Acala

Fudo Myoo

The Immovable Lord

Dharmapala

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Fudo myoo

Source: https://fudo-myoo.com/en/content/7-fudo-myoo 

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Fudo Myoo (不動明王, King of Immutable Wisdom) is a deity of the Japanese Buddhist who comes originally from India whose name is Acala. His cult and his images were introduced in Japan at the beginning of the 9th century by Kobo Daishi, and form since one of the essential elements of the doctrines of the Shingon sect, of which he is also one of thirteen Buddha (]ûsan Butsu).

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He is first considered a king of mystical knowledge (明王, myoo) and of the five myoos he is the leader, he symbolizes the power and the victory over the passions and the desires. They are terrible emanations (Japanese, Funna) of anger.

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It is around the 12th century that it becomes very popular among all the castes of society, it is syncretize with the Shinto and it is given the power to protect against all calamities (diseases, fires, danger during travel ...), multiple altars are erected in his favor. He also becomes very popular among the warrior castes because his martial stature and also because of the Fudoshin, 不動心 (Imperturbable spirit). This is an important psychological trait for the fighting caste making Fudo Myoo naturally attractive to them.

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The most common representation of Fudo Myoo is that he sits on a rock of precious stone, representing his steadiness and his determination to fight the demons. He is surrounded by a halo of flame that has the power to destroy the ignorance that lies dormant in each being.

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His face is threatening, his eyebrows are frowning, he squints or has only one eye open, these lips exceed two fangs , one directed upward (represents the strength of the desire to progress to the truth) and the other directed downward (which symbolizes the boundless compassion for the suffering of others in their body and mind). He wears a heavy braid that symbolizes his servitude for Buddhism.

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He carries in his right hand a sword called chiken 知剣, blade of wisdom whose pommel is a vajra (It is the diamond of esoteric sects, the Truth that cannot be destroyed by any force or weapon. It symbolizes the victorious power of Knowledge on Ignorance). This blade annihilates the three "poisons" of the mind that are avarice, anger and stupidity.

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The sword is often depicted covered with kurikara, 倶利迦羅, the dragon lord who was defeated by Fudo Myoo, he was the representation of these three mental poisons. He became attached to the blade, he became an important symbol of loyalty in Samurai castes at the time Edo.

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The rope that he carries in his left hand is to catch those who are animated by violent passions and emotions to lead them towards the path of control of it. Fudo myoo is a great inspiration in the martial arts, it represents the state of mind that every practitioner wants to reach, the fudoshin, the individual is not affected by any external element. His mind is constantly the same whether he is in danger or in a situation of peace. This is also found in the ascetic and mystical practices of the ninjas or yamabushi ("mountain warrior" ascetic monk of Shingon Buddhism).

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"Immovable does not mean inanimate. Immovable wisdom represents freedom of the mind capable of moving at will - right, left, in all directions without lingering" Takuan Soho (1573-1645) - Fudoochi shimmyoo roku, The Mysterious Record of Immovable Wisdom.

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"The king of the immovable light (fudo-myoo) represents the state where we are when our mind is motionless, imperturbable. To remain imperturbable, one must not focus on anything. Embracing things at a glance without fixing your mind on them is the secret of immobility." Takuan Soho (1573-1645) -Fudoochi shimmyoo roku ,The Mysterious Record of Immovable Wisdom.

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Japanese Buddhism - Fudo Myo-o

Source: https://www.japanese-buddhism.com/fudo-myo-o.html 

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Fudo Myo-o is one of the important deities of Japanese Buddhism.  His statue can be seen in so many places in Japan that it’s not uncommon to find one near a waterfall or simply by a mountain path. Fudo Myo-o has a scary appearance to be able to frighten people into accepting the salvation brought forth by Dainichi-Nyorai. (I’m not sure if this is a good thing but maybe it means that he looks frightful to remind them of the demons awaiting for them in hell if they don’t)

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He converts anger into compassion and cuts the ties of negative feelings and demons to liberate us from suffering through self-control. His vow is to bring forth the teachings of Dainichi–Nyorai to the world.

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He also battles evil with his immovable faith and his compassion. Furthermore, Fudo Myo-o is the guide for the deceased souls and in this fashion; he presides over a funeral ceremony held on the seventh day after death. He was originally a Hindu deity that was adopted in Buddhism and I remember having read that he is related to the Goddess Kali, the destroyer of world. This might be because of the similar appearance and the flames surrounding both. I couldn’t find any proof of this though.

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Fudo Myo-o is very important is Shingon Buddhism and he is at all the major temples and has some statues scattered around pilgrimage roads. Many waterfalls are named after him as a certain practice involves standing under the rushing icy water to purify one’s soul of all desires and attachments.

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Another ceremony is called the Goma Shiki and it consists of burning wooden tablets where wishes have been written and consecrate them to Fudô Myo-o. Shugendo, a religion mixing esoteric Buddhism, Shintoism and Shamanism, relies heavily on the cult of Fudo Myo o and he is considered the main deity.

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Fudo-san (as he is most usually called in Japan) is a fierce looking monster. For someone who doesn’t know better, he looks exactly like a demon.  This is not the case though. Fudô Myo-o is usually surrounded by flames, often painted bright red or orange, even in stone statues.  They represent the burning of anger and passion to purify the mind.

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He usually stands or sits on a rock which represents his determination to stay where he stands (his immovability). Fudô Myo-o holds a rope in his left hand, used to catch and bind demons and a sword called “Kurikara” or devil-subduing sword to, well, you guessed it, subdue the demons.  It is also used to cut through ignorance.

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His face is contorted in anger, his eyebrows elevated and his mouth grimacing menacingly. He usually has two fangs protruding from his mouth: one pointing upwards (represents the strength of his desire to progress upward in his service for the Truth) and the other one pointing downward (represents his unlimited compassion for those suffering in body and spirit). He also often has a third eye, representing his capacity to see all. His skin is usually a very dark blue, near black. Finally, his hair is braided on the side of his head in the manner of a servant to represent his service to all sentient beings.

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This is the mantra of Fudo-san:

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のうまく　さんまんだ　ばざらだん　せんだ　まかろしゃだ　そわたや　うん　たらた　かんまん

Nômaku sanmanda bazaradan senda makaroshada sowataya un tarata kanman. (In Japanese)

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Namah samanta-vajrânâm canda mahârosana sphotaya hûm trat hâm mâm (In Sanskrit.)

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Homage to the all-pervading Vajras! O Violent One of great wrath! Destroy! hûm trat hâm mâm  (In English).

Read More Dharmapalas Protectors of the Dharma Wrathful Deities click