238 henrik h. sørensen
The Cult of Sudṛṣti
An early tradition in Chinese Buddhism—undoubtedly of Indian ori-
gin—has the bodhisattva Sudṛsti (Ch. Miaojian ̣ , Jpn. Myōken) as
the personification of Ursa Major, the Great Dipper. In later Esoteric
Buddhism he becomes an important astral divinity believed to con-
trol the destinies of sentient beings.^32 The earliest source on Sudṛsti ̣
in China is the Qifo bapusa suoshuo da tuoluoni shenzhou jing
( Dhāraṇī Spirit-Spell Sūtra preached by
the Seven Buddhas and Eight Bodhisattvas),^33 which was translated
by an unknown person some time during the Eastern Jin (317–420).^34
Although this scripture contains a number of Daoist elements, by and
large it appears to be of Indian origin.
During the Tang the cult of Sudṛsti was greatly developed and was ̣
integrated into the Zhenyan complex of rituals. The scriptures repre-
sentative of this development are the Miaojian pusa shenzhou jing
(Scripture on the Divine Spell of Sudr ̣sti Bodhisattva),̣^35
the Miaojian pusa tuoluoni jing (Scripture on the
Divine Spell of Sudṛsti Bodhisattva),̣^36 Beichen pusa shenzhou biex-
ingfa (Seperate Method of Practicing the Divine
Spell of the Bodhisattva of the Northern Pole Star), Beichen, beidou
chao (Document on Northern Polestar and the Northern
Dipper).^37 A number of astral maṇḍalas with Sudṛsti as the primary ̣
divinity has been preserved in Japan.^38 Most of these draw directly
(^32) For additional information, see Hayashi on Sudṛsti 1997, 47–57.̣
(^33) T. 1332.21:536b–61b.
(^34) The colophone of this sūtra is contained in the Kaiyuan shijiao lu
(Buddhist Catalogue of the Kaiyuan [Period]), T. 2154.55:654c.
(^35) A note states that this scripture features the “Method of Homa Offering to the
Seven Planets” (qi-xing humo fa ). TZ, Vol. 5, p. 397a. Could this be the
Beidou qixing humo fa (Method of Performing the Homa [Ritual] for
the Seven Stars of the Great Dipper) attributed to Yixing? Cf. T. 1310.21:457b–9a.
(^36) A note states that this scripture has actually been lifted from the Qifo zhuzun
shenzhou jing (Scripture on the Divine Spells of the Seven Buddhas
and All the Worthies). 37 TZ, Vol. 5, p. 397a.
A note states that this material consists of comprehensive information on all the
constellations, planets, and polestars. 38 TZ, Vol. 5, p. 397a.
Cf. Hayashi 1997. The Japanese iconographical and ritual compendium, the
Kakuzen shō (Book of Kakuzen), written and compiled by the Shingon monk
Kakuzen (1143–ca. 1213), is one of our most important sources on the cult of
Sudṛsti. Cf. ̣ TZ, Vols. 4–5. The section on Sudṛsti can be found in Vol. 5, p. 397a. In ̣
this work the deity is also referred to as Sonsei / Zunxing Wang , i.e., Honored
Ruler of the Stars.