Chapter 7 - Kulapūtra Maheśvara Nivyūha

Kulapūtra Maheśvara Nivyūhanama Saptamaṃ Prakaraṇam
(Chapter Seven named Kulapūtra Maheśvara Nivyūha)

Then the Bhagavat, the Tathāgata, the arhat, the samyaksaṃbuddha Śākyamuni asked, ‘Noble son, did you find what you sought?’ ‘Bhagavat, it happened, as the Bhagavat knows.’

Seventy-seven times ten million samyaksaṃbuddhas gathered there, and those Tathāgatas recited this dhāraṇī:

Namaḥ saptanām saṃyaksaṃ Buddhakoṭināmtadyathā
Oṃ cale cule cunde svāhā

(The homage by seven times ten million samyaksaṃbuddhas is like this:
Oṃ cale cule cunde svāhā.)

That was the dhāraṇī recited by seventy-seven times ten million samyaksaṃbuddhas.

Beyond that pore there is the pore named Sūryaprabha, in which many millions of trillions of Bodhisattvas dwell. Within that pore named Sūryaprabha there are twelve thousand mountains of gold. Each mountain has 12,000 peaks, and is adorned with lotus. Rubies adorn the sides of each mountain. On the sides there are extremely beautiful gardens with divine precious jewels and adorned with many very beautiful and delightful walkways and bathing pools. There are many hundreds of thousands of manystoried palaces made of divine gold and jewels. They are decorated with braided lengths of strings of pearls and silk, and they are hung with hundreds of strings of pearls. Within each of the many-storied palaces there is a precious wish-granting jewel named Śārada that provides each Bodhisattva with everything he needs. When those Bodhisattvas have entered their manystoried palaces, they remember the six-syllable mahāvidyā. When they remember it, they realize nirvāṇa. They see the seven Tathāgatas that are at the level of nirvāṇa. They also see Bodhisattva Mahāsattva Avalokiteśvara. When they see him, faith arises in their minds. After that has occurred, the Bodhisattvas leave the many-storied palaces. Then some go to their walkways; some go to the gardens of precious wish-granting jewels;some go to the bathing pools; and some go to the sides of the mountains, which are made of precious ruby jewels. When they arrive there, they sit cross-legged, sitting up straight, and establish themselves in focused mindfulness. Noble son, is the kind of Bodhisattva who lives in that pore. Beyond that there is the pore named Indrarāja, in which many millions of trillions of irreversible Bodhisattvas dwell. Within that pore named Indrarāja there are eighty thousand mountains made of divine gold and jewels. In the middle of those mountains there is a precious jewel named Padmāvabhāsa. It fulfils whatever wishes the Bodhisattvas make. In that way those Bodhisattvas live on these kings of mountains without thinking about food or drink. They have none of the sufferings of saṃsāra. They are not stained by the afflictions of saṃsāra. They remain at all times in contemplation of nirvāṇa. They have no other thought concerning their bodies. ‘Noble son, beyond that there is the pore named Mahoṣadhī in which many millions of trillions of Bodhisattvas live who have first developed bodhicitta. ‘Noble son, there are 99,000 mountains in that pore. Some are made of diamonds, some are made of silver, some are made of gold, some are made of precious sapphire jewels, some are made of rubies, some are made of emeralds, and some are made of crystal. Those kings of mountains are like that. Each one has eighty thousand peaks, is adorned with various jewels and is extremely beautified by various delightful features. On the peaks there live Gandharvas who continually play music, which emanates from that pore. Those Bodhisattvas who have first developed bodhicitta contemplate emptiness and featurelessness. They contemplate sadness concerning the body, thinking, ‘Alas, there is suffering: the suffering of birth, aging, sickness, and death; the suffering of being separated from the beloved and pleasant; the suffering of encountering the dis-liked and unpleasant; the suffering of being born in Avīci; the suffering of being born in Kālasūtra; and the suffering of being born in the city of the Pretas.’ At that time they are sitting cross-legged, their bodies straight, establishing them in focused mindfulness, dwelling in the mountains. ‘Noble son, beyond that there is the pore named Cittarāja, in which live many millions of trillions of pratyekabuddhas. They perform miracles of fire, heat, rain, and lightning. ‘Noble son, there are a hundred thousand mountains in that pore. All those kings of mountains are made from the seven jewels. There are a variety of wish-granting trees on those kings of mountains. Their trunks are gold, and their leaves are sil-ver. They are studded with a variety of jewels and hung with a variety of adornments. They are hung with diadems, earrings, garlands, armlets and various precious necklace. They are hung with Kaśika cloth. They have the jingling sounds of silver and gold bells. Those mountains are full of such wish-granting trees, innumerable Pratyeka buddhas are dwelling there, constantly expounding the Sūtras, geya (repeating verse)s, vyākaraṇa (insignia-awarding)s, the gāthā (verse)s, Avadāna (parable)s, Jātaka (causalstage life)s, vaipulya(the corrective and extensive)s, ad Bhūta (rare) Dharmas, upadeśa (discuss)s, etc. Then, Sarvanīvaraṇaviṣkambhī, beyond that pore, last of all, there is the pore named Dhvajārāja. That pore is 84,000 yojanas wide. Within that pore there are 84,000 mountains, beautifully adorned with a variety of jewels. On those kings of mountains, there are many hundreds of thousands of wish-fulfilling trees. There are many hundreds of thousands of sandalwood trees. There are hundreds of thousands of agar wood trees. Within that pore the ground is made of diamonds. Within that pore there are many hundreds of thousands of ninety-nine-story palaces made of divine gold and jewels, decorated with pearls, cloth, and garlands, hung with strings of bells, and shining with moonstone gems. In those many-storied palaces, there are golden stairs beautified by delightful jewels of various kinds. In those many-storied palaces, there are seated Tathāgatas who teach the dharma to the humans in Jambudvīpa. They teach the six perfections: they teach the perfection of generosity, they teach the perfection of conduct, they teach the perfection of patience, they teach the perfection of diligence, they teach the perfection of meditation, and they teach the perfection of wisdom. They teach various kinds of dharma, continually teaching the humans who live in Jambudvīpa. Thus, noble son, they see the pores of Bodhisattva Mahāsattva Avalokiteśvara. They also see deities such as Devas, Nāgas, Yakṣas, Gandharvas, Asuras, Garuḍas, Kiṃnaras, mahoragas, humans, non-humans, Maheśvara, and Nārāyaṇa assembled in Jetavana Monastery, and many millions of trillions of Bodhisattvas assembled there.

Then Bodhisattva Sarvanīvaraṇaviṣkambhī asked the Bhagavat, ‘Bhagavat, are there no other pores?’ The Bhagavat replied, ‘Noble son, beyond that pore are the four great oceans that come from the big toe of Bodhisattva Mahāsattva Avalokiteśvara’s right foot. Their depth is immeasurable. When water comes from the right big toe, it falls on Vaḍavāmukha, transforming it into a heap of ash. Noble son is the kind of blessing that Bodhisattva Mahāsattva Avalokiteśvara has. Bodhisattva Sarvanīvaraṇaviṣkambhī then asked the Bhagavat, ‘Bhagavat, is there yet another pore?’ The Bhagavat said, ‘There are no more, noble son.’

Then Bodhisattva Sarvanīvaraṇaviṣkambhī asked the Bhagavat, ‘Bhagavat, is Bodhisattva Mahāsattva Avalokiteśvara coming?’ The Bhagavat said, ‘Bodhisattva Mahāsattva Avalokiteśvara will come to this great monastery of Jetavana in order to see me, to bow down to me, to honour me, and to give a prophecy concerning the deity Maheśvara in a realm within this universe.’

Then the noble Bodhisattva Mahāsattva Avalokiteśvara radiated blue, yellow, red, white, crystal, and silver light rays, and those light rays went to Jetavana. When they came there, they circled the Bhagavat three times. Then they left Jetavana Monastery and went to the great Avīci hell. When they arrived there, they cooled the great Avīci hell. Then Sarvanīvaraṇaviṣkambhī asked the Bhagavat, ‘Bhagavat, from where did those light rays come, and where did they go?’ The Bhagavat answered, ‘Noble son, Avalokiteśvara radiated those various light rays. They came to this Jetavana Monastery. When they arrived they circled me three times and then went to the great Avīci hell.’ Having reached there, they cooled the great Avīci hell. At that time, good omens manifested in Jetavana Monastery. Divine magnolia trees appeared and divine lotus pools appeared. At that time, Jetavana Monastery appeared to shine like divine gold. That is what Jetavana Monastery looked like.

