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Cintamani

May 08, 2023

For Hindu Chintamani Ganesha shrine in Ashtavinayak temples, see Chintamani Temple, Theur. For City of India, see Chintamani, Karnataka.

Cintāmaṇi (Sanskrit; Devanagari: चिंतामणि; Chinese: 如意寶珠; Pinyin: Rúyì bǎozhū; Japanese Romaji: Nyoihōju; Tamil:சிந்தாமணி), also spelled as Chintamani (or the Chintamani Stone), is a wish-fulfilling jewel within both Hindu and Buddhist traditions, said by some to be the equivalent of the philosopher's stone in Western alchemy.[1] It is one of several Mani Jewel images found in Buddhist scripture.

Japanese depiction of Lakshmi (Kichijote), bearing the Cintamani

Within Hinduism, it is connected with the gods Vishnu and Ganesha. In Hindu tradition, it is often depicted as a fabulous jewel in the possession of Vishnu as the Kaustubha Mani or as on the forehead of the Naga king called as Naga Mani, or on the forehead of the Makara.[citation needed] The Yoga Vasistha, originally written in the 10th century CE, contains a story about the cintamani.[2] The Hindu Vishnu Purana speaks of the "Syamanta jewel, bestowing prosperity upon its owner, encapsulates the Yadu clan system".[3] The Vishnu Purana is attributed to the mid-first millennium CE.

In Buddhism, it is held by the Bodhisattvas (divine beings with great compassion, wisdom and power) Avalokiteshvara and Ksitigarbha. It is also seen carried upon the back of the Lung Ta (wind horse) which is depicted on Tibetan prayer flags. By reciting the Dharani (small hymn) of Cintamani, Buddhist tradition maintains that one attains the Wisdom of Buddha, able to understand the truth of the Buddha, and turn afflictions into Bodhi. It is said to allow one to see the Holy Retinue of Amitabha and assembly upon one's deathbed. In Tibetan Buddhist tradition the Chintamani is sometimes depicted as a luminous pearl and is in the possession of several of different forms of the Buddha.[4]

In Japan, where the Hindu goddess Lakshmi is known as Kisshōten in Shinto, she is commonly depicted with a Cintāmaṇi in her hand.

Etymology

Cintāmaṇi (Sanskrit; Devanagari: चिन्तामणि): 'Wish-Fulfilling Gem' (Tibetan: ཡིད་བཞིན་ནོར་བུ, Wylie: yid bzhin norbu)[5] The mani (jewel) is translated in Chinese ruyi or ruyizhu 如意珠 "as-one-wishes jewel" or ruyibaozhu 如意寶珠 "as-one-wishes precious jewel". Ruyibaozhu is pronounced in Japanese nyoi-hōju or nyoi-hōshu 如意宝珠. Ruyizhu is pronounced in Korean yeouiju 여의주.

Hinduism

The Brihad Bhagavatamrita compares this gem with devotion towards Vishnu:

स-प्रेमका भक्तिर् अतीव-दुर्लभा स्वर्गादि-भोगः सुलभोऽभवश् च सः ।

चिन्तामणिः सर्व-जनैर् न लभ्यते लभ्येत काचादि कदापि हातकम् ॥ २३२ ॥

sa-premakā bhaktir atīva-durlabhā svargādi-bhogaḥ sulabho'bhavaś ca saḥ | cintāmaṇiḥ sarva-janair na labhyate labhyeta kācādi kadāpi hātakam || 232 ||

Anyone can obtain a piece of glass and sometimes a piece of gold, but not everyone can obtain a cintāmaṇi because it is most rare. Similarly, the pleasures of heaven and liberation are easily achieved, but prema-bhakti is extremely rare.

— Brihad Bhagavatamrita, Verse 2.4.232

The Bhagavata Purana remarks that the cintamani may give worldly pleasures and affluence in Svarga, but spiritual advancement allows one to attain Vaikuntha, the realm of Vishnu that is difficult to achieve, even for yogins.[6]

Buddhism

 
14th century Goryeo painting of Ksitigarbha holding a cintamani

In Buddhism the Chintamani is said to be one of four relics that came in a chest that fell from the sky (many terma fell from the sky in caskets) during the reign of king Lha Thothori Nyantsen of Tibet.[citation needed] Though the king did not understand the purpose of the objects, he kept them in a position of reverence. Several years later, two mysterious strangers appeared at the court of the king, explaining the four relics, which included the Buddha's bowl (possibly a Singing Bowl) and a mani stone with the Om Mani Padme Hum mantra inscribed on it. These few objects were the bringers of the Dharma to Tibet.

