The Thirteen Buddhas (十三仏, Jūsanbutsu) is a Japanese grouping of Buddhist deities, particularly in the Shingon sect of Buddhism. The deities are, in fact, not only Buddhas, but include bodhisattvas and Wisdom Kings.[1] In Shingon services, lay followers recite a devotional mantra to each figure, though in Shingon practice, disciples will typically devote themselves to only one, depending on what the teacher assigns. Thus the chanting of the mantras of the Thirteen Buddhas are merely the basic practice of laypeople.
Funeral rituals
The Thirteen Buddhas are also an important part of a traditional Japanese Buddhist funeral service, with each deity having a corresponding memorial service for the deceased.[2] The thirteen in Japanese and Sanskrit and the corresponding date of their service after the death are:
While the thirteen figures have several mantras associated to each respectively, those listed below pertain to the standard formula used in Japanese ritual. The Shingon[3] and Tendai[4] schools each use a different method of transliteration of the original Sanskrit.[5]Bhaisajyaguru is the only figure whose mantra fundamentally differs between traditions.
^ ab"十三仏" [Thirteen Buddhas]. Nihon Kokugo Daijiten (in Japanese). Tokyo: Shogakukan. 2012. OCLC56431036. Archived from the original on 25 August 2007. Retrieved 7 September 2012.
^"十三仏" [Thirteen Buddhas]. Dijitaru Daijisen (in Japanese). Tokyo: Shogakukan. 2012. OCLC56431036. Archived from the original on 25 August 2007. Retrieved 4 September 2012.