Uṣṇīṣa Vijaya Dhāraṇī

Stone Pillar of the Dhāraṇī inscription. This Dhāraṇī is commonly used for its protective and talismanic properties

The Uṣṇīṣa Vijaya Dhāraṇī (Sanskrit IAST; English: Dhāraṇī of the Victorious Uṣṇīṣa, Chinese: 佛頂尊勝陀羅尼經; Pinyin: Fódǐng Zūnshèng Tuóluóní Jīng; Rōmaji: Butsuchō Sonshō Darani Kyō; Vietnamese: Kinh Phật Đảnh Tôn Thắng Đà La Ni) is a Dhāraṇī (a Buddhist mantric chant, incantation or magical spell) which is popular throughout Mahayana Buddhism. The Uṣṇīṣa Vijaya Dhāraṇī is considered a magical incantation in Mahayana Buddhism and esoteric sects of Theravada, seen having the power to destroying delusions, prevent lower rebirths, promoting long life, and promoting rebirth in the pure land of Sukhavati.

The dhāraṇī is found in various translations and sources, including in the Uṣṇīṣa Vijaya Dhāraṇī Sūtra, an Indian Mahāyāna Sūtra, specifically a Dhāraṇī Sūtra. The Dhāraṇī is also personified as a goddess called Uṣṇīṣavijaya, a female Buddhist deity associated with the Buddha's Uṣṇīṣa (a magical topknot or supernatural dome on top of the Buddha's head).

Uṣṇīṣa Vijaya Dhāraṇī Sūtra

A stone inscription of the Usnisa Vijaya Dharani Sutra at Asakusa Temple in Tokyo. Note the use of Sanskrit Siddhaṃ script.

The sūtra was translated a total of eight times from Sanskrit to Chinese between 679 and 988 CE. According to one scholar of Esoteric Buddhism (Sorensen), it was the most important esoteric sutra translated in China in the seventh century. The sutra gained wide circulation in China, and its practices have been utilized since the Tang dynasty, from which it then spread to the rest of East Asia. It was also popular in Dunhuang and Tibetan Buddhism. An alternate longer Sanskrit title fi=or the sūtra is the Sarvadurgatipariśodhana Uṣṇīṣa Vijaya Dhāraṇī Sūtra.

In Chinese Buddhism, the Uṣṇīṣa Vijaya dhāraṇī is associated with Mount Wutai, which in the Chinese Buddhist tradition is considered the bodhimaṇḍa of the bodhisattva Mañjuśrī. Sacred stone tablets with the Uṣṇīṣa Vijaya Dhāraṇī carved into them have been distributed widely in some regions of the Far East. The dhāraṇī is still widely used in various rituals that involve esoteric or tantric elements.

In Tibetan Buddhism, the dhāraṇī, often alternatively entitled the Namgyälma mantra, is considered to be one of the five powerful purifying mantras and is sometimes used in rituals for the deceased.

In Nepalese Newar Buddhism, Uṣṇīṣavijayā dhāraṇī rites are still important and are widely performed.

Contents

The purpose of this sūtra is said to be to help sentient beings in a troubled and tumultuous world. According to this sūtra, beings will leave suffering and obtain happiness, increase in prosperity and longevity, remove karmic obstacles, eliminate disasters and calamities, remove enmity and hatred, fulfill all wishes, and quickly be led onto the Buddha's way.

It is held by some that when the dhāraṇī is heard, it can imbue the alaya consciousness with pure seeds that will help lead one to buddhahood. This mantra is also associated with Green Tara.

Rubbing from pillar carved with the Uṣṇīṣa Vijaya Dhāraṇī Sutra - Later Tang Dynasty - 4th year Tongguang Reign (926)

According to the text, major applications of this dhāraṇī include:

• Destroy calamities and rescue those in difficulties
• Eliminate offenses and create good deeds
• Purify all karmic obstructions
• Increase blessings and lengthen lifespan
• Attain anuttarā-samyak-saṃbodhi
• Relieve beings in the ghost realm
• Benefit birds, animals and all crawling creatures
• Increase wisdom
• Revert the fixed karma
• Eliminate various illness
• Destroy hells
• Ensure the safety of the households, and having children to inherit the family pride
• Harmonise husbands and wives
• Be able to reborn in Sukhavati or other pure lands
• Heal sickness inflicted by pretas
• Request for rain, etc.

Some quotes from the sutra text include:

Lord of Heaven, if someone hears this Dharani even for just a moment, he will not undergo karmic retribution from the evil karma and severe hindrances accumulated from thousands of kalpas ago, that would otherwise cause him to revolve in the cycles of birth and death - in all kinds of life forms in the evil paths - hell, hungry ghost, animal, realm of King Yama, Asuras, Yaksa, Raksasa, ghosts and spirits, Putana, Kataputana, Apasmara, mosquitoes, gnats, tortoises, dogs, pythons, birds, ferocious animals, crawling creatures and even ants and other life forms. Owing to the merits accrued from hearing for a moment this Dharani, once this very life is over, he will be reborn in the Buddhalands, together with all the Buddhas and Ekajati-pratibaddha Bodhisattvas, or in a distinguished Brahmin or Ksatriya family, or in some other wealthy and reputable family. Lord of Heaven, this man can be reborn in one of the above-mentioned prosperous and reputable families simply because he has heard this Dharani, and hence be reborn in a pure place.

