Cintāmaṇi, also spelled as Chintamani, is a wish-fulfilling jewel within both Hindu and Buddhist traditions, said by some to be the equivalent of the philosopher's stone in Western alchemy. It is one of several Mani Jewel images found in Buddhist scripture. In Buddhism it is held by the BodhisattvasAvalokiteshvara and Ksitigarbha. It is also seen carried upon the back of the Lung Ta which is depicted on Tibetan prayer flags. By reciting the Dharani of Cintamani, Buddhist tradition maintains that one attains the Wisdom of Buddha, able to understand the truth of the Buddha, and turn afflictions into Bodhi. It is said to allow one to see the Holy Retinue of Amitabha and assembly upon one's deathbed. In Tibetan Buddhist tradition the Chintamani is sometimes depicted as a luminous pearl and is in the possession of several of different forms of the Buddha. Within Hinduism, it is connected with the gods, Vishnu and Ganesha. In Hindu tradition it is often depicted as a fabulous jewel in the possession of the Naga king or as on the forehead of the Makara. The Yoga Vasistha, originally written in the 10th century AD, contains a story about the cintamani. The HinduVishnu Purana speaks of the "Syamanta jewel, bestowing prosperity upon its owner, encapsulates the Yadu clan system". The Vishnu Purana is attributed to the mid-first millennium AD. It draws on earlier religion or folklore. In Japan, where the Hindu goddess, Lakshmi is known as Kisshōten in Shinto, she is commonly depicted with the Nyoihōju gem in her hand.
Nomenclature, orthography and etymology
Cintāmaṇi : 'Wish-Fulfilling Gem'
The mani is translated in Chineseruyi or ruyizhu 如意珠 "as-one-wishes jewel" or ruyibaozhu 如意寶珠 "as-one-wishes precious jewel". Ruyibaozhu is pronounced in Japanesenyoi-hōju or nyoi-hōshu 如意宝珠. Ruyizhu is pronounced in Koreanyeouiju 여의주.
History
In Buddhism the Chintamani is said to be one of four relics that came in a chest that fellfrom the sky during the reign of king Lha Thothori Nyantsen of Tibet. Though the king did not understand the purpose of the objects, he kept them in a position of reverence. Several years later, two mysterious strangers appeared at the court of the king, explaining the four relics, which included the Buddha's bowl and a mani stone with the Om Mani Padme Hummantra inscribed on it. These few objects were the bringers of the Dharma to Tibet. The Digital Dictionary of Buddhism's ruyizhu entry says:
A -jewel; magical jewel, which manifests whatever one wishes for. According to one's desires, treasures, clothing and food can be manifested, while sickness and suffering can be removed, water can be purified, etc. It is a metaphor for the teachings and virtues of the Buddha.... Said to be obtained from the dragon-king of the sea, or the head of the great fish, Makara, or the relics of a Buddha.
The Kintamani mountainous region in Bali was named after the Cintamani.
