According to the Kshitigarbha Sutra, the 24th day of each lunar month is special to Kshitigharba. His special annual day (listed in the calendar separately) is on the 30th Day of the 7th Lunar Month. He is one of the Eight Great Bodhisattvas. (For a feature on the Eight Bodhisattvas, see>>)

A video about Ksitigarbha with a guided visualization and mantras chanted by Buddha Weekly:

• Kshitigarbha — exemplifies “Right Livelihood” through his association with auspicious earth element.
• Kshitigarbha — embodies Buddha’s merits and the “richness” derived from merits
• His Sutra is Kshitigarbha Sutra
• Many teachers, such as Lama Zopa Rinpoche, also recommend recitation of the Ksitigarbha Pranidhana Sutra, especially in times of difficulty or disaster, especially earthquakes or earth-related.
• In most traditions, we practice Ksitigarbha for the benefit especially for our loved ones and sentient beings who are suffering in the hell realms, trapped by their attachments and delusions.
• See our feature on Ksitigarbha with Sutra quotes here>>

Kshitigarbha

His short Refuge prayer is:

I prostrate, go for refuge, and make offerings to the bodhisattva Ksitigarbha who has unbearable compassion for me and all sentient beings who are suffering and whose minds are obscured, who has qualities like the sky and liberates sentient beings from all suffering and gives every happiness. Please grant blessings!

The “Earth Store Bodhisattva” (Jizo, Gizo) appears in the sutra of the same name. Kshitigarbha is held in high reverence especially all over Asia, known for the famous story of his heroic rescues of suffering beings in the hell realms.
His main sutra, Kshitigarbha Bodhisattva Purvapravidhana Sutra. In Tantra he appears in the Kalachakra mandala of 634 deities, along with the Guhyasamaja mandala (in the east, standing beside Maitreya.) He is also part of the Vajrasattva mandala, Vajradhatu mandala and many more.

• See our feature on Ksitigarbha with Sutra quotes here>>

“…Kshitigarbha is yellow with a yellow upper garment, peaceful eyes, red at the sides, [and] a headdress garland of blue flowers. The right hand holds a fruit and the left a jewel above a lotus [flower].” (Jonang Taranata, yi dam rgya mtsho’i sgrub thabs rin chen ‘byung gnas, folio 506-507).

He also appears white in colour: “…Arya Kshitigarbha, white in colour, with one face, peaceful in appearance. With two hands the right holds to the heart a precious seed. The left [hand holds] a bell turned up [at the waist], resplendent and seated in a relaxed posture.” (Loter Wangpo, sgrub thabs kun tus, volume 11, folio 71). [3]

Practice and mantra

His practice is considered to be effective against “natural disasters” as he is associated with the earth. His mantras are:

Oṃ Kṣitigarbha bodhisattva yaḥ

(prounce the “ku” on the k as in: Ku-shi-tee-gar-bah)

Or

Om Kshitigarbha T-haleng Hum

In Japan, the Ksitigarbha mantra is:

Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, ha ha ha, sutanu svāhā

Chinese Buddhists, as with other Buddhas, recite the name mantra:

Námó dìzàng wáng púsà 南無地藏王菩萨

Korean Buddhists recite:

Namo jijang bonsai

Ksitigharba’s Dharani Mantra

Long Dharani Mantra:

CHHIM BHO CHHIM BHO CHIM CHHIM BHO / AKASHA CHHIM BHO / VAKARA CHHIM BHO / AMAVARA CHHIM BHO / VARA CHHIM BHO / VACHIRA CHHIM BHO / AROGA CHHIM BHO / DHARMA CHHIM BHO / SATEVA CHHIM BHO / SATENI HALA CHHIM BHO / VIVA ROKA SHAVA CHHIM BHO / UVA SHAMA CHHIM BHO / NAYANA CHHIM BHO / PRAJÑA SAMA MONI RATNA CHHIM BHO / KSHANA CHHIM BHO / VISHEMA VARIYA CHHIM BHO / SHASI TALA MAVA CHHIM BHO / VI AH DRASO TAMA HELE / DAM VE YAM VE / CHAKRASE / CHAKRA VASILE / KSHILI PHILE KARAVA / VARA VARITE / HASERE PRARAVE / PARECHARA BHANDHANE / ARADANE / PHANARA / CHA CHI CHA CHA / HILE MILE AKHATA THAGEKHE / THAGAKHI LO / THHARE THHARE MILE MADHE / NANTE KULE MILE / ANG KU CHITABHE / ARAI GYIRE VARA GYIRE / KUTA SHAMAMALE /TONAGYE TONAGYE / TONAGULE / HURU HURU HURU / KULO STO MILE / MORITO / MIRITA / BHANDHATA / KARA KHAM REM / HURU HURU