Editing Bodhisattva (section)

=== Eight main Bodhisattvas ===
[[file:051 Cave 12, Reliefs (33768885290).jpg|thumb|Eight great bodhisattvas at [[Ellora Caves]] (cave no. 12).<ref name=":0">{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?si=ZTt7jZmFXIJ6PdSO&v=kElMc3DWxIs&feature=youtu.be |title=The origin of Japanese two world mandala {{!}} SOAS University of London |date=2019-05-07 |last=Tanaka |first=Kimiaki |access-date=2024-09-25 |via=YouTube}}</ref> ]]
[[file:Sonsho-mandala.jpg|thumb|A Japanese illustration of the "sonsho mandala" which depicts Vairocana surrounded by the eight great bodhisattvas]]

In the later Indian [[Vajrayana]] tradition, there arose a popular grouping of eight bodhisattvas known as the "Eight Great Bodhisattvas", or "Eight Close Sons" (Skt. ''aṣṭa utaputra''; Tib. ''nyewé sé gyé'') and are seen as the most important Mahayana bodhisattvas and appear in numerous esoteric [[mandala]]s (e.g. [[Womb Realm|Garbhadhatu mandala]]).<ref name=":0" />

These same "Eight Great Bodhisattvas" (Chn. ''Bādà Púsà'', Jp. ''Hachi Daibosatsu'') also appear in [[Chinese Esoteric Buddhism|East Asian Esoteric Buddhist]] sources, such as ''The Sutra on the Maṇḍalas of the Eight Great Bodhisattvas'' (八大菩薩曼荼羅經), translated by [[Amoghavajra]] in the 8th century and [[Faxian]] (10th century).<ref name="Dalai Lama-1994" /><ref>Wang, Michelle C. (2017) ''Maṇḍalas in the Making: The Visual Culture of Esoteric Buddhism at Dunhuang'', p. 158. BRILL.</ref>

While there are numerous lists of Eight Great Bodhisattvas, the most widespread or "standard" listing is:<ref name="Dalai Lama-1994">Dalai Lama XIV Bstan-ʼdzin-rgya-mtsho, Dalai Lama XIV, Dalai Lama, Santideva (1994). ''A Flash of Lightning in the Dark of Night: A Guide to the Bodhisattva's Way of Life,'' pp. 128–129, note 23. Shambhala.</ref><ref name=":0" />

* [[Manjushri|Mañjuśrī]] ("Gentle Glory") Kumarabhuta ("Young Prince"), the main bodhisattva of wisdom
* [[Avalokiteśvara]] ("Lord who gazes down at the world"), the savior bodhisattva of great compassion
* [[Vajrapani|Vajrapāṇi]] ("Vajra in hand"), the bodhisattva of protection, the protector of the Buddha (in East Asian sources, this figure appears as [[Mahasthamaprapta|Mahāsthāmaprāpta]])
* [[Maitreya]]  ("Friendly One"), will become the Buddha of our world in the future
* [[Kṣitigarbha]] ("Earth Source")
* [[Ākāśagarbha]] ("Space Source") also known as [[Ākāśagarbha|Gaganagañja]]
* [[Sarvanivāraṇaviṣkambhin]] ("He who blocks the hindrances")
* [[Samantabhadra Bodhisattva|Samantabhadra]] ("Universal Worthy", or "All Good")