Amitayus

Western Pure Land, center
Scene #19, Baodingshan, Dazu (map)

In theory, there are four Buddhist Pure Lands (paradises), one for each direction of the compass. Each is ruled by its own Buddha. In practice the cult of Amitayus (Ch. Wuliangshou, Jp. Amida), Buddha of the Western Pure Land of Sukhavati, was by far the most popular. Devotees could expect to be reborn from lotuses in Sukhavati, attaining one of nine degrees of bliss, depending on the degree of merit they had accumulated in their earthly life.

Amitayus' hand gesture combines elements of vitarka (thumbs touching index fingers) and dhyana (hands together, palms up, fingers bent).