Amida Buddha

The ‘Buddha of immeasurable light’, venerated especially in Pure Land Buddhism. A former king who became a Buddha through his devotion to Buddhism and the dharma, he presides over the Western Paradise (the Buddha-land of his own creation). Through his unlimited compassion and power to save, devotees can be reborn there to achieve enlightenment.

Paintings often show Amida towering over a landscape or descending on a cloud, greeting the soul of the dying believer. In sculpture, Amida is generally seated in meditation; standing figures of Amida show him making the gesture of bestowing fearlessness, right hand raised. He is often flanked by the bodhisattvas Kannon and Seishi.