There are uncountable numbers of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. But there are just a few where the Buddha himself praised and spoke about their many accomplishments in detail in the sutras. These select Buddhas and Bodhisattvas are worthy of our praise because of their compassion and the greatness of their vows, and they are especially important to us people because of their role in our universe.
Although all Buddhas and Bodhisattvas are great and praiseworthy, some are just, to put it simply, not in our area code. The universe is unfathomably large and even our galaxy is but a mere speck in it. And just like in our world there are countries and cities and towns with different leaders in each part, there are also different Buddhas and Bodhisattvas for each part of the universe.
The Buddha said that after he died, the world will have 500 years of the true law/teachings, a time when the message of the Buddha was still clear and pure. Afterwards there would be 1000 years of the counterfeit law/teachings, a time where the message would become muddled. Thereafter the world will continue to lose the teachings, until one day when the Buddha's message will be completely gone, and the next Buddha would come. The time of the next Buddha's arrival is many many millions of years in the future. As such during this period, we do not have a Buddha in our world.
Not wanting the world to be without a guide/protector/teacher before the arrival of the next Buddha, Maitreya Buddha, the Buddha entrusted the role to Earth Store Bodhisattva also known as Di Zhang Pu Sa or Ksitigarbha. Buddha entrusted this great role to Earth Store Bodhisattva because in the great history of all the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas there has never been one who has made a greater vow.
"Manjushri, the awesome spiritual vows of this Bodhisattva are inconceivable. If good men and good women in the future hear this Bodhisattva's name, praise him, behold or bow to him, call his name, make offerings to him, or if they draw, carve, cast, sculpt, or paint images of him such people will be reborn in the heavenly states and never fall into the evil paths."
So what were the vows? Inconceivable eons ago, there was a girl who was a very devoted daughter to her mother. her mother however, held wrong views, took wrong actions and often besmirched and ridiculed the Buddha and the dharma. When the mother died her consciousness fell into the Relentless Hell. When she realized her mother had died, the girl worried greatly that her mother would fall into a horrible fate. So she sold the family house and belongings and for many days and nights she would pray and bring offerings to the temple to the Buddha of that age called Enlightenment-Flower Samadhi Self-Mastery King Buddha. Seeing her devotion one day she heard the voice of the Buddha telling her to return home and concentrate and she will soon know where her mother was reborn. After doing so for a day and night the young girl suddenly saw herself in a see whose waters seethed and bubbled, filled with dreadful beasts, and billions of men and women bobbling in the water frantic and in fear. The beasts would eat the people and bodies and body parts were strewn throughout. Despite the horrors, the young girl was not scared as she felt the recollection of the Buddha. Finally the Ghost King Poisonless asked her why was she there as she was clearly not there based on her karma. The young girl asked the Ghost King where she was, and he responded she was in the Relentless Hell. He then went on to describe the great hells in detail with its limitless cruel sufferings. The Young girl then asked the Ghost King about her mother and where she was in the hell. The Ghost King put his hands together and then told the young girl "Please, worthy one, quickly return home. There is no need for you to grieve further. Your mother was born in the heavens three days ago, it is said she benefitted from the offerings made and the blessings cultivated by her child, who for her mother's sake practiced giving at the stupas and temple of the Buddha." After hearing this, the young girl vowed to the Buddha saying; "I vow that until the end of future eons, I will respond to beings suffering for their offenses by using many expedient means to bring about their liberation." That young girl is now Earth Store Bodhisattva. And throughout the many inconceivable eons and uncountable lifetimes, the Earth Store Bodhisattva has repeated his vow:
"Only when all living beings have been liberated, will I myself become a Buddha." From the time he made his vows to the Buddha millions of ineffable eons have passed, yet he is still a Bodhisattva.
Therefore, one who prays, honors, praises, and makes offerings to Earth Store Bodhisattva garners incalculable merits and good karma.
Although all Buddhas and Bodhisattvas are great and praiseworthy, some are just, to put it simply, not in our area code. The universe is unfathomably large and even our galaxy is but a mere speck in it. And just like in our world there are countries and cities and towns with different leaders in each part, there are also different Buddhas and Bodhisattvas for each part of the universe.
The Buddha said that after he died, the world will have 500 years of the true law/teachings, a time when the message of the Buddha was still clear and pure. Afterwards there would be 1000 years of the counterfeit law/teachings, a time where the message would become muddled. Thereafter the world will continue to lose the teachings, until one day when the Buddha's message will be completely gone, and the next Buddha would come. The time of the next Buddha's arrival is many many millions of years in the future. As such during this period, we do not have a Buddha in our world.
Not wanting the world to be without a guide/protector/teacher before the arrival of the next Buddha, Maitreya Buddha, the Buddha entrusted the role to Earth Store Bodhisattva also known as Di Zhang Pu Sa or Ksitigarbha. Buddha entrusted this great role to Earth Store Bodhisattva because in the great history of all the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas there has never been one who has made a greater vow.
"Manjushri, the awesome spiritual vows of this Bodhisattva are inconceivable. If good men and good women in the future hear this Bodhisattva's name, praise him, behold or bow to him, call his name, make offerings to him, or if they draw, carve, cast, sculpt, or paint images of him such people will be reborn in the heavenly states and never fall into the evil paths."
So what were the vows? Inconceivable eons ago, there was a girl who was a very devoted daughter to her mother. her mother however, held wrong views, took wrong actions and often besmirched and ridiculed the Buddha and the dharma. When the mother died her consciousness fell into the Relentless Hell. When she realized her mother had died, the girl worried greatly that her mother would fall into a horrible fate. So she sold the family house and belongings and for many days and nights she would pray and bring offerings to the temple to the Buddha of that age called Enlightenment-Flower Samadhi Self-Mastery King Buddha. Seeing her devotion one day she heard the voice of the Buddha telling her to return home and concentrate and she will soon know where her mother was reborn. After doing so for a day and night the young girl suddenly saw herself in a see whose waters seethed and bubbled, filled with dreadful beasts, and billions of men and women bobbling in the water frantic and in fear. The beasts would eat the people and bodies and body parts were strewn throughout. Despite the horrors, the young girl was not scared as she felt the recollection of the Buddha. Finally the Ghost King Poisonless asked her why was she there as she was clearly not there based on her karma. The young girl asked the Ghost King where she was, and he responded she was in the Relentless Hell. He then went on to describe the great hells in detail with its limitless cruel sufferings. The Young girl then asked the Ghost King about her mother and where she was in the hell. The Ghost King put his hands together and then told the young girl "Please, worthy one, quickly return home. There is no need for you to grieve further. Your mother was born in the heavens three days ago, it is said she benefitted from the offerings made and the blessings cultivated by her child, who for her mother's sake practiced giving at the stupas and temple of the Buddha." After hearing this, the young girl vowed to the Buddha saying; "I vow that until the end of future eons, I will respond to beings suffering for their offenses by using many expedient means to bring about their liberation." That young girl is now Earth Store Bodhisattva. And throughout the many inconceivable eons and uncountable lifetimes, the Earth Store Bodhisattva has repeated his vow:
"Only when all living beings have been liberated, will I myself become a Buddha." From the time he made his vows to the Buddha millions of ineffable eons have passed, yet he is still a Bodhisattva.
Therefore, one who prays, honors, praises, and makes offerings to Earth Store Bodhisattva garners incalculable merits and good karma.