MahÃÂsthÃÂmaprÃÂpta is a Bodhisattva MahÃÂsattva who represents the power of wisdom. His name literally means "arrival of the great strength".
MahÃÂsthÃÂmaprÃÂpta is one of the Eight Great Bodhisattvas in Mahayana Buddhism, along with Mañjuà Ârë, Samantabhadra, Avalokiteà Âvara, ÃÂkÃÂà Âagarbha, Ká¹£itigarbha, Maitreya and Sarvanivarana-Vishkambhin.
In Chinese Buddhism, Mahasthamaprapta is sometimes portrayed as a woman, Dashizhi, with a likeness similar to Avalokiteà Âvara (known as Guanyin in China). He is also one of the Thirteen Buddhas in the Japanese school of Shingon Buddhism. In Tibetan Buddhism, MahÃÂsthÃÂmaprÃÂpta is equated with Vajrapani, who is one of his incarnations and was known as the Protector of Gautama Buddha.
MahÃÂsthÃÂmaprÃÂpta is one of the oldest bodhisattvas and is regarded as powerful, especially in the Pure Land school, where he takes an important role in the Longer SukhÃÂvatëvyà «ha Sà «tra. He is often depicted in a trinity with AmitÃÂbha and Avalokiteà Âvara (Guanyin), especially in Pure Land Buddhism.
In Chinese Buddhism, MahÃÂsthÃÂmaprÃÂpta is known as Dashizhi (Chinese: 大å¢è³, "Arrival of Great Strength"), and is especially associated with the Pure Land tradition as one of Amitabha's assistant Bodhisattvas. Shi Yinguang (), the Thirteenth Patriarch of Chinese Pure Land Buddhism, was widely considered to be a manifestation of Dashizhi based on the accounts of two people: <br /> 1. Yang Xinfeng (), a student who had never heard of either Dashizhi or Yinguang <br /> 2. Benkong (), a former Christian who later converted to Buddhism and became a bhikkhunë<br /> Both of these figures had independent dreams regarding the situation.
In Japanese Buddhism, MahÃÂsthÃÂmaprÃÂpta is known as Daiseishi (Japanese: 大å¢è³, "Arrival of Great Strength") and is associated with the temple guardians Kongà  Rikishi. Daiseishi is one of 25 bodhisattvas who descend from heaven (raigà Â) with Amitabha to welcome dying souls into Sukhavati. Daiseishi is also the guardian of those born in the Year of the Horse.
Daiseishi is one of the Thirteen Buddhas and oversees the ceremony held on the first year anniversary of a person's death.
It is theorised that Honen was an incarnation of Daiseishi. Honen was known as Seishimaru during his childhood, and was also known as "Hà Ânen-bà Â, foremost in wisdom". After his death, one of his pupils, Shinran, composed the "Hymn of Great Seishi Bodhisattva" and at the end stated, "Great Seishi Bodhisattva is the original form of Genkà « Shà Ânin (Hà Ânen)."
MahÃÂsthÃÂmaprÃÂpta is mentioned in several major Mahayana and East Asian Buddhist sutras.
In the à Âà «raá¹ gama Sà «tra, MahÃÂsthÃÂmaprÃÂpta tells of how he gained enlightenment through the practice of nianfo, or continuous pure mindfulness of AmitÃÂbha, to obtain samÃÂdhi.
In the Amitayurdhyana Sutra, MahÃÂsthÃÂmaprÃÂpta is symbolized by the moon while Avalokiteà Âvara is represented by the sun.
In the Introductory chapter of the Lotus Sutra, MahÃÂsthÃÂmaprÃÂpta is present among the 80,000 bodhisattva mahÃÂsattvas who assemble on Mount Gá¹Âdhrakà «á¹Âa to hear the Shakyamuni Buddha's preaching of the Wonderful Dharma of the Lotus Flower Sutra. The Buddha also addresses MahÃÂsthÃÂmaprÃÂpta in chapter 20 of the Lotus Sutra to tell of the Buddha's past life as the Bodhisattva SadÃÂparibhà «ta ("Never Despising"), a monk who was abused and reviled by arrogant monks, nuns, laymen, and laywomen when he paid them respect by saying they would all become Buddhas. The Buddha explains to MahÃÂsthÃÂmaprÃÂpta how these arrogant people were punished, but are now bodhisattvas present in the assembly on the path to Enlightenment.
The Buddha then praises the great strength of the Lotus Sutra: