Pilgrimage on Shikoku Island

{Shikoku Hachijūhachikasho Meguri}

-GLOSSARY-

-JūSAN BUTSU-
---13 Buddhas of Shingon---

Shingon calls these the Thirteen Buddhas, however in reality, there are five Buddhas, seven Bodhisattvas, and Fudō Myōō. Not only are they important in Shingon Buddhism and we see reference to them in many writings, but they are also the deities that are worshiped in the Hondō of the temples along the pilgrimage. Before listing them, there are a few terms that you need to know:

Bosatsu: Bodhisattva. One who is very advanced on the path, but has made the vow to not personally enter nirvana until he/she has helped all other beings do so first.
Butsu: Buddha. One who is enlightened.
Myōō:
Nyorai: Buddha. One who is enlightened.

The Jūsan Butsu:

Amida Nyorai (Amitabha)
Usually seated in meditation in the lotus position with his hands in his lap and held in the Samadi mudra, or Jō-in (Skt. Dhyana mudra). However, Miyata says that he is shown with his right hand raised in the mudras of love to all sentient beings, which i take to mean the various foms of the Ani-in (Skt. Vitarka mudra).
Amida created a Pure Land (Gokuraku Jōdo) in the west and all who call his name in utmost sincerity can be reborn in this paradise. You call his name with the popular chant Namu Amida Butsu.
Amida is the honzon of nine of the Shikoku temples.
Mantra: Om amrta-teje hara hūm (Skt.); Om amirita teisei kara un (Jpn.); Om, save us in the glory of the deathless one. Hūm.

Ashuku Nyorai (Aksobhya)
One of the esoteric Buddhas, he is typically shown seated in the lotus position with his right hand hanging over his knee and his fingers pointing at the ground — symbolizing his ability to repress the earth, or, demons and all defilements of the mind. WIth his left hand he grasps the collar of his kesa at chest level. This mudra is called the sockuchi-in.
Ashuku has devoted himself to helping people keep a mind of immovable, unshakable faith and the aspiration for the realization of enlightenment (Jpn. Bodaishin). He is the chief Buddha of the Land of Extreme Bliss, which is located in the east.
Not a honzon at any of the Shikoku temples.
Mantra: Om aksobhya hūm (Skt.); Om akishubiya un (Jpn.); Om, immovable one. Hūm.

Dainichi Nyorai (Mahavairocana)

Dainichi is the honzon at six of the Shikoku temples.
Mantra: Om a-vi-ra-hūm-kham vajradhātu vam (Skt.); On abiraunken bazaradato ban (Jpn.); Om, All Pervading One. Imperishable One.

Shaka Nyorai

Yakushi Nyorai

Fugen Bosatsu

Jizō Bosatsu

Kannon Bosatsu

Kokūzō Bosatsu

Miroku Bosatsu

Monju Bosatsu

Seishi Bosatsu

Fudō Myōō

I found the above pictures in a picture gallery of the Triple Gem Buddhist group at MSN.

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Amida Nyorai (Amitabha) Usually seated in meditation in the lotus position with his hands in his lap and held in the Samadi mudra, or Jō-in (Skt. Dhyana mudra). However, Miyata says that he is shown with his right hand raised in the mudras of love to all sentient beings, which i take to mean the various foms of the Ani-in (Skt. Vitarka mudra). Amida created a Pure Land (Gokuraku Jōdo) in the west and all who call his name in utmost sincerity can be reborn in this paradise. You call his name with the popular chant Namu Amida Butsu. Amida is the honzon of nine of the Shikoku temples. Mantra: Om amrta-teje hara hūm (Skt.); Om amirita teisei kara un (Jpn.); Om, save us in the glory of the deathless one. Hūm.
Ashuku Nyorai (Aksobhya) One of the esoteric Buddhas, he is typically shown seated in the lotus position with his right hand hanging over his knee and his fingers pointing at the ground — symbolizing his ability to repress the earth, or, demons and all defilements of the mind. WIth his left hand he grasps the collar of his kesa at chest level. This mudra is called the sockuchi-in. Ashuku has devoted himself to helping people keep a mind of immovable, unshakable faith and the aspiration for the realization of enlightenment (Jpn. Bodaishin). He is the chief Buddha of the Land of Extreme Bliss, which is located in the east. Not a honzon at any of the Shikoku temples. Mantra: Om aksobhya hūm (Skt.); Om akishubiya un (Jpn.); Om, immovable one. Hūm.
Dainichi Nyorai (Mahavairocana) Dainichi is the honzon at six of the Shikoku temples. Mantra: Om a-vi-ra-hūm-kham vajradhātu vam (Skt.); On abiraunken bazaradato ban (Jpn.); Om, All Pervading One. Imperishable One.