Vilambā (Chinese: 毗蓝婆; pinyin: Pílánpó) is a bodhisattva and rakshasi in Mahayana Buddhism and the mother of Maori Xingguan in Chinese folk religion.[1][2][3] According to Volume 7 of the Lotus Sūtra, Vilambā is one of the Ten Rākṣasīs who protect the Dharma.[4]
| Vilambā | |
|---|---|
 Painting of rakshasi Vilambā in Xianwu Temple, China | |
| Sanskrit | Vilambā |
| Chinese | 毗藍婆 (Pinyin: pílánpó) 離結 (Pinyin: lijié) |
| Japanese | 毗藍婆 (romaji: biranba) 離結 (romaji: rikechi) |
| Korean | 비람파 (RR: birampa) 이결 (RR: igyeol) |
| Vietnamese | Tỳ lam bà Li kết |
| Information | |
| Venerated by | Mahāyāna and Chinese folk religion |
 Religion portal | |
Origin
editAccording to belief, Vilambā is a shapeshifter whose true form is a hen. Since hens and peacocks are seen as related through the phoenix (fenghuang), she is considered to be a relative of the bodhisattva and former peacock Mahamayuri, the godmother of the Buddha. Her son Maori Xingguan is a rooster and star deity (昴日星官, the Sun Rooster of Hairy Head).[2] She is sometimes equated with Ākāśagarbha, a bodhisattva of the great element (mahābhūta) of space (ākāśa).
Iconography
editThe Ten Rākṣasīs vary in appearance based on locale and textual tradition. One canonical text, the Law of the Ten Rākṣasīs of the Lotus (法華十羅剎法; pinyin: fǎhuá shíluóshā fǎ; Japanese: hokke-jūrasetunyo-hō) stands out with its description of the physical features of the goddesses. Alternative forms tend to stem from Japanese Buddhist art manuals or local traditions throughout Asia.
According to the Law of the Ten Rākṣasīs of the Lotus, Vilambā has a form like that of a full moon, akin to a dragon king. She is thus inclined toward the great ocean. Her garments are green (碧緑) and her face is white. She stands before a mirror. She controls the wind and clouds with her right hand and holds a mala in her left hand. Alternatively, she holds a pair of cymbals.
In Lotus Sūtra
editIn Chapter 7, the "Dharani" section in the twenty-sixth chapter of the Lotus Sutra:
At that time, there were ten rakshasis named Lambā, Vilambā, Kūṭadantī, Puṣpadantī, Makuṭadantī, Keśinī, Acalā, Mālādhāri, Kuntī, and Sarvasattvojohārī. These ten rakshasis, along with the mother of all rakshasas, her son, and their entourage, all came to the Buddha and spoke with one voice: "World-Honored One, we also wish to protect those who read, recite, and uphold the Lotus Sutra. We will remove their misfortunes. If anyone seeks to harm these teachers, we will prevent them from succeeding."
— Lotus Sūtra, Chapter 7
In Journey to the West
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In Journey to the West, after Tang Sanzang and his disciples are defeated by the poison tea of the Hundred-Eyed Demon King, who possesses a thousand eyes that radiate brilliant golden light to confuse his enemies and victims, Sun Wukong flees from the demon and encounters Lishan Laomu.[5]
On the instructions of Lishan Laomu, Sun Wukong requests help from Vilambā, who eventually subdues and captures the demon king. Vilambā said that she had been living low-key for over 300 years since she last attended the Yulan Festival. She had kept her name incognito, never went out, and no one knew about her. When she asked Sun Wukong how he knew about her existence, he refused to answer. According to Vilambā, the demon king's radiant golden light is so powerful that even the Buddha could not defeat it. Vilambā uses an embroidery needle to do so, which was not made of iron or steel but was extracted by her son from his own eyes. After the demon king is subdued, Vilambā sends him to guard Thousand Flowers Cave.[6]
In Chapter 73 of the commentary on Journey to the West by Taoist Chen Shibin of the Qing Dynasty, it is explained that Lishan Laomu is familiar with the Hundred-Eyed Demon King, which refers to the pure yin consciousness containing poisonous flames. On the other hand, Vilambā carries the yang energy, similar to Ziyun Mountain in the Cave of Thousand Flowers, and radiates the brilliance of the sun, revealing light.[7]
The Yuan zaju or operatic version text of The Journey to the West styles the Vilambā as the friend of the Queen Mother of the West, Princess Iron Fan and Lishan Laomu.
References
edit- ^ "风雨潇潇，鸡鸣胶胶". The Beijing News (in Chinese). 28 January 2017.
- ^ a b "西游记里的毗蓝婆竟然来历这么深". Sohu (in Chinese). 3 March 2017.
- ^ "唐僧师徒再遭毒手险丧命 毗蓝婆菩萨救难收妖". 希望之声 (in Chinese (China)). 7 March 2021.
- ^ 《妙法莲华经》卷七陀羅尼品第二十六：“尔时有罗刹女等，一名蓝婆，二名毗蓝婆，三名曲齿，四名华齿，五名黑齿，六名多发，七名无厌足，八名持璎珞，九名睾帝，十名夺一切众生精气，是十罗刹女，与鬼子母、并其子、及眷属，俱诣佛所，同声白佛言：‘世尊，我等亦欲拥护读诵受持法华经者，除其衰患，若有伺求法师短者，令不得便。’”
- ^ "从神话鸡到污化鸡，中国鸡是如何走向"下三路"的？_洞见". Phoenix Television (in Chinese). 31 January 2017.
- ^ "300年不管闲事，毗蓝婆菩萨难怪收走蜈蚣精，您看破碎星是谁？_手机搜狐网". Sohu. 15 June 2019.
- ^ 陳士斌. "第七十三回〈情因舊恨生災毒 心主遭魔幸破光〉". 《西遊真詮》. Retrieved 2022-02-03.
Sources
edit- Nikaidō, Yoshihiro (2015). Asian Folk Religion and Cultural Interaction. Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht. ISBN 9783847004851.
- 西游记: 李卓吾批评本 (in Chinese). 岳麓书社. 2006. ISBN 9787806657287.
- 评, （明）吴承恩／ 著 李卓吾 (2017). 西 游 记 （下） (in Chinese). 海乾坤文化公司.
- "毗蓝婆菩萨和黎山老母有什么恩怨-看见历史". www.kanjianlishi.com. 20 June 2017.
- "毗蓝婆菩萨有多厉害？一绣花针破蜈蚣精金光，连黎山老母都忌惮她". Beijing Time. 7 July 2018.
- "毗蓝婆菩萨". ZCOOL.