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外四供養菩薩

Pronunciations

Basic Meaning: four bodhisattvas of the outer offerings

Senses:

  • The four outer offerings bodhisattvas, also referred to as 外供養菩薩, found in the vajradhātu-maṇḍala 金剛界曼荼羅. The four outer offerings bodhisattvas occupy positions outside the vajra circle, in the four corners of the outer layer, and relate to things outside the body and mind. As emanations of the dhyāni-buddhas, this group is comprised of Vajradhūpā 金剛香, Diamond Incense, situated in the SE, offered by Akṣobhya 阿閦; Vajrapuṣpā 金剛華, Diamond Flower, situated in the SW, offered by Ratnasaṃbhava 寶生; Vajralokā 金剛燈, Diamond Light, situated in the NW, offered by Amitâbha 阿彌陀; Vajragandhā 金剛塗香, Diamond Perfume, situated in the NE, offered by Amoghasiddhi 不空成就. Cf. 八供養菩薩. The Fo Guang Dictionary provides a detailed entry under 外四供養; also abbreviated as 外四供.

    References:

    Snodgrass, Adrian. 1988. The Matrix and Diamond World Mandalas in Shingon Buddhism. New Delhi:  Aditya Prakashan.

    Somekawa, Eisuke, and Michihiko Komine. 1993. Mandara zuten曼荼羅図典 . Tokyo:  Daihōrinkaku.

    [Cate Pearce; source(s): MJ, T864]
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    Entry created: 2015-02-23

    Updated: 2015-02-23