Vāyuviṣṇu in the Karuṇāpuṇḍarīka

Abstract

The Karuṇāpuṇḍarīka is a Mahāyāna scripture compiled around the 4th century. The leading role in this scripture is played by Samudrareṇu brāhmaṇa, who is a past life of Śākyamuni. Within the Karuṇāpuṇḍarīka the brāhmaṇa called Vāyuviṣṇu receives appraisal equal to him. In this paper, I considered the intention through which Vāyuviṣṇu appeared in the Karuṇāpuṇḍarīka. The results are as follows.

In the Karuṇāpuṇḍarīka, Vāyuviṣṇu is the bodhisattva who vows to attain enlightenment and relieve sentient beings in the defiled land; he is equal to Samudrareṇu brāhmaṇa. This scripture takes a critical stance towards Amitābha worship, Avalokiteśvara worship and Akṣobhya worship. On the other hand, it is interesting that a high evaluation is given to Vāyuviṣṇu who is respected as a teacher by brāhmaṇas. From this, it can be thought that Viṣṇu worship was prosperous during the Gupta dynasty in which Vāyuviṣṇu was presented as a superior bodhisattva.