyamuni).
In the conception of the Five Wisdom Buddhas of Mahayana and Vajrayana Buddhism, Vairocana is at the centre and is considered a Primordial Buddha (Adi-Buddha) – the Buddha from whom the others emerge.
In Chinese, Korean, and Japanese Buddhism, Vairocana is also seen as the embodiment of the Buddhist concept of Emptiness.
White
Centre of
Mandala
Space
All-encompassing
Wisdom
The Dharmachakra mudra represents the setting into motion of the wheel of the teaching of the Dharma.
Also known as "Wheel of the Law", it represents Gautama Buddha and the Dharma teaching.
Tibetan
Devanagari
Tibetan
Devanagari
Akashadhatvishvari is the consort or prajna of Vairochana.
Her name literally translates to The Sovereign Lady of the Sphere of Infinite Space.
In each hand she holds a lotus which blooms at the shoulder. On the right shoulder is a Dharmachakra, and on the left is the Vajra Bell.
White
Centre of
Mandala
Space
Vairochana
Siddham
Devanagari
Tibetan
Devanagari
Amitabha is the Buddha of the Western Quarter. He is usually depicted as a bhikshu with his hands in the dhyana mudra.
Amitabha dwells in his pureland called Sukhavati - the happy realm - which is described in the Sukhavatavyuha sutras. He is closely related to Amitayus - infinite life - who is sometimes described as his "reflex".
Amitabha's special quality is Compassion, which is balanced in the Mandala of the Jinas by Akshobhya the Buddha of Wisdom. Amitabha is the head of the Padma, or Lotus family.
Red
West of
Mandala
Fire
Discriminating
Wisdom
The Dhyana mudra is the mudra of meditation, of concentration on Dharma, and of the attainment of spiritual perfection.
The lotus (or Padma) represents the primordial purity of body, speech, and mind, floating above the muddy waters of attachment and desire.
Tibetan
Devanagari
Tibetan
Devanagari
Pandaravasini is the consort or prajna of Amitabha.
She is light red in colour, and her name means "the White Robed One" which suggests that she is vested with purity.
She clasps the stems of two lotuses - upon the lotus at her left shoulder rests a vajra bell, and on the lotus at her right shoulder rests a vase of immortality.
Red
West of
Mandala
Fire
Amitabha
Siddham
Devanagari
Siddham
Devanagari
Akshobhya is the blue Buddha who sits in the Eastern quarter. His name literally translates to immovable or imperturbable.
His mudra is the Bhumisparsha or earth touching mudra. His emblem is the vajra, which sits balanced in his left hand - he is the head of the Vajra family.
Akshobhya was probably the earliest of the Jinas to emerge. The Akshobhyavyuha Sutra describes his pureland Abhirati which translates as "delightful". Entry into Abhirati requires assiduous practice.
Blue
East of
Mandala
Water
Mirror-like
Wisdom
The Bhumisparsha Mudra represents the moment of the Buddha's awakening as he claims the earth as the witness of his enlightenment
The vajra represents Vajrayana Buddhism, also known as the "Thunderbolt Way" and implies the thunderbolt experience of enlightenment.
Tibetan
Devanagari
Tibetan
Devanagari
Lochana is pale blue in colour, and her name means The One with the Eye, or the Clear Visioned One.
Lochana is the consort or prajna of Akshobhya. She is associated with pure awareness, she represents the pure, simple, direct awarness of things as they are.
Her left hand is in the Dhyana mudra and holds a vajra-bell, while her right hand is in the Bhumisparsha mudra and holds a vajra.
Blue
East of
Mandala
Water
Akshobhya
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Amoghasiddhi occupies the North Quarter, is depicted as a bhikshu, and is deep green in colour.
His name means infallible (amogha) success (siddhi). Amoghasiddhi is the head of the Karma family.
Amoghasiddhi's emblem is the double vajra - a mysterious symbol which is two five pointed vajras arranged in a cross. His mudra is Abhaya or Fearlessness. Amoghasiddhi is associated with the Tantric Rite of Fearlessness, and with success or siddhi.
Green
North of
Mandala
Air
All-accomplishing
Wisdom
The Abhaya Mudra symbolizes protection, peace, and the dispelling of fear. Fear is an obstacle on the path of enlightenment.
The Double Vajra symbolizes the principle of absolute stability, and the All-accomplishing wisdom of Amoghasiddhi.
Tibetan
Devanagari
Tibetan
Devanagari
The Bodhisattva Tara was born from the tears of Avalokiteshvara as he looked down on the sorrows of the world.
Her name comes from the Sanskrit word Tara and literally means a saviour, protector, or a star.
Despite the connection with the Padma family via Amitabha and Avalokiteshvara, she is also considered member of Amoghasiddhi's Vishvavajra family, as she appears as his consort or prajna.
Green
North of
Mandala
Air
Amoghasiddhi
Tibetan
Devanagari
Tibetan
Devanagari
Ratnasambhava is the yellow Buddha of the southern quarter. His name means jewel born.
His emblem is the ratna jewel, symbolising the Bodhichitta, the highest value of the Buddhist. His mudra is Dana or generosity, the most fundamental Buddhist virtue. He represents, therefore, both the highest values and virtues of Buddhism.
He is also associated with the Tantric rite of Increase, and with prosperity generally.
Yellow
South of
Mandala
Earth
Wisdom
of Equality
The Varada Mudra symbolizes dispensing of boons. It is often shown in conjunction with the Abhaya Mudra.
The Chintamani is a legendary Buddhist artifact, and is a wish-fulfilling gem of extraordinary power.
Tibetan
Devanagari
Tibetan
Devanagari
Mamaki is yellow in colour, and her name means Mine-maker. She identifies with everything and everyone as "mine", she makes no distinctions.