Then Bodhisattva Mahāsattva Avalokiteśvara left the realm of Sukhāvatī and went to Jetavana Monastery, and eventually arrived there. He went inside Jetavana Monastery, bowed his head to the Bhagavat’s feet, and sat to one side. Then the Bhagavat, with the voice of the cuckoo, asked, ‘Noble son, are you tired? Are you weary? Have you completely ripened beings?’ Bodhisattva Mahāsattva Avalokiteśvara said to the Bhagavat, ‘I have done as the Bhagavat instructed. I have accomplished the task.’ Then the Bhagavat gave his approval, saying, ‘Noble son, it is excellent that you have accomplished the task Excellent.’ Then Bodhisattva Mahāsattva Avalokiteśvara offered lotus flowers to the Bhagavat and said, ‘Bhagavat, the Tathāgata Amitābha presents you with these lotus flowers and hopes you are not unwell, not fatigued, that you are in good health, and that life is pleasant.’ The Bhagavat accepted the lotuses and placed them on his left.

Then the deva Maheśvara came to the Bhagavat, bowed his head to the Bhagavat’s feet, and said, ‘Bhagavat, I pray that you give me a prophecy.’

The Bhagavat said, ‘Go, noble son, to Bodhisattva Mahāsattva Avalokiteśvara, who will give you the prophecy.’ Then the deva Maheśvara went and bowed down to the feet of Bodhisattva Mahāsattva Avalokiteśvara and said, ‘I pay homage to Avalokiteśvara, great lord, who holds a lotus, who has a lotus face, who loves the lotus, who has a beautiful lotus in his hand, who has the splendour of lotuses, who travels around, who brings relief to beings, who completely illuminates the world, and who brings comfort.’

The deva Maheśvara praised Bodhisattva Mahāsattva Avalokiteśvara in that way and then sat silently. Then Bodhisattva Mahāsattva Avalokiteśvara asked the deva Maheśvara, ‘Noble son, why are you silent?’ The deva Maheśvara answered, ‘I request the prophecy of my unsurpassable true enlightenment.’ Avalokiteśvara said, ‘Noble son, in the world named Vivṛta, you will be the Tathāgata, the arhat, the samyaksaṃbuddha, the one with wisdom and conduct, the Sugata, the knower of the world, the unsurpassable guide who tames beings, the teacher of gods and humans, the Buddha, the Bhagavat Bhasmeśvara.’ Then Umādevī came and bowed her head to Bodhisattva Mahāsattva Avalokiteśvara’s feet and praised him: ‘I pay homage to Avalokiteśvara, great lord, who gives life, who completely illuminates the world, who has a beautiful lotus in his hand, who has the splendour of beautiful lotuses, who travels around, who brings beings to nirvāṇa, who creates excellent minds, and who holds the dharma.’

Umādevī praised Bodhisattva Mahāsattva Avalokiteśvara in that way and then said, ‘I pray that you free me from this inferior female body of a woman. I pray that you free me from the suffering of the dark impurities in the womb, and from always being owned.’ Then Bodhisattva Mahāsattva Avalokiteśvara said to her, ‘Sister, your realm will be on the southern slope of Himavat, the king of mountains.’ You will be the Tathāgata, the arhat, the samyaksaṃbuddha, the one with wisdom and conduct, the Sugata, the knower of the world, the unsurpassable guide who tames beings, the teacher of gods and humans, the Buddha, the Bhagavat Umeśvara.’ That was the prophecy that Umādevī received.

The Bhagavat said, ‘Look, Sarvanīvaraṇaviṣkambhī, Bodhisattva Mahāsattva Avalokiteśvara has given them prophecies of the highest complete enlightenment.

This, noble son, is entitled ‘the Maheśvara episode.’