Distribution of Uṣṇīṣa Vijaya Dhāraṇī Sacred Stone Tablets Throughout The World (1993–2007) by Usnisa Vijaya Dharani Chanting Group.

Synopsis

According to the Sūtra a devaputra by the name of Suṣṭhita (Supratiṣṭhita) was enjoying the supremely wonderful bliss of heavenly life, but then he suddenly heard a voice in space saying,

Devaputra Susthita, you have only seven days left to live. After death, you will be reborn in Jambudvīpa (Earth) as an animal for seven successive lives. Then you will fall into the hells to undergo more sufferings. Only after fulfilling your kārmic retribution will you be reborn in the human realm, but to a humble and destitute family; while in the mother’s womb you will be without eyes and be born blind.

On hearing this, Devaputra Suṣṭhita was so terrified and rushed over to the Heavenly Palace of Lord Śakra. Bursting into tears, he prostrated himself and revealed what had happened to Lord Śakra. Lord Śakra immediately calmed his mind and entered into samādhi. Instantly, he saw that Suṣṭhita would undergo seven successive lives in the forms of a pig, dog, jackal, monkey, python, crow and vulture, all feeding on filth and putrescence. Lord Śakra could not think of any way to help Suṣṭhita. He felt that only the Tathāgata, Arhat, Samyaksambuddha could save Suṣṭhita from falling into the great suffering of the evil destinies.

Soon after nightfall, Lord Śakra made preparations and headed to the garden of Anāthapiṇḍada. Upon arrival, Lord Śakra prostrated himself at the Buddha's feet, and circumambulated the Buddha seven times clockwise in worship, before laying out his great Pūjā (offerings/obeisances). Kneeling in front of the Buddha, Lord Śakra described the future destiny of Devaputra Suṣṭhita.

Instantly, the uṣṇīṣa (crown of the head) of the Tathāgata radiated multiple rays of light, illuminating the world in all ten directions before returning to the top of the Buddha's head. The Buddha smiled and said to Lord Śakra, “Lord of Heaven, there is a Dhāraṇī known as the Uṣṇīṣa Vijaya Dhāraṇī. It can purify all evil paths, eliminate all sufferings of beings in the realms of hell, King Yama and animals, destroy all the hells, and transfer sentient beings onto the virtuous path.”

After hearing this, Lord Śakra appealed to the Buddha to give a discourse on this great Dhāraṇī. The Buddha, aware of Lord Śakra's intention and his eagerness to hear His discourse of this Dhāraṇī, immediately proclaimed the Mantra. Then the Buddha told Lord Śakra, “The Mantra is known as the ‘Purifying All Evil Path Uṣṇīṣa Vijaya Dhāraṇī’. It can eliminate all evil karmic hindrances and eradicate the suffering of all evil paths.” Again the Buddha told Lord Śakra that this great Dhāraṇī is proclaimed together by Buddhas as numerous as grains of sand in eighty-eight koṭis (hundred million) Ganges Rivers. All Buddhas rejoice and uphold this Dhāraṇī that is verified by the wisdom seal of Vairocana Tathāgata.

Again the Buddha reminded Lord Śakra to transmit it to Devaputra Suṣṭhita and that he himself should receive and uphold it, recite, contemplate and treasure it, memorize and preserve it. He preached that this Dhāraṇī should be widely proclaimed to all beings in Jambudvīpa and entrusted him to this task for the benefit of all heavenly beings. The Buddha also reminded Lord Śakra that he should diligently uphold and protect it, and never allow it to be forgotten or lost.

After Lord Śakra received this Dhāraṇī practice from the Buddha, he returned to his heavenly palace to convey it to Devaputra Suṣṭhita. Having received this Dhāraṇī, Devaputra Suṣṭhita kept the practice as instructed for six days and six nights, after which all his wishes were completely fulfilled.

When seven days had passed, Lord Śakra and Devaputra Suṣṭhita, together with other heavenly beings, respectfully approached the Buddha and presented their grand offerings. Once they had respectfully circumambulated the Buddha a hundred thousand times and paid homage, then happily took their seats and listened to the Buddha preach the Dharma.

The World Honoured One then extended his golden arm and touched Devaputra Suṣṭhita on the head to bestow a prediction of Devaputra Suṣṭhita's attainment of Bodhi.

Mantra

In addition to the long dhāraṇī, there is the much shorter Uṣṇīṣa Vijaya heart-mantra: This mantra is used in Shingon Buddhism.

