Jaeshik

in Lamaism, was a Buddha, who brought Buddhism to Thibet, A.D. 407. Jakshiamuni, the fifth divine Burchan, and the supreme god of the Lamaites, caused him to spring forth out of the beautiful Padmaflower, knowing what sanctity he would thereby receive, and authorized him to bring about the salvation of men. Jaeshik undertook, however, only to save the men living in the snowy countries of the north; and he promised to carry out this plan with all perseverance, though his head should split into ten and his body into a thousand parts. He first descended into the kingdoms of hell, and visited the kingdom of monsters (Birid), then that of animals, of men, of evil genii, Assuri and Tagri, and there destroyed all pains and torture; for as soon as his holy mouth spoke the saving words, "Om-ma-nipad-mal-hum," hell no longer existed. After having accomplished so much, he began his journey on earth, and travelled through the countries beyond the mountains of snow. There also he spoke his magic words, destroyed evil, brought good from heaven, and led men to the true religion. Next he ascended into the country of the deities on the Red Mountain. There, to his consternation, he again saw many millions of beings unmercifully tortured by being bathed in the Otang Sea, or sea of fire. The tortures of these unfortunates brought forth a tear from each one of his eyes, out of which there sprang two goddesses, who promised to assist him, and, placing themselves in his eyes, their power was manifested by the glances of Jaeshik. He spoke the above mentioned six words also here, saved the doomed, and converted them to faith in the supreme god Jakshiamuni, so that his work was almost finished. But all the saved were not yet strong in the faith, and this troubled him. He longed for the blessed land of eternal happiness, his home; and suddenly his head split into ten parts and his body into a thousand. Burchan joined the latter together again, and consoled him by saying that his body would become the holiest sanctuary of the world. The thousand parts were to become so many hands, each with one eye, and were to represent so many monarchs.