The Digital Dictionary of Buddhism's ruyizhu entry says:

A maṇi-jewel; magical jewel, which manifests whatever one wishes for (Skt. maṇi, cintā-maṇi, cintāmaṇi-ratna). According to one's desires, treasures, clothing and food can be manifested, while sickness and suffering can be removed, water can be purified, etc. It is a metaphor for the teachings and virtues of the Buddha. ... Said to be obtained from the dragon-king of the sea, or the head of the great fish, Makara, or the relics of a Buddha.[7]

The Kintamani mountainous region in Bali was named after the Cintamani.

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Guénon, René (2004) [1962]. Symbols of Sacred Science. Sophia Perennis, USA. ISBN 0-900588-78-0. p. 277
  2. ^ Venkatesananda, Swami (1984). The Concise Yoga Vāsiṣṭha. Albany: State University of New York Press. pp. 346–353. ISBN 0-87395-955-8. OCLC 11044869.
  3. ^ The Past before us: Historical traditions of early North India, Romila Thapar, Harvard, 2013
  4. ^ R. A. Donkin, Beyond price: pearls and pearl-fishing : origins to the Age of Discoveries, American Philosophical Society, 1998. ISBN 978-0-87169-224-5. p. 170
  5. ^ Scheidegger, Daniel (2009). 'The First Four Themes of Klong chen pa's Tsig don bcu gcig pa.' Achard, Jean-Luke (director) (2009). Revue d'Etudes Tibetaines. April 2009. p.49
  6. ^ www.wisdomlib.org (2022-05-29). "Nārada Meets Bhakti (Devotion in a Human Form) [Chapter 1]". www.wisdomlib.org. Retrieved 2022-08-12.
  7. ^ "ruyizhu", in Digital Dictionary of Buddhism

