Frequently asked questions
Useful answers gathered here so other pages stay short and clear.
The Medicine Buddha
Who is the Medicine Buddha?
Bhaiṣajyaguru in Sanskrit, a figure of Mahāyāna and Vajrayāna Buddhism; his names by country are in Bhaiṣajyaguru, Menla, Yaoshi, Yakushi: the names by country.
Why is he blue?
His full name means “king of lapis lazuli light”: the blue of lapis evokes the purity and clarity of his mind. In Japan he is most often gilded.
What is his mantra?
The text, its word-by-word meaning and pronunciation are in the article Medicine Buddha mantra: Sanskrit text, meaning and use.
What does he hold?
A bowl and, often, a myrobalan branch; each attribute is explained in Symbols and legends: the bowl, the myrobalan, the sun, the moon and the twelve generals.
Does the mantra cure illness?
No. It is a spiritual practice. No serious tradition presents it as medical treatment; always see a health professional.
Where can I see a Medicine Buddha statue?
At Yakushi-ji in Nara (Japan), the Musée Guimet in Paris, the Metropolitan Museum in New York or the British Museum, among others; see the Places page and the article on museums.
Who are the seven Medicine Buddhas?
In Yijing’s 707 translation, seven Medicine Buddhas each have a name and vows; Bhaiṣajyaguru is the seventh. Tibet often speaks of eight by including Śākyamuni.
Is the practice only for illness?
No. Traditions also use it for the dying and deceased (often across forty-nine days), for animals, and to support Dharma practice. It is never medical treatment.
Where can I check the sources?
Xuanzang (Taishō 450) and Yijing (Taishō 451) on CBETA, Birnbaum’s The Healing Buddha, Wikipedia Bhaisajyaguru, and Lapis’s Citations page.
The catalogue
Does Lapis sell these objects?
No. Lapis sells nothing: each listing leads to the shop, workshop or publisher that sells the object. Some links are affiliate links, at no extra cost to you.
Are the prices shown up to date?
They are checked at the seller on the date shown on each listing. The price that counts is the shop’s price when you buy. Amazon prices are never shown.
What does “Origin of the tradition” mean?
It is the region the object’s style comes from. Each origin has its own page, with its objects sorted by type.
Glossary words
Why is the Medicine Buddha blue?
His full name contains vaiḍūrya, a precious blue stone usually rendered as lapis lazuli. Tibetan paintings therefore give him a deep blue body; Chinese, Japanese and Korean images are usually gilded or in the colour of their material.
What does he hold in his hands?
A bowl and, in Tibetan art, a myrobalan branch; in Japan and Korea, often a small medicine jar. Symbols and legends: the bowl, the myrobalan, the sun, the moon and the twelve generals
Who are the figures around him?
Most often two bodhisattvas, Sunlight and Moonlight, and twelve guardian generals. In Tibet he is often shown with seven other buddhas: the Eight Medicine Buddhas.
Where does his story come from?
From one sutra, known in Sanskrit, Chinese and Tibetan versions. The Chinese translations are dated 616, 650 and 707, and Sanskrit fragments were found at Gilgit.