Marici (Sanskrit: Marīci), also known as Marici Bodhisattva, Marici Deva Bodhisattva, Sun-facing Bodhisattva, Mirage Deva, Accumulated Light Deva, Majestic Light Deva, Marici Mother, Marici Buddha Mother, Radiant Mother, Radiant Buddha Mother, Accumulated Light Mother, Accumulated Light Buddha Mother, etc.
I. Origin of Manifestation:
Marici Bodhisattva manifests outwardly as a celestial maiden, but is originally a great Bodhisattva. The Sarvatathāgata-mahā-guhya-jaṅga-sūtra records that she originated from a transformation of the Avalokiteśvara Bodhisattva family; some also record her as an emanation of Tara Bodhisattva.
Another theory states that Marici Deva Bodhisattva is an emanation of Vairocana Buddha, whose moon disc emitted light that universally illuminated, transforming into Marici Deva Bodhisattva.
Possessing vast merit and power, she is listed as one of the three Tara deities: Tara Bodhisattva, Marici Deva Bodhisattva, and Ekajati Rakshasa King Bodhisattva.
“Marici” is a transliteration of a Sanskrit word, meaning “radiant light” or “sunlight.” “Radiant light” refers to the great and powerful light; “sunlight” refers to the flame emitted by the burning sun.
“Heaven” is a Sanskrit word, transliterated as “Deva,” meaning the celestial realm.
According to scriptures, Marici Bodhisattva is skilled in invisibility. Her radiant light is like the flame emitted by the sun, but she often walks in front of the sun without being seen, hence the name “Marici.”
II. Appearance
The principal image of Marici Bodhisattva is that of a boar-drawn cart in a moon-wheel shape. Her body is purple-gold, emitting golden light that shines like hundreds of thousands of suns.
She wears blue robes and a blue heavenly robe, adorned with earrings, rings, bracelets, anklets, necklaces, and bells that produce subtle sounds.
Furthermore, various dragons adorn her body, with a yellow dragon on her head emitting mani-light that illuminates the surrounding area.
This Bodhisattva wears an Ashoka flower, his hair stands upright in a bun, upon which rests a pagoda. Within the pagoda is Vairocana Buddha, radiating great light, and from within the pagoda emerges an Ashoka tree, its flowers in full bloom.
He possesses eight arms and three faces, each with three eyes. The front face is golden, with a benevolent smile, long eyes, and vermilion lips, displaying great courage. The left face is that of a pig, black with a protruding tongue, furrowed brows, and protruding sharp teeth, displaying great wrath, inspiring fear. The right face is deep red, like the full moon and the color of a lotus flower, radiating supreme light, with a compassionate and serene countenance, like that of a young girl, bringing joy to all.
His left hand holds a bow, fan, and vajra rope; his right hand holds a trident, arrow, and needle; his two front hands hold a vajra in the right and an Ashoka flower in the left, forming the Mudra (gesture of repentance) at his chest, abiding in great light.
III. Characteristics of Practice
The characteristics of Marici’s practice are described in the Mahayana Tantra: “Among all the Buddha Mothers, Marici’s blessings are the swiftest.”
Furthermore, the Mahamachika Sutra states: “She cannot see, cannot grasp, cannot bind; fire cannot burn, water cannot drown; she is free from all fear; no one dares to belittle her; no enemy can harm her.”
When the Buddha Shakyamuni was alive in India, he told many Bodhisattvas, Arhats, virtuous men, and virtuous women:
“By reciting the mantra or name of the Radiant Mother, you can eliminate all obstacles from robbers, wild beasts, demons, and so on.”
The Radiant Mother always travels before the sun and moon; therefore, reciting her mantra will swiftly bring us her blessings.
If one practices the Dharma of Marici Bodhisattva with correct faith, the merits are as described in the Mahamachika Bodhisattva Sutra: “One can obtain pure and great blessings. One can increase vast auspiciousness. One can eliminate all grave sins. One can achieve the Samadhi of the principal deity. One will attain the Dharmakaya of Vairocana.”
Furthermore, practicing the Dharma with correct faith, as described in the Yoga Mahakaruna Sutra: “One can accomplish all things and eliminate enemies and thieves. If one upholds the Dharma, all evil deeds committed on the road will not be tolerated.”
Furthermore, Marici Bodhisattva is a great Bodhisattva manifested from the Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva family, and can assist in rebirth in the Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss or other Buddha-lands.
Furthermore, the Mahamati Sutra states: “She cannot see, cannot grasp, cannot bind; fire cannot burn, water cannot drown; she is free from all fear; no one dares to belittle her; and all enemies cannot harm her.”
In a more eloquent interpretation: The Buddha Mother possesses vast power and merit, possessing the four virtues of pacifying calamities, increasing blessings, attracting love, and subduing evil. She can eliminate disasters, remove obstacles, increase blessings, and fulfill the practitioner’s various correct and virtuous wishes.
For example, practitioners will not be cheated out of their money, nor will they be captured or imprisoned, nor will they be harmed by enemies.
Other benefits include healing (physical illnesses caused by imbalances in the four elements and spiritual illnesses), protection (from all poisonous insects, ferocious beasts, and harm from humans and non-humans), increasing lifespan and wisdom, granting victory in debates, praying for rain, seeking blessings, and requesting children, all of which are efficaciously granted, as described in the sutra; her merits are beyond praise.
The Mahamachi Bodhisattva Sutra contains the following verses praising the practice of Marici Bodhisattva:
Marici Bodhisattva, whose body pervades the Dharma realm,
pure as the sky, her compassionate light illuminates the world,
bright as a hundred thousand suns, she ignites the flame of wisdom,
burning away the demons of afflictions, forever severing greed, anger, and delusion,
casting her forever from the sea of birth and death, therefore, I take refuge in her.
Composed by Jigme Lingpa, Praise of Marici
Om Namo Marici!
Homage to the great enemy of Mara, none can defeat and destroy her;
constantly walking before the sun and moon, the one who sends forth the banners and fluttering pennants of Mara.
Thus I pray to the virtuous one, that she may subdue all enemies;
by slaying and banishing all delusion, she bestows upon all victories.
Composed by Jigme Lingpa, a practitioner of the Vidyadhara school, to alleviate the fear of a chaotic world:
The dedication verse for practicing Marici Bodhisattva, as found in the Mahamachika Sutra:
“I generate Bodhicitta, and dedicate all the merits I perform to Suchness, pervading the entire Dharma realm, so that all sentient beings may share in benefit and happiness, universally generating the supreme mind, and all attaining perfect enlightenment.”