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佛說大如意寶珠輪牛王守護神咒經

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Text ID
KR6j0655
Date
746–774
Dynasty
唐

Fó shuō Dà rúyìbǎozhūlún niúwáng shǒuhù shénzhòu jīng 佛說大如意寶珠輪牛王守護神咒經

Sūtra of the Divine Protective Spell of the Wish-Fulfilling-Jewel-Wheel Bull-King

by 阿謨伽 (譯)

About the work

A short Xùzàngjīng-only zhòu-text, attributed in the Taishō to the translator-name Āmójiā sānzàng 阿謨伽三藏 (= Skt. Amogha, abbreviated form of Amoghavajra; see 阿謨伽). The translator-name occurs elsewhere in the Xùzàngjīng-only Esoteric ritual texts (cf. KR6j0226 Mìmì yàoshù fǎ) and likely reflects a manuscript-line transmission distinct from the Taishō main canon, ascribed to or in association with 不空 Amoghavajra (705–774). The dating window 746–774 covers Amoghavajra’s productive Chinese career.

Abstract

“Thus have I heard”: the Buddha is at Bōluónài (波羅捺 = Bārāṇasī / Vārāṇasī), in the Lùyěyuán (鹿野園 = Mṛgadāva, the Deer Park), turning the Wheel of the Four Truths for the five bhikṣus beginning with Āruò Jūlín 阿若拘隣 (= Ājñāta-Kauṇḍinya) and the others. In the assembly is a deva-putra named Niúwángshén 牛王神 (“Bull-King Spirit”). He rises from his seat, kneels with palms joined, prostrates at the Buddha’s feet, and addresses the Buddha: “World-Honoured One, I have a divine spell, freely accomplished according-to-mind and fulfilling all things. To benefit beings, I beg the World-Honoured One in compassion permit me to pronounce this great spell.” The Buddha praises: “Excellent. Quickly proclaim it; I wish to hear it.” The deva-putra pronounces the vidyā: oṃ siti-ru siti-ru-li ban-ja ban-ja [yánngàmólìdǐjiābǔsèdǐjiā āpǐzhē-āpǐzhē Cintāmaṇi svāhā]. The Buddha, hearing the spell, surveys the world and pronounces a gāthā on its benefit to all beings.

The text exemplifies the Tang-period Esoteric assimilation of bovine-class Indian vidyā-spirits into Chinese Buddhist Niúwáng iconography. The Bull-King is identified iconographically with the ṛṣabha-vajra of late Indian Buddhist Tantric lineages.

Translations and research

No substantial secondary literature located. For the broader cycle of cintāmaṇi-cakra-vartin dhāraṇī texts in Tang Esoteric Buddhism see Charles Orzech (ed.), Esoteric Buddhism and the Tantras in East Asia, Leiden: Brill, 2011.

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