Dainichi Nyorai

Description

Occupying the highest rank in the Japanese Buddhist pantheon, Dainichi Nyorai is the chief deity in Shingon Buddhism. Dainichi, meaning "great sun," embodies a life force that illuminates and pervades all things. He is portrayed as a bodhisattva–a Buddha-to-be–with clothing, jewelry, the wheel of the law under his chest, and long hair in the style of ancient Indian nobility. His hands form the chiken-in, or "wisdom fist" mudra: the fingers of the right hand, which embody the five elements of the material realm, embrace the left index finger, symbolizing the Buddhist essence of the spiritual realm. A double halo represents the light emitted by the Buddha. Used for prayer, this painting would have been displayed in a temple.