Bibliography

May 08, 2023
cintamani, hindu, chintamani, ganesha, shrine, ashtavinayak, temples, chintamani, temple, theur, city, india, chintamani, karnataka, cintāmaṇi, sanskrit, devanagari, मण, chinese, 如意寶珠, pinyin, rúyì, bǎozhū, japanese, romaji, nyoihōju, tamil, மண, also, spelled,. For Hindu Chintamani Ganesha shrine in Ashtavinayak temples see Chintamani Temple Theur For City of India see Chintamani Karnataka Cintamaṇi Sanskrit Devanagari च त मण Chinese 如意寶珠 Pinyin Ruyi bǎozhu Japanese Romaji Nyoihōju Tamil ச ந த மண also spelled as Chintamani or the Chintamani Stone is a wish fulfilling jewel within both Hindu and Buddhist traditions said by some to be the equivalent of the philosopher s stone in Western alchemy 1 It is one of several Mani Jewel images found in Buddhist scripture Japanese depiction of Lakshmi Kichijote bearing the Cintamani Within Hinduism it is connected with the gods Vishnu and Ganesha In Hindu tradition it is often depicted as a fabulous jewel in the possession of Vishnu as the Kaustubha Mani or as on the forehead of the Naga king called as Naga Mani or on the forehead of the Makara citation needed The Yoga Vasistha originally written in the 10th century CE contains a story about the cintamani 2 The Hindu Vishnu Purana speaks of the Syamanta jewel bestowing prosperity upon its owner encapsulates the Yadu clan system 3 The Vishnu Purana is attributed to the mid first millennium CE In Buddhism it is held by the Bodhisattvas divine beings with great compassion wisdom and power Avalokiteshvara and Ksitigarbha It is also seen carried upon the back of the Lung Ta wind horse which is depicted on Tibetan prayer flags By reciting the Dharani small hymn of Cintamani Buddhist tradition maintains that one attains the Wisdom of Buddha able to understand the truth of the Buddha and turn afflictions into Bodhi It is said to allow one to see the Holy Retinue of Amitabha and assembly upon one s deathbed In Tibetan Buddhist tradition the Chintamani is sometimes depicted as a luminous pearl and is in the possession of several of different forms of the Buddha 4 In Japan where the Hindu goddess Lakshmi is known as Kisshōten in Shinto she is commonly depicted with a Cintamaṇi in her hand Contents 1 Etymology 2 Hinduism 3 Buddhism 4 See also 5 Notes 6 BibliographyEtymology EditCintamaṇi Sanskrit Devanagari च न त मण Wish Fulfilling Gem Tibetan ཡ ད བཞ ན ན ར བ Wylie yid bzhin norbu 5 The mani jewel is translated in Chinese ruyi or ruyizhu 如意珠 as one wishes jewel or ruyibaozhu 如意寶珠 as one wishes precious jewel Ruyibaozhu is pronounced in Japanese nyoi hōju or nyoi hōshu 如意宝珠 Ruyizhu is pronounced in Korean yeouiju 여의주 Hinduism EditThe Brihad Bhagavatamrita compares this gem with devotion towards Vishnu स प र मक भक त र अत व द र लभ स वर ग द भ ग स लभ ऽभवश च स च न त मण सर व जन र न लभ यत लभ य त क च द कद प ह तकम २३२ sa premaka bhaktir ativa durlabha svargadi bhogaḥ sulabho bhavas ca saḥ cintamaṇiḥ sarva janair na labhyate labhyeta kacadi kadapi hatakam 232 Anyone can obtain a piece of glass and sometimes a piece of gold but not everyone can obtain a cintamaṇi because it is most rare Similarly the pleasures of heaven and liberation are easily achieved but prema bhakti is extremely rare Brihad Bhagavatamrita Verse 2 4 232The Bhagavata Purana remarks that the cintamani may give worldly pleasures and affluence in Svarga but spiritual advancement allows one to attain Vaikuntha the realm of Vishnu that is difficult to achieve even for yogins 6 Buddhism Edit 14th century Goryeo painting of Ksitigarbha holding a cintamani Mani stone In Buddhism the Chintamani is said to be one of four relics that came in a chest that fell from the sky many terma fell from the sky in caskets during the reign of king Lha Thothori Nyantsen of Tibet citation needed Though the king did not understand the purpose of the objects he kept them in a position of reverence Several years later two mysterious strangers appeared at the court of the king explaining the four relics which included the Buddha s bowl possibly a Singing Bowl and a mani stone with the Om Mani Padme Hum mantra inscribed on it These few objects were the bringers of the Dharma to Tibet The Digital Dictionary of Buddhism s ruyizhu entry says A maṇi jewel magical jewel which manifests whatever one wishes for Skt maṇi cinta maṇi cintamaṇi ratna According to one s desires treasures clothing and food can be manifested while sickness and suffering can be removed water can be purified etc It is a metaphor for the teachings and virtues of the Buddha Said to be obtained from the dragon king of the sea or the head of the great fish Makara or the relics of a Buddha 7 The Kintamani mountainous region in Bali was named after the Cintamani See also EditList of mythological objects Sarira Mani stone Ashtamangala Yasakani no Magatama Kaustubha Gem Kisshoutennyo 吉祥天女 Kagome crest A 6 pointed star and a 8 pointed star a symbol also associated with the goddess Lakshmi Kisshōtennyo Luminous gemstones Philosopher s stone Cornucopia Sampo Holy Grail Holy Chalice Sendai Daikannon statue Syamantaka Gem Eight Treasures Tide jewelsNotes Edit Guenon Rene 2004 1962 Symbols of Sacred Science Sophia Perennis USA ISBN 0 900588 78 0 p 277 Venkatesananda Swami 1984 The Concise Yoga Vasiṣṭha Albany State University of New York Press pp 346 353 ISBN 0 87395 955 8 OCLC 11044869 The Past before us Historical traditions of early North India Romila Thapar Harvard 2013 R A Donkin Beyond price pearls and pearl fishing origins to the Age of Discoveries American Philosophical Society 1998 ISBN 978 0 87169 224 5 p 170 Scheidegger Daniel 2009 The First Four Themes of Klong chen pa s Tsig don bcu gcig pa Achard Jean Luke director 2009 Revue d Etudes Tibetaines April 2009 p 49 www wisdomlib org 2022 05 29 Narada Meets Bhakti Devotion in a Human Form Chapter 1 www wisdomlib org Retrieved 2022 08 12 ruyizhu in Digital Dictionary of BuddhismBibliography EditBeer Robert 1999 The Encyclopedia of Tibetan Symbols and Motifs Hardcover Shambhala ISBN 1 57062 416 X ISBN 978 1 57062 416 2 Buswell Robert Jr Lopez Donald S Jr eds 2013 Cintamani in Princeton Dictionary of Buddhism Princeton NJ Princeton University Press ISBN 9780691157863 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Cintamani amp oldid 1144671902, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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