kṣi ti ga rbha
kṣitigarbha is one of the eight Great Bodhisattvas. His special function is to descend into the hell realms to save the beings there. His names translates as earth (kṣiti) store or matrix (garbha). kṣitigarbha is an important Bodhisattva in Japan where he is known as Jizō (地蔵).
He appears in the form of a bhikṣu carrying a mendicant's staff in his right hand. In his left hand he cradles a cintamani of wishfulfilling jewel. The cintamani is sometimes called the Pearl Beyond Price in the East.
The Sūtra of Ksitigarbha's vows recounts his bodhisattva vows.
Seed Syllable
The seed syllable of kṣitigarbha is ha.
Mantra
Transliteration
oṃ kṣi ti ga rbha bo dhi sa ttva yaḥ
oṃ kṣitigarbha bodhisattva yaḥ
Last updated: 11:53 22/04/2008