Virupaksha
Virupaksha ~ Virūpākṣa (Japanese: 広目天 Kōmoku-ten)Heavenly King of the West, Dai Komoku Tenno ("broad eyes")
Virupaksha is one of the four heavenly kings. The Flammarion Iconographic Guide: Buddhism describes Virupaksha as follows:
"This is the guardian king of the west, 'He who observes everything that happens in the kingdom', 'He who sees all'; he presides over the autumn." (p.247)
Virupaksha (Skt. Virupākṣa; Tib. Chen Mi Zang; Wyl. spyan mi bzang; Eng. 'Ugly Eyes') — one of the Four Great Kings. Guardian King of the West and leader of the nagas.
In a previous life he was a garuda and, along with Vaishravana, had attacked two nagas who lived fearlessly on the ocean surface but were unable to harm them. The nagas explained that they had taken refuge in Buddha Kashyapa and their virtue protected them. Hearing this the two garudas also took refuge. The two nagas and two garudas all prayed to be reborn in the time of Buddha Shakyamuni in order to support him.
He protects beings in the western direction, averting forces that obstruct the practice of Dharma. His glance is harmful to beings and so he avoids looking at them by gazing at the stupa he carries.
Virupaksha's army and attendants are composed of the nagas and putanas. The nagas are the dragons or serpents who dwell beneath the ocean and who control the tides, the flow of the rivers, and the rain. The nagas are one of the eight kinds of supernatural beings who are said to revere and protect the Dharma. The putanas are another type of hungry ghost who are associated with fevers but also with the protection of pregnant women.
Icon: A helmeted warrior wearing armor and wind-blown scarves. He has a yellow complexion and a wrathful expression. He holds a trident in his right hand and his closed left hand rests on his hip.
Virupaksha is one of the four great kings who rules the first heaven of desire realm in the west. Virupaksha serves as the guardian of this Jambudvipa of the western direction.
His body is red in colour. Virupaksha shows a wrathful appearance. His right hand holds a spear of three points, his left fist rests on his knee. Virupaksha can be recognized through the Chaitya symbol in his left hand.
Virupaksha lives in the city of Sudarsana on the west of Sumeru Mountain. His city is as beautiful as that of the three other kings. Virupaksha leads immeasurable serpent deities i.e. Nagas to protect Buddha dharma in the west.
Virupaksha leads besides the retinue of Nagas, innumerable spirits of sun and moon and others. They are all responsible for the protection of the Buddha dharma. Devotees worship these four maharajas in a group.
(Tibetan: chen mi zang): Guardian of the Western Direction and King of the Nagas.
With one face and large round eyes, a brown moustache and beard, the right hand holds at the waist a writhing snake entwined around the upper arm - grey in colour with a white belly. With the left hand upraised, he holds a single white pearl-like drop with a lick of yellow flame extending upward from the center. Adorned with an ornate crown of gold, jewels and a small red ribbon at each side he is richly garbed in the raiment of a king, opulent with silk brocades and elaborate designs in varieties of colour.
Gwangmok Cheonwang (Virupaksha he holds a dragon in one hand and a jewel in the other. Unfortunately, the meaning of these symbols has been lost to time.
Translated as "Great Heavenly King Wide-Eyed," Dai Komoku-tenno is one of the Four Heavenly Kings. With his divine eyesight, he is said to discern good from evil, punish those who do evil deeds, and to arouse the aspiration for attaining Buddhahood.
Everything in the world is constantly changing. Dai Komoku-tenno symbolizes being flexible and wise enough to deal with life. His special eyesight enables him to accurately perceive the nature of the world and thus make wise decisions.
Attendants are composed of the nagas and putanas. Appearance: Dai Komoku-tenno has red skin; he is dignified and richly ornamented with precious gems. In his right hand, he holds a jewel, and in his left hand, a snake. His glare is deadly, for his penetrating eyes are also poisonous, so Dai Komoku-tenno stares unflinchingly at the jewel in his hand to avoid killing beings. His names means something like "all seeing".
Virūpākṣa's association with serpents and water suggests a connection with the Vedic god Varuṇa. Initially a solar god, often paired with mitra, Varuṇa was the guardian of ṛta - the cosmic order. Later, in the Hindu Epics, he was relegated to being a protector of water and was associated with water spirits, such as nāgas. Some scholars point to similarities with the Greek Titan Uranus (the names are phonetically similar). mantra of king virupaksa in siddham
oṃ vi rū pā kṣa nā gā dhi pa ta ye svā hā
oṃ virūpākṣa nāgādhipataye svāhā
"virūpākṣa nāgādhipataye" can be translated as Virūpākṣa Lord of the Nāgas.
