The ''Amitabha Pure Land Rebirth Dharani'', sometimes called the ''Pure Land Rebirth Mantra'' is considered an important mantra or

dharani Dharanis (IAST: ), also known as ''Parittas'', are Buddhist chants, mnemonic codes, incantations, or recitations, usually the mantras consisting of Sanskrit or Pali phrases. Believed to be protective and with powers to generate merit for the Bud ...

Pure Land Buddhism Pure Land Buddhism (; ja, 浄土仏教, translit=Jōdo bukkyō; , also referred to as Amidism in English,) is a broad branch of Mahayana Buddhism focused on achieving rebirth in a Buddha's Buddha-field or Pure Land. It is one of the most wid ...

and other schools of Buddhism, mainly following the

Mahayana ''Mahāyāna'' (; "Great Vehicle") is a term for a broad group of Buddhist traditions, texts, philosophies, and practices. Mahāyāna Buddhism developed in India (c. 1st century BCE onwards) and is considered one of the three main existing bra ...

tradition. The full name of this mantra is the ''Dharani for pulling out the fundamental cause of karmic obstacles and obtaining rebirth in the Pure Lands'' (

Chinese Chinese can refer to: * Something related to China * Chinese people, people of Chinese nationality, citizenship, and/or ethnicity **''Zhonghua minzu'', the supra-ethnic concept of the Chinese nation ** List of ethnic groups in China, people of ...

:拔一切業障根本得生淨土陀羅尼). It is also known as ''Pure Land Rebirth Dhāraṇī'' (

:往生淨土神咒; Wang Sheng Jing Tu Shen Zhou), or ''Rebirth Mantra'' (

: 往生咒; Wang Sheng Zhou) for short. Reciting this mantra grants the reciter a peaceful and joyful life in this life, and allow them to be reborn into the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss in the future. It can also be recited to help the spirits of the animals that a person has killed in the past, including poultry, game, aquatic creatures, insects, etc. to ascend to a higher spiritual realm.

Background

The mantra was translated from Sanskrit into Chinese by

Guṇabhadra Gunabhadra (394–468) ( sa, गुणभद्र, ) was a monk and translator of Mahayana Buddhism from Magadha, Central India. His biography is contained in the work of a Chinese monk called Sengyou entitled ''Chu sanzang ji ji''. Life Gun ...

(

Sanskrit Sanskrit (; attributively , ; nominally , , ) is a classical language belonging to the Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European languages. It arose in South Asia after its predecessor languages had diffused there from the northwest in the late ...

;

: 求那跋陀羅, 394-468) from central India. It is usually recited 21, 27 or 49 times per day. In one type of group practice, participants usually recite this mantra three times after reciting the '' Heart Sutra'' or the '' Amitabha Sutra''. The word "rebirth" tends to make people think that this mantra is only about "being reborn", and that it can only serve the particular purpose of going to the Pure Land. However, another positive and important function and meaning of this mantra is the "pulling out the fundamental cause of karmic obstacles". It brings about benefits for the reciter in this present life.

Text

Sanskrit Versions

Long Version

Sanskrit:

''Namo ratna trayāya, namah āryāmitābhāya'' ''tathāgatārhate samyak-saṃbuddhaya.'' ''Tadyathā: om amṛte amṛtodbhave, amṛtasambhave, amṛtagarbhe'' ''amṛtasiddhe, amṛtateje, amṛtavikrānte,'' ''amṛtavikrānta gāmine, amṛtagaganakīrti kare'' ''amṛtadundubhi svare, sarvārthasādhane.'' ''sarvakarmakleśakṣayam kare svāhā''

English:

Homage to the three gems(ratna), adoration to the noble Amitabha (Infinite Light), the Exalted One, the Saint (Arhat), the completely and perfectly awakened one (samyaksambuddha). Namely: O! Nectar (or immortality, amrta), Nectar-producing one! Nectar-raising one! Heart of nectar! Nectar-perfecting one! the brilliances(teja) of Nectar! Nectar-courageous one! The one with transcendent nectar ! He creates the glory of the sky of nectar! Sound of the drum of nectar, in procuring (sadhane) benefit for all. (He) performs (kare) the destruction (ksayam) of all (sarva) afflictions of karma. Sublimely spoken!

Short Version

Sanskrit: : ''namo amitābhāya tathāgatāya'' : ''tadyathā'' : ''amṛtod-bhave'' : ''amṛta-siddhaṃ bhave'' : ''amṛta-vikrānte'' : ''amṛta-vikrānta'' : ''gāmine gagana'' : ''kīrta-kare svāhā'' English:

Adoration to the Exalted one of Infinite Light namely:Oh! Nectar-producing one! Nectar-creation-perfecting one! Nectar-miracle one! (he) performs miracle with nectar, he makes (nectar) glory in sky, All Hail!

Chinese

Traditional: :南無阿彌哆婆夜 :哆他伽哆夜哆地夜他 :阿彌利都婆毘阿彌利哆悉耽婆毘 :阿彌唎哆毘迦蘭帝 :阿彌唎哆毘迦蘭哆 :伽彌膩伽伽那 :枳哆迦利娑婆訶 Simplified: :南无阿弥多婆夜 :哆他伽哆夜哆地夜他 :阿弥利都婆毗阿弥利哆悉耽婆毗 :阿弥唎哆毗迦兰帝 :阿弥唎哆毗迦兰哆 :伽弥腻伽伽那 :枳哆迦利娑婆訶

References

{{Authority control Buddhist mantras Mahayana texts Pure Land Buddhism