The term “Tathagata” is a title often used to refer to a Buddha, particularly Shakyamuni Buddha, in Buddhist texts. It’s a profound word meaning “one who has thus come” or “one who has thus gone,” emphasizing someone who has attained enlightenment and transcended the cycle of birth and death.

In Mahayana and Vajrayana Buddhist teachings, there are multiple Buddhas or Tathagatas, often symbolizing various aspects of enlightened wisdom and compassion. Here’s an exploration of the “Five Tathagatas,” also known as the “Five Wisdom Buddhas,” each representing a different facet of enlightenment:

Vairocana Buddha

Symbol: Wisdom of the Dharmadhatu

Color: White

Direction: Center

Mudra (Hand Gesture): Dharmachakra (Wheel of Dharma)

Vairocana is believed to be an essential of the Five Tathagatas which symbolize the wisdom of the Truth of the Dharmadhatu. Because Vairocana means enlightened light, white reflects purity and the expanse of the enlightened mind.

With regard to the mandala of the five wisdom Buddhas Vairocana is drawn as central which means that the rest of the wisdom and Buddhas emerge or emanate from him as the hub or the source. His central position is evidence of the fact that he was one of the kinds of the Dharmakaya – the true form of Buddha meaning the complete unity of truth.

Vairocana signifies ‘the Wisdom of Dharmadhatu’; which is the realization of the ultimate inherent reality of the existence of things. This wisdom is the understanding of mutual dependence of the phenomena and may not be associated with the concepts of duality. In this manner, Vairocana represents the shared oneness of all beings and phenomena of the Universe.

Akshobhya Buddha

Symbol: Mirror-like Wisdom

Color: Blue

Direction: East

Mudra: Bhumisparsha (Earth-Touching Gesture)

Akshobhya is of the nature of unchanging mirror wisdom, which does not cling to any phenomena. The color blue as for masculinity is associated with stability, and his cool-headedness is great for developing the concept of inner harmony. The hand gesture of Akshobhya holding his hand on the ground helps him vow not to be distracted in any way not to be deluded in any form and to overcome all forms of suffering.

Akshobhya is said to possess regrets, a symbol that represents non-fragile or impermissibility, power as well as the ability to differentiate reality from formed illusion. In other forms, Akshobhya carries a vajra symbolising his ability to pierce through ignorance and annihilate it. It is only consistent with the vajra, the diamondlike hardness of which corresponds with Akshobhya’s mind and will. His wisdom enables him to change anger, hatred, and aversion into clear, reflexive insight to teach practitioners how to watch their experiences without being influenced by them.

Ratnasambhava Buddha

Symbol: Wisdom of Equality

Color: Yellow

Direction: South

Mudra: Varada (Gesture of Giving)

As Ratnasambhava enlightened the presence of equality, he has shown us that there is no distinct difference between all sentient beings. His conversations can be associated with yellow – the color of richness, generosity, and the ability to approach the world with wisdom and non-sectarian attitudes. In his portrayal, the act of giving makes practitioners recall the virtue of giving and compassion.

Ratnasambhava is related to the jewel, which is symbolized as a light or a gem(Ratna). The jewel depicts the domain of wealth and richness, but in Ratnasambhava, aspect, and it depicts the creativity and richness of wisdom. It represents his potential for appealing to a colorful aspect that stems from appreciating the human dignity of every person.

Amitabha Buddha

Symbol: Discriminating Wisdom

Color: Red

Direction: West

Mudra: Dhyana (Meditation Gesture)

Discriminating wisdom is symbolized by Amitabha – the ability to recognize the individuality of others and objects. He is called the compassionate and is indicated as the Buddha of Infinite Light. His red color represents love and compassion. The Dhyana mudra is an example of a meditation pose in faith wherein followers are directed to the intricate aspects of their spirituality.

In the mandala of the Five Wisdom Buddhas Amitabha is placed in the Western direction which is identified with the goal – to the west, where the sunlight is setting and symbolizes rest and death. This region of the West, too, symbolized the realm of the Pure Land of Sukhavati, where Amitabha resides and where beings hoping to be reborn there are accepted.

Amitabha represents the “discriminating Wisdom” which is one of the five types of wisdom of enlightenment. This wisdom assists in distinguishing the subjectivity of each person, hearing and experiencing the person, and not grasping at them. It replaces attachment and desire with love that is non-possessive. Out of wisdom, Amitabha understands each being while at the same time being unbound to the distortions of ego scenes in this state.

Amoghasiddhi Buddha

Symbol: All-Accomplishing Wisdom

Color: Green

Direction: North

Mudra: Abhaya (Gesture of Fearlessness)

Amoghasiddhi means the wisdom of effective function, walking, and moving with boldness when doing good deeds of benefit for all beings. The green color is significant for action and success, and the gesture of his arm, of courage, enjoins us to be bold and overcome difficulties for the cause of the compassion ministry. He is related to the Karma family of Buddha which controls the actions and energies of doing enlightened activities. The family is linked with the power of change and the capacity to perform change successfully, which corresponds to the all-accomplishing wisdom of Amoghasiddhi.

The Role of the Five Tathagatas in Buddhism

Each of the Five Tathagatas represents an aspect of enlightenment, a specific wisdom, and a unique color and direction, symbolizing the harmony and balance of the spiritual path. Practitioners often visualize these Buddhas or use mantras associated with them to invoke their wisdom qualities, aiming to integrate these insights into their lives. Through meditation, reflection, and mindfulness, followers can cultivate the qualities of the Five Tathagatas, moving closer to a life of wisdom, compassion, and inner peace.

Wrapping up–

Five Tathagata reveal a variety of aspects of the Buddha’s enlightenment and skill; they are conducive to helping the adepts to follow the middle way of enlightened life. The five tathagatas bring forth the understanding of the aspect of enlightenment and also serve as an inspirational guide to transforming Buddhism into a goal-oriented way of enabling the two aspects of enlightenment to function in everyday life.