Buddhochinga

The name Buddhochinga is derived from Sanskrit. "Buddha" signifies awakened or enlightened, while "Chinga" (likely a transliteration of a Chinese term) suggests a spiritual leader or patriarch. The term connects to Budha, the son of Soma (Moon) and Rohini, a prominent figure in Hindu cosmology.

The name of a great Indian Arhat who went to China in the 4th century to propagate Buddhism and converted masses of people by means of miracles and most wonderful magic feats. Budha (^k.). "The Wise and Intelligent", the Son of Soma, the Moon, and of Rokini or Taraka, wife of Brihasj^ati carried away by King Soma, thus leading to tlie great war between the Asuras, who sided with the Moon, and the Gods who took the defense of Brihaspati (Jupiter) who was their I'urohita (family priest). This war is known as the Tarakaynaya. It is the original of the war in Olympus between the Gods and the Titans and also of the war (in Rcvdaiion) between Michael (Indra) and the Dragon (personifying the Asuras). Bull-Worship (See "Apis"). The worship of the Bull and the Ram was addres.sed to one and the same power, that of generative creation, under two aspect.s — the celestial or cosmic, and the terrestrial or human. The ram-headed gods all belong to the latter aspect, the bull — to the former. Osiris to whom the bull was sacred, was never regarded as a phallic deity; neither was Siva with his Bull Nandi, in spite of the lingham. As Nandi is of a pure milk-white colour, so was Apis. Both (34 Till-KKSorJIirAlwrri' the fmblcin.s of tlu^ ^ji'iuTiitivt', or of I'volutionary power iu tho I'liivfrsal Kosinos. Tliostwho n-gard the solar gotls and the bulls as of a phallic eharactiT, or connect the Sun with it, are mistaken. It is only the lunar gods and the rams, and lambs, which are priapic, and it little becomes a n-ligion which, however unconsciously, has still adopted for its worship a god pre-eminently lunar, and accentuated its choice by the selection of the lamb, whose sire is the ram. a glyph as pre-eminently phallic, for its most sacred symbol — to vilify the older religions for using the .same .symbolism. The worship of the bull, Apis, Hapi Ankh, or the living Osiris, cea.scd over 3,000 years ago; the worship of the ram and lamb continues to this day. Mariette Bey discovered the S

The figure of Buddhochinga, as presented by Blavatsky, offers a fascinating nexus where historical transmission meets mythic resonance. This 4th-century Arhat, credited with bringing Buddhism to China through extraordinary means, embodies the potent allure of the miraculous in spiritual outreach. Miracles, in many traditions, are not mere spectacles but are seen as manifestations of a deeper spiritual authority, a tangible sign of the divine or the enlightened mind's capacity to transcend ordinary limitations. Mircea Eliade, in his studies of shamanism and archaic religions, frequently discussed the role of ecstatic experiences and supernatural abilities in the formation of religious authority and the persuasion of communities.

Furthermore, the association with Budha, the son of Soma, introduces a layer of cosmic significance. Budha, often identified with the planet Mercury, represents intellect, communication, and the swift passage of thought. This connection suggests that the propagation of Buddhist doctrine was not just a human endeavor but was divinely or cosmically ordained, facilitated by forces aligned with wisdom and clarity. Carl Jung's work on archetypes and the collective unconscious might find resonance here, as the transmission of spiritual knowledge across cultures often taps into universal patterns of seeking and revelation. The "magic feats" attributed to Buddhochinga can be understood, in a psychological sense, as symbolic representations of the profound transformation that spiritual awakening can bring—a shattering of mundane perception and an opening to new realities. This historical missionary, therefore, becomes more than a mere messenger; he is a catalyst, a figure who, through both earthly effort and celestial symbolism, catalyzes the birth of a new spiritual consciousness in a foreign land. The very act of bridging cultures with profound spiritual insights is, in itself, a form of transformative magic.

RELATED_TERMS: Dharma, Arhat, Bodhisattva, Karma, Samsara, Enlightenment, Cosmology, Mythology