Name:
Acala
The
Immovable
Protector
of the Teaching
Associated: Thunder, Protection
Culture: Buddhism
Classification:
God
Weapon:
Sword, Thunderbolt
His
image stands before temples to ward of those who are hostile to Buddhist doctrine.
He has
three eyes and six arms, and grinds his teeth. His weapons include the sword
the thunderbolt (Vajra) the ax and the noose.
Acala
is a dharmapala (protector of the Dharma), prominent in Vajrayana Buddhism and
East Asian Buddhism.
He
is classed among the Wisdom Kings and is preeminent among the Five Wisdom Kings
of the Womb Realm. Accordingly, his figure occupies an important hierarchical
position in the Mandala of the Two Realms.
In China
he is Budong Mingwang ("The Immovable Wisdom King"). In Japan, he is
known as Fudō Myōō,
Acala
is especially important in Japanese Buddhism, where he is venerated in the
Shingon, Tendai, Zen, and Nichiren sects, as well as in Shugendō.
He wields
a sacred vajra or treasure sword fashion after a talon. It has been described
as flaming in some myth.
At
temples dedicated to Acala, priests perform a ritual service to enlist the
deity's power of purification to benefit the faithful.
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