Vairocana Buddha Vairocana is one of the five Tathagatas symbolizing all pervasive wisdom (skt. suvisuddha dharma dhatujnana). This wisdom is like a torch which illuminates the uncovered reality of wisdom dispelling the thick darkness of ignorance (moha). So Buddha’s teaching is a great illuminator (vairocana) which instantly dispels the darkness of ignorance . Vairocana Buddha always resides in the Akanistha heaven. He is white in color and is shown in Bodhyanga mudra. His vehicle is a pair of lions symbolizing lion’s roar of dharmadhatujnana which terrifies all wrong views. He can be recognized through white disc or dharmacakra which cuts all wrong views. He also represents the purified form (rupa) of five aggregates. In Vairocana abhisambodhi sūtra, Vairocana was none other than Sakyamuni Buddha himself, who manifested in such a form to teach Vajrayana Buddhism in Akanistha heaven.
Aksobhya Buddha Aksobhya Tathagata symbolizes Mirror like Wisdom (skt. adarsajnana) which means the wisdom like space, all pervasive, without periphery and without characteristics. He is the essence of purified form of hatred and consciousness (vijnana) of five aggregates. Just as a mirror reflects every visible object impartially so the nature of our mind reflects every knowable (Skt: jneya; Tib: shes bya) free of any construct and partiality. The image of Aksobhya Buddha is generally placed in the East in the Stūpa because he resides in the eastern Buddha field called Abhirati. According to Aksobhya Buddhaksetravyuhalankara sutra, he also spent many kalpas practicing perfections until he became known as the Buddha Aksobhya with his own Buddhafied called Abhirati in the east. Aksobhya Buddha is blue which symbolizes permanence that is changeless just as the sky. This signifies the changelessness of Dharmakāya wisdom. He shows earth-touching gesture (Skt. bhumisparsa mudra) and rides on the throne of an elephant symbolizing the steadfast nature of his Bodhisattva vows.
Ratnasambhava Buddha Ratnasambhava symbolizes wisdom of equality (Skt. samatajnana). In Suvarnaprabhasa sutra, among the
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four Buddhas who descended on earth from the four Buddhafields at four cardinal directions, like east, south, west and north. The Buddha from the south was Buddha Ratnaketu, later called Ratnasambhava. He is yellow in color. He belongs to the Buddha family of Jewel. He is placed in the Stūpa facing south. He shows varada mudra with his right hand. He holds wish-fulfilling jewel in his left hand kept on his lap. He also represents the purified form of the defilement pride . He rides on the horse throne symbolizing that he ferries over the suffering sentient beings with full vigor. He resides in the pure abode of Ratnavati Buddha field.
Amitabha Buddha Amitabha Buddha stands for the wisdom of discriminating awareness (Skt. pratyaveksanajnana). With discriminating wisdom we realize non-production or non-origination of all things. He also represents purified form of desire and perception (samjna) aggregate. Amitabha Buddha is red in color. He is represented in the stūpa facing west. He rides on peacock symbolizing that he can take away the suffering of others just as