Kṣitigarbha Bodhisattva
Tibetan: Sa'i Nyingpo ས་ཡི་སྙིང་པོ་
Listen to how to pronounce and recite each syllable of Kṣitigarbha Bodhisattva's Long Dhāraṇī in Tibetan.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche recommends Kṣitigarbha's practice as powerful enough to avert natural disasters such as earthquakes.
It also brings inconceivable benefit to play around the house especially for this Lunar Ullambana month which is also known as Hungry ghost month celebrated traditionally by most East Asian families all over the world as the gates of hell are temporarily open for any relatives who have passed away and allowed to visit their families in the physical world as wandering spirits.
According to A Garland of Jewels by Jamgön Mipham (which is a compilation of stories of the eight great bodhisattvas from the sutras and tantras taught by Buddha), Bodhisattva Kṣitigarbha, after making offerings to ‘Buddhas equaling the number of sand grains of the river Ganga,’ received the ‘dharani of immeasurable benefits’ from them, which he revealed in a meeting with Buddha Shakyamuni as shown below:
Download the audio recitation from the player above as an mp3 file, here at this link. Good for learning pronounciation and getting a rhythm to the chant.
Pronunciation guide to recite Kṣitigarbha's long Dhāraṇī in Tibetan below:
Chhim Bho Chhim Bho, Chim Chhim Bho, Aa Kaa Sha Chhim Bho, Va Ka Ra Chhim Bho, A Ma Va Ra Chhim Bho, Va Ra Chhim Bho, Va Chi Ra Chhim Bho, A Ro Ga Chhim Bho, Dharma Chhim Bho, Sa Te Va Chhim Bho, Sa Te Ni Ha La Chhim Bho, Vi Va Ro Ka Sha Va Chhim Bho, U Pa Sha Ma Chhim Bho, Na Ya Na Chhim Bho, Prajñaa Sa Ma Mo Ne Ratna Chhim Bho, Ksha Na Chhim Bho, Vi She Ma Va Ri Yaa Chhim Bho, Shaa Sii Ta La Ma Va Chhim Bho, Vi A Dra So Ta Ma He Le, Da Ma Ve Ya Me Ve, Chakraa Se, Chakraa Va Si Le, Kshi Le Phi Le Ka Ra Bha, Vaa Ra Va Rii Te, Ha Se Re Pra Raa Ve, Pa Re Cha Raa Bhana Daa Ne, A Ra Daa Ne, Phaa Na Ra, Cha Cha Cha Cha, Hi Le Mi Le, A Kha Ta Thaa Ge Khe, Tha Ga Khii Lo, Thahaa Re Thahaa Re, Mi Le Ma Dhe, Nan Te Ku Le Mi Le, Ang Ku Chi Ta Bhe, Aa Rai Gyi Re, Va Ra Gyi Re, Ku Ta Sha Ma Ma Le, Ton Gye Ton Gye, Ton Guu Le, Hu Ruu Hu Ruu Hu Ruu, Ku Lo Sto Mi Le, Me Ri To, Me Ri Te, Bhandha Ta, Ha Ra Kha Ma Re Ma, Hu Ru Hu Ru ǁ
Short mantra in Tibetan and Sanskrit script:
༄།ༀ་ཨཱཿ༌ཀྵི་ཏི་གརྦྷ་ཐླིཾ་ཧཱུཾ༎
ॐ आः क्षितिगर्भ थ्लिं हूं ॥
Oṁ Āḥ Kṣitigarbha Thliṁ Hūṁ
Kṣitigarbha is a bodhisattva primarily revered in East Asian Buddhism and usually depicted as a Buddhist monk. His name may be translated as "Earth Treasury," "Earth Store," "Earth Matrix," or "Earth Womb." Ksitigarbha is known for his vow to take responsibility for the instruction of all beings in the six worlds between the death of Gautama Buddha and the rise of Maitreya, as well as his vow not to achieve Buddhahood until all hells are emptied. He is therefore often regarded as the bodhisattva of hell-beings, as well as the guardian of children and patron deity of deceased children and aborted fetuses in Japanese culture, where he is known as Jizō or Ojizō-sama.
