Robin Beck

Map of the Prayer Gohonzon

The Nichiren Prayer Gohonzon aka Medicine Mandala is the famous Mandala Gohonzon of the Independent Movement. Thanks to Bruce & Stephanie Maltz, it is also one of four {4} original Nichiren Mandala Gohonzon{s} for which we have a detailed map. To view the map, link to Explanation of the Nichiren Prayer Gohonzon . There is also a detailed explanation.

Errata?

Some time ago, I started drafting a detailed study of this mandala. I decided there is no point in repeating the work. There, are, however, I think, three translation errors that may cause some confusion. In this regard, I expect there are some errors in the work I have done here. It is my hope that someday someone with more access to information will catch & correct them.

"G) Second Year of Kenji, April (1277)"
Actually, this should be: G) Second Year of Kenji, April (1276). I noticed that 1277 would put this one out of sequence. So I checked, and 1276 is the second year of Kenji.

"A) Daibadatta Ten no"

P. Jones wrote: "I checked ... [the] ... Prayer Gohonzon and the upper right 'king of heaven' does not say 'Devadatta'. It is the Sanskrit to Chinese transliteration for Dhritarastra, the 'Guardian of the Nation', a.k.a. Jikoku Tenno."

This makes sense, since Dai Jikoku-Tenno is one of the Four Heavenly Kings {Shi-Tenno}, while Devadatta, aka Daibadatta, is not.

"Translated as "Great Heavenly King Upholder of the Nation" or "Kingdom-Keeper Heavenly King," Dai Jikoku-Tenno is one of the Four Heavenly Kings. He lives halfway down the eastern side of Mount Sumeru and protects the eastern quarter." Dai Jikoku-tenno (Sanskrit Dhritarashtra) Gakkai-on-Line

"The four heavenly kings are the guardians of the world who reside on the slopes of Mt. Sumeru in the heaven named after them from whence they are each responsible for one of the four cardinal directions. Each leads an army of supernatural creatures who help them keep the fighting demons (asuras) at bay.

Dhritarashtra is one of the four heavenly kings. The Flammarion Iconographic Guide: Buddhism describes Dhritarashtra as follows:

"This guardian king governs in the east and presides over the spring. He is 'He who maintains the kingdom (of the Law)'. 'the maintainer of the state'...He commands an army of celestial musicians (Gandharvas) and vampire demons (Pisaca)." (p. 246)... " -- Who's Who on the Gohonzon? by Rev. Ryuei Michael McCormick

Also, Dai Jikoku Tenno occupies this same position on every other Ten Worlds Dai Mandara which include the Shittenno. See Shutei Honzon Map -- 1. Dai Jikoku Tenno; SGI Gohonzon Diagram -- 13. Dai Jikoku-tenno — Great Heavenly King Upholder of the Nation (Skt. Dhritarashtra); and Nissho's Daimandara of 1280

19. Sengan Ten No (Sanskrit: Sahasrabhujavalokitesvara; English: Thousand Eyed King of Heaven)

Sahasra-bhuja-avalokitesvara is a name of Kuan Yin, in Sino-Japanese, Sengan Kanzeon. However, Indra, aka Taishaku, actually occupies this location on the Ten World's Great Mandala. As P. Jones wrote:

"Actually Sangen Tenno here is the 'Thousand-Eyed King of Heaven' (Sahasra Locana Deva Raja). Sahasra Bhuja would be 'Thousand Armed', but that is not what is literally written on this Prayer Gohonzon. This is a reference to Sakra Devanam Indra (Taishaku), who is sometimes called 'Thousand-Eyed' (a reference to mastery of the sense faculties or Jnanendriya), sometimes called 'Thousand Armed' (a reference to the mastery of the motor faculties or Karmendriya), and sometimes called both at the same time."

Posted by rbeck at June 29, 2006 12:00 AM