Difference between Sunlight Bodhisattva and Moonlight Bodhisattva

The difference between Sunlight Bodhisattva and Moonlight Bodhisattva lies in the symbol, tantric image, name and background story.

1, tag

The costumes of Sunlight Bodhisattva and Moonlight Bodhisattva are similar. They all wear crowns, dresses and skirts, showing elegance and nobility. However, handheld markers are different. Sun Bodhisattva holds a lotus flower, symbolized by sun gear; Moonlight Bodhisattva holds a lotus flower with a moon wheel as a symbol. These two symbols symbolize the power and light of sunlight and moonlight respectively.

2. Tantric images

In Tantric Buddhism, the images of Sunlight Bodhisattva and Moonlight Bodhisattva have changed a lot. Sunlight Bodhisattva is usually depicted as sitting on a red lotus, holding the red lotus in her left hand, with sun gear on the lotus, and her right hand half raised and sealed inward. In contrast, the Moonlight Bodhisattva is depicted as a child sitting on a red lotus with a slender violet in his right hand, a half moon on the lotus and an unfinished lotus in his left hand. These images have a unique sense of sacredness and mystery visually.

3. Name and background story

The name of the Sunshine Bodhisattva is taken from "The sun shines everywhere, shines on the world, and breaks through the darkness". The name comes from the symbol of compassion of the Sunshine Bodhisattva, which is similar to giving sunshine to the whole world generally. The Moonlight Bodhisattva Sutra records the Moonlight Bodhisattva. As one of the predecessors of Buddha Sakyamuni, he was described as the emperor of ancient India, with powerful weeds and was famous for his compassion.

Brief introduction of legends of Sunlight Bodhisattva and Moonlight Bodhisattva;

In folklore, it is said that the two Bodhisattvas have great karma with the pharmacist Buddha. In the distant past, when lightning came to live on earth, a brahmin raised two sons and became a monk, hoping to make a positive result as soon as possible and save people in danger. His two sons were infected and became monks with their father.

Lightning Buddha saw this family's ambition with magical power and greatly appreciated it. He called three fathers and sons to explain their stories, named the Brahman "King of Medicine" and renamed his two sons "Rizhao" and "Moon Photo". Thanks to the teaching of the lightning Buddha, the father and son quickly made great achievements. Brahman becomes Buddha, that is, pharmacist Buddha. These two sons are Sunshine Bodhisattva and Moonlight Bodhisattva.