Usually depicted as a monk with a halo around his shaved head, he carries a Khakkhara staff to force open the gates of hell and a wish-fulfilling jewel to light up the darkness.
Mantra Recitation:
This is the mantra that Kṣitigarbha heard from buddhas equaling the number of sand grains of the river Ganga (in India). He made offerings to them and then received this mantra. This is the story of the mantra how to receive all of the benefits. This mantra is to be used for any difficulties or problems. It is the best one to do for any problems in any situation. Receiving it even only four or five times is very powerful. Even reciting or just thinking of the name of the bodhisattva is very, very powerful.
Visualize Bodhisattva Kṣitigarbha in front of you, looking at you compassionately with a loving smile. As you recite the mantra, Kṣitigarbha sends out nectar beams that purify yourself and all the sentient beings in the six realms of disease, spirit harm, delusion, gross and subtle obscurations, she drib, and negative karma. Purify the place from where sicknesses, spirit harm and earthquakes and all disasters come from - the mind, the obscurations and negative karma included. Think that which has been collected since beginningless rebirth is now totally purified, not only for yourself. Causes, obscurations, and negative karma collected from
beginningless rebirths are purified, not only your own but that of all sentient beings.
Then, if you have received even a lower tantra initiation, like a Great Initiation of Chenrezig, Kṣitigarbha absorbs into the crown of your head and you become Kṣitigarbha, with all the qualities of Kṣitigarbha. Then all sentient beings become Kṣitigarbha. If you have not received a great initiation, Kṣitigarbha absorbs into the space between your eyebrows and blesses your body, speech, and mind.
Buddha’s Praise of Kṣitigarbha:
You have generated stability of thought and the pure altruistic thought of bodhichitta and have eliminated the sufferings of immeasurable sentient beings. You see (sentient beings) receiving happiness as from a wish-granting jewel, and like the vajra, you cut the nets of others’ doubts. You make holy offerings to the foe destroyers, the qualified ones gone beyond, with great compassionate thought and perseverance. You liberate sentient beings from their sufferings with oceans of wisdom. Because you have no fear, you have gone beyond samsara.
Brahma heard this mantra and then said to the entire assembly, “Please rejoice in the mantra I have now said.”
And Buddha said, “Great, great.”
This practice is especially beneficial for those who have heavy problems, serious health problems, big projects, financial difficulties, or are in danger of experiencing natural disasters such as earthquakes. It is extremely powerful to recite every day for protection, at least four or five times or more, depending on
how crucial it is.
This practice is effective even to grow crops well and to protect land and crops. In The Sutra of the Bodhisattva Kṣitigarbha, the extensive benefits and qualities are explained: they are like the sky, like skies of benefit to all beings. There have been experiences, similar benefits (to those spoken of in the sutra) received by those who practice Kṣitigarbha.
[At this point Lama Zopa Rinpoche recommends reciting the King of Prayers.]
Source of Ksitigarbha Practice Booklet.
Source of Pronunciation guide in Tibetan from Land of Medicine Buddha.
It is said in The Ten Wheel Sutra of the Essence of Earth (Kṣitigarbha),“All comfort, happiness and peace in this world come from making offerings to the Rare Sublime Ones (the Triple Gem). Therefore, those who want comfort, happiness and peace should always try to make offerings to the Rare Sublime Ones.” - Lama Zopa Rinpoche; Soquel, CA USA 1999
Daśa Cakra Kṣitigarbha Dhāraṇī in Sanskrit with English translation:
namō ratna trayāya nama āryakṣitigarbha bōdhisattvāya mahasattvāya
Adoration to the Triple Treasure, adoration to Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva Supreme Being,
tadyathā
Thus:
kṣam-bhū, kṣam-bhū, kṣud kṣam-bhū,
Auspicious One! Auspicious One! Crushing, Auspicious One!