• oṃ amṛta-tejavati svāhā
• alternate: oṁ amṛta tejovati svāhā

Uṣṇīṣavijayā as a goddess

Usnisavijaya, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya

Sino-Tibetan Namgyälma statue from the 19th century; gilded bronze; Linden Museum, Stuttgart

In Mahayana Buddhism, the Uṣṇīṣavijaya Dhāraṇī is personified as a female deity, called Uṣṇīṣavijayā ("Victorious Uṣṇīṣa"; Tibetan: གཙུག་གཏོར་རྣམ་རྒྱལ་མ།, Wylie: gtsug tor rnam rgyal ma, THL: Tsuktor Namgyelma; Chinese: 佛頂尊勝佛母), She is a prominent goddess in Mahayana and Vajrayana Buddhism. Her name, "Uṣṇīṣavijayā," translates to "Victorious One of the Uṣṇīṣa," referring to the topknot or cranial protuberance (uṣṇīṣa) that symbolizes spiritual attainment in Buddhist iconography. She is considered a manifestation of the Buddha's wisdom and an emanation of the uṣṇīṣa as a source of protective power. This goddess is associated with long life, purification of karma, and the eradication of suffering. With Amitayus and White Tara, she constitutes one of the three Buddhas of Long Life in Tibetan Buddhism, where she is known as Namgyälma. She is one of the more well-known Buddhist divinities in Nepal, Tibet, and Mongolia.

In Chinese Buddhism, Uṣṇīṣavijayā is known commonly as Zūnshèng Fómǔ (尊勝佛母). She is also a popular deity, and her dhāraṇī is widely used in both monasteries and lay Buddhist circles for ritual purposes, such as during the tantric Yujia Yankou rite where it is recited to empower food offerings. Her sūtra is frequently recited in ceremonies aimed at healing, protection, and exorcism. In Japan, she is known as Butchō Sonshō (仏頂尊勝), she is revered as a deity of protection and long life. The practice of her dhāraṇī was propagated by Japanese esoteric traditions such as Shingon Buddhism.

Uṣṇīṣavijayā in a stupa, 15th-century painting, Rubin Museum of Art

Since 1571, Namgyälma has been the namesake for Namgyal Monastery, the personal monastery of all the Dalai Lamas since its establishment by the Third Dalai Lama, Gyalwa Sonam Gyatso. Namgyälma is a female yidam, or meditational deity, and a long-life deity of the Kriya Tantra class in Tibetan Buddhism. She is typically depicted with a white frontal face, a yellow face on the right, and a blue face on the left. She is seated in a lotus posture, and has eight arms holding various symbolic ritual items in each of her hands.

Ten doors

According to the Records of the Teaching of Uṣṇīṣa Vijaya Dhāraṇī Sūtra by Great Dharma Master Fa Chong (法崇, of the Tang dynasty), the great and unsurpassed merits of this Dharani can be categorised into ten doors as follows:

1. The door of taking refuge under the sages (歸敬尊德門)
2. The door of revealing the Dharma Body (章表法身門)
3. The door of purifying evil paths (淨除惡趣門)
4. The door of good and brightness initiation (善明灌頂門)
5. The door of spiritual power protection (神力加持門)
6. The door of lengthening the lifespan (壽命增長門)
7. The door of integrating concentration and wisdom (定慧相應門)
8. The door of Vajra offering (金剛供養門)
9. The door of universally attaining purity (普証清淨門)
10. The door of accomplishing Nirvana (成就涅架門)

In popular culture

The beginning of this Dhāraṇī is chanted in the movie Fistful of Vengeance(about 46:20-47:30 min).

See also

• Uṣṇīṣavijayā
• Dharani pillar

Further reading

• F. Max Müller, Bunyiu Nanjio (1884). The ancient palm-leaves: containing the Pragna-paramita-hridaya-sutra and the Ushnisha-vigaya-dharani. Sanskrit and Japanese texts, edited and translated, with an appendix by G. Bühler, Anecdota Oxoniensia, Aryan series, III. Oxford: Clarendon Press. Reprint 1972
• Uṣṇīṣa Vijaya Dhāraṇī Sutra Chinese/English/Malay Translation. by Malaysia Usnisa Vijaya Buddhist Association (Malay: Persatuan Penganut Agama Buddha Usnisa Vijaya Malaysia)
• Chandra, Lokesh (1980). Iconography of the Goddess Uṣṇīṣa Vijaya, Acta Orientalia Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae 34 (1/3), 125–137

External links

• The Noble Uṣṇīṣavijayā Dhāraṇī That Purifies All Lower Rebirths - Translation at 84,000
• Uṣṇīṣa Vijaya Dhāraṇī Sūtra
• Recording of the Usnisa Vijaya Dharani
• Sacred Visions: Early Paintings from Central Tibet, an exhibition catalog from The Metropolitan Museum of Art (fully available online as PDF), which contains material on Usnisavijaya (see index)
• Images of Uṣṇīṣavijayā - HimalayanArt.org
• Namgyälma teaching by Chöje Lama Phuntsok in Hamburg, Germany, 2011.