The Deity That Grants Longevity – Amitayus
Amitayus (Main figure)
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(Top to bottom): White Tara, Ushnishavijaya (Namgyalma), Amitayus, Dorje Shugden and Vairochana Shugden (Shize).
According to the scriptures, Amitabha and Amitayus are essentially the same enlightened being. Within the doctrine of Mahayana Buddhism, a fully enlightened Buddha is said to possess three bodies, beginning with emanation body (Nirmanakaya), enjoyment body (Sambhogakaya) and the ultimate truth body (Dharmakaya). Amitayus is the enjoyment body form of the Buddha Amitabha.
Within the context of representation, the distinguishing feature between both enlightened beings lies with the fact that Buddha Amitabha has the appearance of a Buddha in monk robes while Buddha Amitayus has the appearance of a princely bodhisattva. Buddha Amitabha cradles a black begging bowl in his hands while Buddha Amitayus holds a long-life vase with his hands.
Buddha Amitayus is mentioned in the Mahayana Sutras and is also a very popular meditational Buddha within Vajrayana Buddhism as well. Aside from the main lineage, there are also mandala practices of the Nine Deity Mandala of Amitayus along with Amitayus embracing his consort. Milarepa’s heart disciple, Rechungpa (1083-1161), received a special lineage of Buddha Amitayus from the Indian master Tipu Pandita while on one of his sojourns down to India. Upon his return, he transmitted the tradition to Milarepa and the practice was known as the Rechung tradition. Ultimately, Buddha Amitayus primarily functions as a long-life deity to extend one’s lifespan, merits and all that is necessary to sustain one’s life.
He is usually placed together in a set of Three Long-life Deities – Buddha Amitayus, White Tara and Ushnishavijaya. Hence, they are depicted in the thangka along with the principle deity Dorje Shugden and Vairochana Shugden riding upon an elephant. These are all powerful deities capable of bringing purification, increasing our merits and lifespan.
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Thank you for sharing this beautiful and powerful art piece of Amitayus, White Tara, Ushnishavijaya , Dorje Shugden and Vairochana Shugden . Buddha Amitayus also known as Buddha of Limitless Life is a Buddha a deity associated with meditations and mantras for a long life. As a long-life deity together with White Tara and Ushnishavijaya as depicted in the thangka , thus are all powerful deities to purify and increase merits and lifespan for anyone to rely on them.