Amitayus (Buddha of Infinite Life)

Amitayus is also known as "Tshe-dpag-med" in Tibetan. He represents the upaya intelligence of Mahavairocana (Tibetan: rnam-par-snang-mdzad), which is equivalent to "higher cognition" (Sanskrit: pratyaveksana-jnana; Tibetan: shes-rab), the wisdom that is not born and is never extinguished. This is inwardly expressed as the "recognition of things as they really are", and outwardly as the foundation of all living beings. His virtues are limitless and benefit all living creatures. The worship of Amitayus is universal in traditional Tibetan Buddhism, and is common to all religious schools. This thangka belongs to the Kadampa school. The central figure is Amitayus, in the centre at the top is Tara (Tibetan: sgrol-ma) in her manifestation as Buddha-devi Avalokitesvara (Sanskrit: Sarav-yoga-vasavartin), on the right is Prajnaparamita (Tibetan: Yum Chen-mo; Chinese: Panruo-fomu), and on the left a disciple of chos-rgyal-rgyal-po. Upper left of centre is blue Acala (Tibetan: mi-g-yo-ba), and lower right of centre is the patriarch Nagarjuna; upper right of centre is Green Tara (Tibetan: sgrol-ma-ljan-khu or sgrol-ljang) and lower right of centre is chos-rgal-rgyal-po. In the left corner below the Buddha's throne is the Dharmapala of Heavenly Garments, and to the right is Dharmapala of Sudden Enlightenment. Below them from left to right are: rdo-rje-rnam-rgyal-ma, Blue-robed Guardian (Tibetan: srung-ma gos-sngon-can), Srimati Devi (Chinese: Jixiang-tianmu) and lha-mo Tsavdi-ka.