“The Tathāgata of Supreme Serene Glory”
1. Introduction
The Fifth Medicine Buddha in the sacred assembly of the Seven Medicine Buddhas is:
Aśokottamasrī Tathāgata
(The Tathāgata of Unexcelled Glory Free from Sorrow)
He embodies the elimination of sorrow, emotional pain, trauma, and mental suffering. In particular, Aśokottamasrī Tathāgata is the healer of the inner mind, the remover of hidden grief, anxiety, depression, and hopelessness.
2. Name and Meaning
Language | Name | Translation or Significance |
---|---|---|
Sanskrit | Aśokottamasrī Tathāgata | The Glorious One Who is Free from Sorrow |
Tibetan | མ་སྡུག་གི་དཔལ་རྒྱལ་ (Ma Duk Gyi Pal Gyal) | King of Radiant Joy Without Suffering |
Chinese | 無憂最勝吉祥如來 (Wúyōu Zuìshèng Jíxiáng Rúlái) | Tathāgata of Supreme Auspiciousness Beyond Grief |
English | The Buddha of Supreme Joy | He who dissolves all grief, giving bliss and clarity |
3. Iconography and Symbolism
- Body Color: Soft rose-gold or copper-gold, radiating inner joy
- Posture: Seated in lotus posture (padmāsana), calm and serene
- Mudra: Dharmachakra Mudrā (gesture of teaching the Dharma)
- Sacred Object: Lotus flower or moon disc, symbol of purity and lightness
- Aura: Radiates compassionate, uplifting light that eases sorrow and emotional heaviness
4. Domain of Healing
This Buddha specializes in emotional and psychological healing, ideal for modern mental and spiritual afflictions:
Healing Aspect | Description |
---|---|
Depression and sadness | Dissolves heaviness in the heart, fosters mental clarity |
Anxiety and restlessness | Calms the mind, restores inner stillness |
Heartbreak and grief | Heals emotional wounds from loss, betrayal, or trauma |
Mental confusion | Dispels foggy mind states, supports lucid thinking |
Spiritual hopelessness | Revives faith, willpower, and sacred connection |
5. Associated Mantra
His mantra is chanted for inner peace and to be released from suffering caused by karmic patterns of sorrow:
OM NAMO BHAGAVATE AŚOKOTTAMASRĪ TATHĀGATĀYA ARHATE SAMYAKSAṂBUDDHĀYA SVAHĀ
🔹 Translation:
“Homage to the Blessed, the Tathāgata Aśokottamasrī, the Arhat, the Perfectly Awakened One — So be it.”
6. Applications in Dharma Practice
Practice / Occasion | Purpose |
---|---|
During mourning or loss | Alleviates grief, brings peaceful closure |
In mental health rituals | Supports balance of energies, clarity, and joyful mind |
In trauma recovery | Heals old emotional wounds stored in body or spirit |
Before difficult decisions | Instills confidence and freedom from fear |
In devotional meditation | Connects one to the essence of inner joy and serenity |
7. His Spiritual Vow
Each Medicine Buddha embodies part of Bhaiṣajyaguru’s twelve vows. Aśokottamasrī Tathāgata fulfills the vow:
- To relieve all beings from sorrow,
- To disperse all darkness from the mind,
- To light the heart with the joy of Dharma,
- To restore the will to live, love, and awaken.
8. Psychological and Modern Relevance
Modern Condition | Benefit from Aśokottamasrī’s Blessing |
---|---|
Depression / burnout | Elevates spirit, dispels inner clouds |
Anxiety and insomnia | Provides stillness and mental ease |
Grief due to loss or illness | Heals subtle body pain and heart trauma |
Emotional trauma and PTSD | Restores emotional safety and clarity |
Disconnection from purpose or faith | Rekindles Dharma light and personal meaning |
9. Differentiation Among the Seven Medicine Buddhas
- While Suvarṇaratnakaracchatrakūṭa (4th) blesses material well-being,
- Aśokottamasrī (5th) focuses on healing the emotional body and mind
- Compared to Bhaiṣajyaguru (the central figure), he is more emotionally intimate and soothing, addressing subtle inner wounds.
10. Summary
The Fifth Medicine Buddha, Aśokottamasrī Tathāgata, is the bringer of joy, the soother of sorrow, and the liberator of emotional suffering. His compassionate presence is a spiritual balm for a world full of unrest, confusion, and pain.
He teaches that true healing is not just physical, but lies in the ability to smile again, hope again, and love again — even after suffering.
To call upon this Buddha is to heal from within, dissolving the karma of sadness and awakening the original lightness of being.