Dictionary Of God And Godedesses

AMITABHA 15may have been strongly influenced by Chinesereligion. His name is linked closely with those oftwo other lesser primordial beings, TAKA-MI-MIS-UBI-NO-KAMI and KAMI-MISUBI-NO-KAMI.Ame-No-Tanabata-Hime-No-MikotoAstral goddess of weavers. Shinto [Japan]. One oftwo star apotheoses who are, according to tradition,deeply in love with each other. Her partneris HIKOBOSHI. Her name is generally abbreviatedto Tanabata, the title of a festival in honor of thegoddess which became a national event in Japanin AD 755. The festival later became merged withthe Tibetan Bon Ullumbana festival of the dead.Also Shokujo.Ame-No-Toko-Tachi-No-Kami (deitystanding eternally in heaven)Primordial being. Shinto [Japan]. The fifth of thedeities to emerge in the heavens, named in boththe sacred texts of Shintoism, the Kojiki andNihongi, but probably strongly influenced by Chinesereligion. Born from a reed floating in theprimeval waters.See also UMASHI-ASHI-KABI-HIKO-JI-NO-KAMI.Ame-No-UzumeGoddess of dancers. Shinto [Japan]. She plays apart in enticing the sun goddess, AMATERASU,from her cave using the perfect divine mirror.Ame-Waka-Hiko (heavenly young prince)God. Shinto [Japan]. According to tradition hewas sent to earth on a vital mission but becamepreoccupied with a number of mortal women,forgot his purpose and did not report back toheaven. His punishment was to be slain by anarrow fired from the “heavenly true deer bow.”Am-HehChthonic underworld god. Egyptian. A minordeity said to inhabit a lake of fire. The so-called“devourer of the millions.” Depicted with thehead of a hound.AmidaPrimordial deity. Buddhist (Japanese). The Japaneseequivalent of AMITABHA recognized from theeleventh and twelfth centuries AD.AmimitlMinor god of lakes and fish hunters. Aztec(classical Mesoamerican) [Mexico]. One of thedeities collectively classed as the MIXCOATL-CAMAXTLI complex.AMITABHA (of unmeasured splendor)ORIGIN Buddhist [India]. The fourth dhyanibuddhaor meditation buddha.KNOWN PERIOD OF WORSHIP circa 500 BC topresent.SYNONYMS Vajradharma and possibly Amitayaus.CENTER(S) OF CULT pan-Asiatic.ART REFERENCESmetal and stone sculptures,paintings.LITERARY SOURCES Sadhanamala and Tantric ritualtexts.One of five mystic spiritual counterparts of ahuman buddha in Vajrayana Buddhism. A productof the Adibuddha who represents the branch ofthe cosmos concerned with consciousness. Heoriginates from the red mantra HRIH and lives inthe western paradise Sukhavati. The cult mayhave been influenced by Iranian light religions.His SAKTI is PANDARA and he is normally accompaniedby two peacocks. Color: red. Attributes:lock of hair, lotus, monk’s robe and water jar.