#图文创造打卡挑战活动#在佛教的浩渺宇宙中, there is a bodhisattva who guards every practitioner who sincerely wishes to the Buddha with a mighty posture, and he is the Vedic Bodhisattva. When it comes to Vedic Bodhisattva, I believe that many Buddhist believers are no strangers, as the protector of Buddhism, he carries countless legends and stories. So, what is the origin of Veda Bodhisattva? How did he become the protector of Buddhism? Why does his statue always stand contrary to Maitreya? Why is it called "Three Weeks of Induction"? Today, let us explore the legendary life of this Dharma Protector Bodhisattva.
Veda Bodhisattva, also known as Veda Zuntian Bodhisattva, Fan name transliterated as Sijian Dhadeva, also cloudy sky. In ancient legends, Veda Bodhisattva was originally the god of Brahman, the head of the thirty-two generals seated by the four heavenly kings. However, he later became a Buddhist protector and guarded the beliefs and teachings of Buddhism together with Garan. As a companion of the gods and the Bodhisattva Garan, Veda Bodhisattva has provided endless protection and guidance to the followers of Buddhism with his infinite compassion and wisdom.
The image of Veda Bodhisattva is usually depicted as a majestic warrior wearing armor, holding a vajra, which weighs 84,000 catties, symbolizing the power of Veda Bodhisattva to surrender all evil demons. It is said that the image of the mighty god of Veda Bodhisattva is the prayer of the Taoist master, his face is like a child, indicating that he has a pure heart for Buddhism, and the vajra demon pestle in his hand shows his firm belief in protecting the Dharma and strong ability to protect the Dharma.
In Buddhist monasteries, statues of Veda Bodhisattvas usually have three postures holding a pestle, each representing a different meaning. When the demon pestle is carried on the shoulder, it means that this temple is the jungle of the ten directions to select the virtuous, and you can place a permanent residence; when the hands are folded to bring the demon pestle to the flat end, it means that this is a medium-sized temple, which can entertain the monks who travel here for free to eat and live for a day; and when the demon pestle is placed on the ground with one hand, it means that this is a small temple and cannot entertain the wandering monks. The posture of these statues not only reflects the majesty and compassion of Vedic Bodhisattva, but also reflects the cultural traditions and rules of Buddhist monasteries.
It is worth mentioning that the Zhaoming Temple in Tianmu Mountain, Lin'an, Zhejiang Province is the hardening dojo of the manifestation of Vedic Bodhisattva. There are many stories about the apparition of Vedic Bodhisattva, and legend has it that he fought to recover the bones of the Buddha that were snatched by evil demons when Shakyamuni Buddha was destroyed, so he was revered by Buddhism as a god who expelled evil spirits and protected Buddhism. In the temple, the statue of Veda Bodhisattva is generally enshrined in the Heavenly King Hall, facing the temple with its back to the statue of Maitreya Bodhisattva, guarding the Garan Dojo. This layout not only reflects the rigor and rules of Buddhism, but also highlights the special relationship and tacit understanding between Veda and Maitreya.
So, why did Veda Bodhisattva become the protector of Buddhism? According to the scriptures, when Shakyamuni Buddha was destroyed, the evil demons snatched the Buddha's bones. When Veda learned of this, he immediately chased after him and fought to retrieve the remains. This heroic act was deeply admired and appreciated by the Buddhists, and they revered Veda as the protector of the Dharma in gratitude for his merits in protecting the Dharma and banishing evil spirits.
The statue of Veda Bodhisattva has its back to the statue of Maitreya, which also has a profound meaning behind it. In the Buddhist tradition, Maitreya always has a smile and a happy and peaceful attitude, so he has a high status among Buddhist believers. However, Maitreya is not good at business, and the supply of incense often exceeds his means. Although the Vedic Bodhisattva is majestic and solemn, the believers often dare not get close to it because of awe. In order to balance the status of the two bodhisattvas and the worship of the believers, the Buddha skillfully arranged them in the same hall. In this way, believers can worship Maitreya and Veda by the way. The fact that Veda faces the Mahavit Hall inside the monastery means that he is always guarding the monastery and the monks' practice.
In addition, the origin of Vedic Bodhisattva is also quite legendary. According to the classics, Veda Bodhisattva was the last Buddha of the Thousand Buddhas of the Virtuous Tribulation, and he was one of the thousand sons of the Wheel Wheel Saint King along with Shakyamuni Buddha. After learning Buddhism, the thousand sons of the Wheel Saint King made a vow to practice enlightenment and promote Buddhism. When Vedic heard about their vows, he expressed his willingness to protect them as they practiced enlightenment and propagated the Dharma. And when these thousand sons became Buddhas, Veda Bodhisattva vowed to become the last one to become a Buddha, that is, Lou Zhi Buddha. Therefore, Veda has a special status and mission in Buddhism.
In Buddhist legends, Veda Bodhisattva is also known as the protector of the "Three Weeks of Induction". The "three weeks" refer to North Juluzhou, Dongsheng Shenzhou and West Niuhe Prefecture. It is said that the people of Beiju Luzhou live a thousand years of life, never die young, and live a rich life and enjoy happiness, but they do not believe in Buddhism. The people of the three states, on the other hand, have good roots, are able to abide by the Dharma and practice good deeds. Therefore, Vedic made a vow to protect the people during these three weeks so that they could practice with peace of mind from evil spirits. This compassion and wisdom have earned Veda a high reputation and admiration among Buddhists.
The third day of the sixth lunar month is the Christmas day of Vedic Bodhisattva. On this day, many Buddhists visit the temple to pay homage to the statue of Vedic Bodhisattva and pray for his protection and blessings. With his compassion and wisdom, Veda protects every practitioner who is sincere to the Buddha, providing them with endless protection and guidance. At the same time, he also supervises the behavior of the practitioners, ensuring that they are able to make progress and achieve positive results on their spiritual path.
In short, Veda Bodhisattva, as the protector of Buddhism, guards the beliefs and teachings of Buddhism with his endless compassion and wisdom. His legendary origins and boundless compassion have given him a high status and reputation among Buddhists. In the days to come, may Veda Bodhisattva continue to bless every practitioner who sincerely devotes himself to the Buddha, so that they can continue to make progress on the path of cultivation and achieve positive results. At the same time, I also hope that every practitioner can follow the example of Veda Bodhisattva, carry forward his spirit of compassion and wisdom, and contribute to the prosperity and development of Buddhism. #菩萨文学#