Hannya Bosatsu
Skt. = Prajnaparamita Bodhisattva Hannya Bosatsu represents the Sixth Perfection, or Wisdom. Below text and photo courtesy Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York):
"This scroll depicts Hannya Bosatsu, the embodiment of transcendental knowledge and perfect wisdom. Hannya is rarely represented at the center of a mandala. Here Hannya is seated on a lotus pedestal on the back of a lion (shishi), flanked by two standing figures, Bonten (Brahma) and Taishakuten (Indra) -- originally Hindu gods. The triad inhabit the innermost precinct.
Hannya's 16 Protectors (Juroku Zenshin) are loosely distributed within the surrounding register. Far from the center of divinity in the outer register, carefree demonic guardians (kijin 鬼神) guard each of the sixteen protectors. Directional gates at the centers of the sides provide entry from the secular to the sacred. Heavenly music-making beings (hiten) around the canopy celebrate Hannya Bosatsu. At the bottom, in the center of the outermost register, is the figure of a monk at worship, evoking the physical world of time and space. Dragons and a Phoenix along the outermost borders serve to protect the entire abstract realm. Mandalas like this one were necessary accoutrements for rituals dedicated to the attainment of greater wisdom."
Says JAANUS: In full Hannya Haramitsu (or Hannya Haramitta) Bosatsu 般若波羅蜜(般若波羅蜜多)菩薩. A bodhisattva 菩薩 personifying hannya haramitsu (Skt. = prajna paramita) or the the process of the 'perfection of wisdom' and, by extension, the sutra HANNYAGYOU 般若経 (Sk: Prajnaparamita Sutra) of Mahayana Buddhism devoted to the exposition of this 'perfection of wisdom'. These processes, usually six-fold, when performed perfectly, will allow one to cross from the shore of delusion and suffering to the shore of enlightenment. Since, therefore, this 'wisdom' is considered to constitute the basis of enlightenment, Hannya Bosatsu is also known as Butsumo 仏母 or 'Mother of the Buddhas'. For this reason, and also because in Sanskrit both prajna and pramita are feminine nouns, Hannya Bosatsu is generally depicted in female form. Her worship was very popular in Indian Buddhism, and the texts describe a variety of forms, but a feature common to most forms is that she holds a volume of scriptures representing the HANNYAGYOU. In Japan she is sometimes invoked instead of Shaka 釈迦 (aka Historical Buddha) during the daihannya-e 大般若会, a service dedicated to the ritual reading of the 600-fascicle translation of the HANNYAGYOU by Xuanzang 玄奘 (Jp: Genjou; 600/602-664). Where works are related to this ritual she is depicted either alone or surrounded by the 16 Good Deities (juuroku zenjin 十六善神) believed to protect those who recite the HANNYAGYOU. In Esoteric Buddhism (mikkyou 密教), Hannya Bosatsu appears in the Womb World Mandala (Taizoukai mandara 胎蔵界曼荼羅) as the central figure in the Jimyouin 持明院 (with six arms and clad in armour) and as a personification of one of the 'ten perfections' in the Kokuuzou-in 虚空蔵院 (with two arms). There is also a mandala known as Hannya Bosatsu Mandara 般若菩薩曼荼羅 centred on Hannya Bosatsu and variously described in different texts.
