Mandala of the Diamond World

In Japanese Esoteric Buddhism there developed many mandalas for the purpose of guiding devotees toward enlightenment. In these highly stylized and codified paintings, the process of human enlightenment is explained through numerous images of deities arranged in hierarchical positions. Devotees meditate or perform rituals in front of mandalas hung on walls.

The two principal types of mandalas in Shingon Esotericism are the Diamond World (Sanskrit: Vajradhatu; Japanese: Kongokai) and the Womb or Matrix (Sanskrit: Garbhadhatsu; Japanese: Taizokai) mandalas. These reveal how to attain enlightenment through knowledge and reason, respectively.

The Diamond Mandala contains nine square sections, each with many enlightened deities. The importance of knowledge is clearly expressed by Mahavairocana (Japanese: Dainichi), the central deity of Japanese Esoteric Buddhism), who is situated in the top middle square. Seated alone, he makes the gesture of knowledge with his right hand, the thumb folded into the palm and holding the left index finger