Seishi Bosatsu

Seishi Bosatsu, known in Sanskrit as Mahāsthāmaprāpta, is a bodhisattva revered in Pure Land Buddhism as one of the two principal attendants of Amida Buddha, the other being Kannon Bosatsu. He is understood to embody wisdom and the power to illuminate all beings, guiding them toward liberation.

In artistic depictions, Seishi Bosatsu is typically shown standing to the left of Amida Buddha, forming a triad known as the Amida Sanzon. He is often identified by a water vessel or lotus placed on his crown, and he frequently appears in a posture of reverence with hands pressed together. Devotion to him is particularly associated with Pure Land practice and the aspiration for rebirth in Amida's Western Paradise.

Although less prominently celebrated as an individual object of worship than Kannon, Seishi Bosatsu holds an important place in temple iconography across Japan. His presence in Amida triads is found throughout Japanese Buddhist art, from ancient sculptures to painted hanging scrolls, reflecting his enduring role as a compassionate guide for the faithful.