ākāśa kṣam-bhū, vāraka kṣam-bhū, ambu kṣam-bhū, vaira kṣam-bhū,
Open Air, Auspicious One! Obstacles, Auspicious One! Water, Auspicious One! Revengeful, Auspicious One!
vajra kṣam-bhū, a-lōka kṣam-bhū, dama kṣam-bhū,
Thunderbolt, Auspicious One! Ominousness, Auspicious One! Subduing, Auspicious One!
satyama kṣam-bhū, satya nir-hara kṣam-bhū, vyavalōka kṣapa kṣam-bhū,
Truthful, Auspicious One! Removing from the first Yoga Age, Auspicious One! Look upon the process of a day, Auspicious One!
upaśama kṣam-bhū, nayana kṣam-bhū, prajna sam-bhū tirana kṣam-bhū,
Tranquility of mind! Auspicious One! Carrying, Auspicious One!
Awakened One is delighted, manifest superhuman power, Auspicious One!
kṣana kṣam-bhū, visvariya kṣam-bhū, śasta lāva kṣam-bhū.
Every Instant, Auspicious One! Flows that resemble water, Auspicious One!
Gathering of Noble Teachers, Auspicious One!
vyāḍa su jya ma hirē damē samē, cakrē-sē cakra ma hirē
Wicked person brought forth to oppression subdued and tranquil.
Not banded belonging the wheel and serving.
kṣinē bhirē hṛd-grah saṁvara vratē. śiri prabhē pra-cara vartanē
The weakened, and intimated, Overpower the minds! Keep back! Shutting out the external world! Radiant of lights uniformly setting in motion passage.
ratna-palē cala cala śiri milē ekārtha, takki ṭhakkura darē darē,
Jewel protector of the earth move, moving the destruction uniformly into one notion,
Chief of rationalist! Hold! Hold!
milē badhē tadē akulē ku milē mi-ri aṅgo-citta avi ala-girē pra-ghṛ
To fix and appropriate confused ashore. Destruct hindrances. Accomplish minds protecting and preventing poisonous diseases of the eyes.
kuṭṭa samanē jaṅgē jaṅgē jaṅgule, huru huru huru, kuru stu.
Grind in one point. Dawn! New Dawn! The Growing of Water! Fire! Fast, fast, fast to the country (ancient Aryan - Northern Himalaya) Of everlasting happiness
milē mi mi lidhē, milē tarē, bha dada hara hira hirē, huru huru ru.
To fix! Construct! Construct! To fix! Lapping! To fix! Aspirate out delusion! Destroyed! Removed! Stripped away! Fast! Fast! Dashing to pieces.
hava-rāja vi-ṣōdhanē svāhā kali-yuga vi-ṣōdhane svāhā
Hail! Hail! Purifying Samadhi arise from emotion (Cycle of Birth and Death)! Hail! Hail! Purify the End of the World!
kaluṣa-mana vi-ṣōdhanē svāhā kaluṣa-mahā-bhūta vi-ṣōdhanē svāhā.
Hail! Hail! Purifying Deluded Imaginary, and Arrogance!
Hail! Hail! Purifying the non-equilibrium of the great Five Elements!
kaluṣa-rasa vi-ṣōdhanē svāhā kaluṣa-ōja vi-ṣōdhanē svāhā.
Hail! Hail! Purifying Filthy Taste!
Hail! Hail! Purifying adverse oddities!
sarva asa pari-pūraṇi svāhā sarva sasya saṁ-padanē svāhā.
Hail! Hail! All dust set to accomplishment! Hail! Hail! Bestowing all Merits!
sarva tathāgata adhisṭhitē svāhā.
Hail! Hail! All Tathāgata (Thus Come One) will increase the blessings!
sarva bōdhisattva adhisṭhita anu-moditē svāhā.
Hail! Hail! All Bodhisattvas has rejoiced, and giving blessings!
