Vintage buddhist amulet necklace Amitabha Buddha

Vintage buddhist amulet necklace with Amitabha Buddha as central figure.

Amitabha, also known as Amida or Amitayus, is one of the five dhyani (primordial) buddha's in Mahayana Buddhism and the central buddha figure in the Pure Land teachings, known in both Eastern Asian and Tibetan Buddhism.

After renouncing the royal lineage which he was born in, he spent the rest of his human life as a monk known as Dharmakara. On his path to buddha-hood he swore 48 oaths, promising to assist every other human being with an honest wish to reach enlightenment. His oaths speak for example of the promise to ensure rebirth in Sukhavati, a state of consciousness also known as the "Western Paradise" or “the  Land of Ultimate Bliss" to anyone calling upon him sincerely and faithfully (for example by reciting his name with the mantra "Om Ah Amitabha Hum"), and to always appear to those calling his name on their death-bed.

Necklaces in this traditional style are most commonly handmade by buddhist monks in temples, to be sold as amulets for pilgrims and tourists. On a yak leather cord, three pendants are hung; the central one holding a brass depiction of Amitabha Buddha with a Long Life vase in his hand, and on both sides a small leather 'pillow' style amulet. These pillows are filled with a mix of different sacred and blessed ingredients and can contain for example grains, herbs, stone chips and ashes from sacred fires.

This amulet necklace is approximately 61 centimeters long (measured without the pendant) and weighs 31 grams. The central pendant with Amitabha Buddha is approximately 4 x 3 centimeters in size and the leather 'pillows' are 1,5 x 2 and 2,3 x 2,8 centimeters.

The necklace is from vintage origin and shows some signs of its age and previous usage. Only one available.