Her right hand is in the Varada Mudra, and he left hand holds a lotus on which rests a Vajra Bell.
Mamaki is the consort or prajna of Ratnasambhava.
Yellow
South of
Mandala
Earth
Ratnasambhava
Siddham
Devanagari
Siddham
Devanagari
The lotus flower is one of the eight auspicious symbols in the Buddhist Ashtamangala. It symbolises the complete purification of the defilements of the body, speech and mind, and the full blossoming of wholesome deeds in blissful liberation.
A lotus growing out of the mud and blossoming in perfect beauty above the water is a symbol of how anyone can achieve salvation.
The lotus sutra asserts that everyone possesses the Buddha nature, and enlightenment can be achieved by anyone.
The Ashtamangala is a sacred suite of Eight Auspicious Signs endemic to a number of Indian religions including Buddhism.
Lotus Flower
Conch
Dhvaja
Parasol
Dharmachakra
Treasure Vase
Golden Fish
Endless Knot
The right-turning white conch shell represents the beautiful, deep, melodious, interpenetrating and pervasive sound of the Dharma, which awakens disciples from the deep slumber of ignorance and urges them to accomplish their own welfare and the welfare of others.
Shells which spiral to the right in a clockwise direction are a rarity and are considered especially sacred. The right-spiraling movement of such a conch is believed to echo the celestial motion of the sun, moon, planets and stars across the heavens. The hair whorls on Buddha's head spiral to the right, as do his fine body hairs, the long curl between his eyebrows (urna), and also the conch-like swirl of his navel.
The Ashtamangala is a sacred suite of Eight Auspicious Signs endemic to a number of Indian religions including Buddhism.
Lotus Flower
Conch
Dhvaja
Parasol
Dharmachakra
Treasure Vase
Golden Fish
Endless Knot
The dhvaja (a banner or flag) was a military standard of ancient Indian warfare. Within the Tibetan tradition, a list of eleven different forms of the victory banner is given to represent eleven specific methods for overcoming defilement.
It represents the victory of the Buddha's teachings over death, ignorance, disharmony and all the negativities of this world. The roofs of Tibetan monasteries are often decorated with victory banners of different shapes and sizes.
The Ashtamangala is a sacred suite of Eight Auspicious Signs endemic to a number of Indian religions including Buddhism.
Lotus Flower
Conch
Dhvaja
Parasol
Dharmachakra
Treasure Vase
Golden Fish
Endless Knot
The Jewelled Parasol (or Precious Parasol) represents the protection of beings from harmful forces and illness. It represents the canopy or firmament of the sky and therefore the expansiveness and unfolding of space and the element ether.
All take refuge in the Dharma under the auspiciousness of the parasol. The parasol also points to the royal ease and power experienced in the Buddhist life of detachment, and the enjoyment of a feast of benefit under its cool shade.
The Ashtamangala is a sacred suite of Eight Auspicious Signs endemic to a number of Indian religions including Buddhism.
Lotus Flower
Conch
Dhvaja
Parasol
Dharmachakra
Treasure Vase
Golden Fish
Endless Knot
The Golden Fish symbolise the auspiciousness of all sentient beings in a state of fearlessness without the danger of drowning in the ocean of suffering.
We must migrate from place to place freely and spontaneously, just as fish swim freely without fear through water. The fish symbolize happiness, for they have complete freedom in the water.
The pair of fish originated as an ancient pre-Buddhist symbol of the two main sacred rivers in India, the Ganga and the Yamuna. They are traditionally drawn in the form of carp, which are commonly regarded in Asia as elegant due to their size, shape and longevity.
The Ashtamangala is a sacred suite of Eight Auspicious Signs endemic to a number of Indian religions including Buddhism.
Lotus Flower
Conch
Dhvaja
Parasol
Dharmachakra
Treasure Vase
Golden Fish
Endless Knot
The Endless Knot (or Auspicious Drawing) denotes the auspicious mark represented by a curled noose emblematic of love.
Moreover, it represents the intertwining of wisdom and compassion, the mutual dependence of religious doctrine and secular affairs, the union of wisdom and method and the inseparability of shunyata (emptiness) and pratityasamutpada (interdependent origination).
Having no beginning or end, it also represents the infinite wisdom of the Buddha, long life, and the illusory character of time.
The Ashtamangala is a sacred suite of Eight Auspicious Signs endemic to a number of Indian religions including Buddhism.
Lotus Flower
Conch
Dhvaja
Parasol
Dharmachakra
Treasure Vase
Golden Fish
Endless Knot
The Dharmachakra (or Wheel of the Law, or Golden Wheel) represents Gautama Buddha and the Dharma teaching.
It symbolises the auspiciousness of the turning of the precious wheel of Buddha's doctrine, both in its teachings and realizations, in all realms and at all times, enabling beings to experience the joy of wholesome deeds and liberation.
The eight spokes refer to the Noble Eightfold Path, one of the Buddha's first teachings. With the Lotus, the Dharmachakra is one of the earliest and most common symbols Buddhism.
The Ashtamangala is a sacred suite of Eight Auspicious Signs endemic to a number of Indian religions including Buddhism.
Lotus Flower
Conch
Dhvaja
Parasol
Dharmachakra
Treasure Vase
Golden Fish
Endless Knot
The Treasure Vase represents health, longevity, wealth, prosperity, wisdom and the phenomenon of space. Also known as the Vase of Inexhaustible Treasures, it is a sign of the inexhaustible riches available in the Buddhist teachings.
The Ashtamangala is a sacred suite of Eight Auspicious Signs endemic to a number of Indian religions including Buddhism.
Lotus Flower
Conch
Dhvaja
Parasol
Dharmachakra
Treasure Vase
Golden Fish
Endless Knot