Craving-Filled
Craving-Filled
[愛染明王] (Skt Ragaraja; Jpn Aizen-myo’o)
The wisdom king Craving-Filled. A Buddhist deity who is said to purify earthly desires and free people from the illusions and sufferings caused by earthly desires. Craving-Filled belongs to a group of deities, called the wisdom kings, who are said to destroy all obstacles. Raga in his Sanskrit name means passion, love, affection, and desire; and to be dyed or saturated, as with emotion, desire, or love; raja means king. In Esoteric Buddhism, his true identity is regarded as Vajrasattva. Craving-Filled appears on the Diamond Realm mandala and is depicted with three eyes, six arms, and a furious face. He holds a bow and arrows in his hands. On the Gohonzon, the object of devotion inscribed by Nichiren (1222-1282), his name appears on the left as one faces it, and symbolizes the principle that earthly desires are enlightenment. See also earthly desires are enlightenment.
