About Amitayus

Amitayus, the Buddha of Infinite Life, is revered for his ability to grant longevity, healing, and purification of negative karma. He is one of the three long-life Buddhas, the other two being White Tara and Namgyalma.

Outwardly, his practice blesses us with an abundance of worldly necessities: good health, helpful friends, good family and good living conditions. Inwardly, we attain a greater understanding of Dharma, deepen our practice of morality, and develop more positive states of mind. And Secretly, we reduce the habituations of our self-cherishing, grasping mind. In this manner, Amitayus helps us to dispel the darkness of ignorance and to attain wisdom and compassion.

He is especially popular amongst Buddhist practitioners for the tremendous benefits his practice brings, the immediate result being feelings of peace and joy. It is also a very significant and auspicious practice for Dharma students to offer Amitayus to their Lamas, as a request for them to live long and to continue to spread Buddha's teachings.

Amitayus is synonymous with Amitabha, the Buddha of Infinite Light. In the Sutras, Buddha Shakyamuni, at the request of Manjushri explained that prior to achieving enlightenment, Amitabha or Amitayus made 12 great vows to benefit and help sentient beings. Thus, Amitayus functions as the Buddha of Increase, not just for long life but also for all things beneficial to our lives.

He is red in colour and sits in meditative equipoise on a lotus seat. He holds a long-life vase filled with amrita — the nectar of immortality or the elixir of eternal life — and the leaves of the Ashoka tree. He resides in the heavenly abode of Sukhavati, also known as the Western Pure Land. Adored throughout eastern Asia, devotees of Amitabha, Amitayus or Amida (as he is known in Japan) pray to be reborn from a lotus in his Pure Land.

Further Reading

• Amitayus Sadhana Practice
• A Gorgeous Amitayus Thangka
• Short Amitayus Practice

• Material: Brass
• Height: 103 mm (4-in)
• Width: 80 mm (3.1-in)
• Depth: 55 mm (2.2-in)
• Weight: 0.21 kg (0.5 lb)