Material: Copper. Gawu (can be loaded) pendant

Size: about 6.5 cm

Description:

The meaning and origin of the God of Wealth mantra

In Tibetan Buddhism, the **God of Wealth mantra** is a practice mantra related to the God of Wealth (Tibetan: Dzambhala, Sanskrit: Jambhala), used to pray for wealth, blessings, career success and inner spiritual abundance. The God of Wealth is regarded as the embodiment of compassion and wisdom in Tibetan Buddhism. Its image and mantra not only symbolize the growth of material wealth, but also emphasize the spiritual satisfaction and the practice of generosity.

**Meaning**

1. **Balance between material and spiritual wealth**:

- The recitation of the God of Wealth mantra is intended to pray for material abundance (such as money and resources) to support the living needs of practitioners and sentient beings.

- The deeper meaning is to cultivate the inner "sense of abundance", including spiritual wealth such as wisdom, compassion, generosity, etc., to help practitioners transcend greed and realize the bodhisattva practice of giving and altruism.

2. **Eliminating poverty and obstacles**:

- Jambhala is believed to help eliminate poverty, scarcity and obstacles in life, so that practitioners have smooth conditions to focus on Buddhist practice.

- Chanting the Jambhala mantra can purify karma, especially negative karma related to greed or stinginess.

3. **Symbol of compassion and generosity**:

- Jambhala's teachings emphasize that "wealth should go hand in hand with generosity". The chanter needs to vow to use the wealth he obtains for the benefit of others, such as helping the poor or supporting Buddhist causes, in order to obtain true blessings.

- The practice of the Jambhala mantra reminds practitioners that true wealth lies in generosity and selflessness, not just the accumulation of material things.

**Origin**

1. **Origin of Jambhala**:

- Jambhala (Jambhala) originated from the fusion of Hinduism and Buddhism. Its prototype may be related to the Hindu god of wealth "Kubera". Buddhism absorbed this image and transformed it into the incarnation of Dharma protectors and bodhisattvas.

- In Tibetan Buddhism, there are five main incarnations of the God of Wealth, known as the **Five Wealth Gods** (Yellow Wealth God, White Wealth God, Black Wealth God, Red Wealth God, Green Wealth God), each with different images, merits and mantras, representing different blessings and aspects of practice.

- Yellow Wealth God is the most common, with his image holding a treasure-spitting rat (symbolizing endless treasures) and a treasure bottle, representing the endless source of wealth.

2. **The inheritance of the mantra**:

- The inheritance of the mantra of the God of Wealth comes from the Tantra teachings of Tibetan Buddhism, which are usually passed on orally by the master to the disciples, and must be formally practiced after initiation or specific rituals.

- One of the most common mantras of the God of Wealth is the mantra of the Yellow Wealth God: **Om Jambhala Jalendraye Svaha**. This mantra is believed to evoke the blessing of the God of Wealth and bring wealth and merit.

- The specific content and pronunciation of the mantra vary slightly depending on the lineage (such as Nyingma, Sakya, Gelug, Kagyu), but the core meaning is the same.

3. **Legends and teachings**:

- It is said that the practice of the God of Wealth was taught by Sakyamuni Buddha himself, or by Dharma protectors such as Vajrapani, to help sentient beings solve the problem of material scarcity and focus on practice.

- In the classics of Tibetan Buddhism, the God of Wealth is described as the incarnation of the Buddha, whose purpose is to use wealth as a medium to guide sentient beings to the path of liberation.

**Practice method**

- **Reciting the mantra**: Practitioners usually recite the God of Wealth mantra in the early morning or in a specific ritual, combined with visualizing the image of the God of Wealth or mandala.

- **Offerings and vows**: During practice, water, incense, flowers, etc. need to be offered, and a vow is made to use the wealth obtained for the Dharma and altruistic causes.

- **Combined with compassion**: Keep pure motivation when chanting the mantra, avoid greed or selfishness, otherwise you may not receive blessings.

**Cultural influence**

- The mantra of the God of Wealth is not only widely spread in Tibetan Buddhism, but also has influenced Chinese Buddhism and East Asian Buddhist culture. Many temples hold God of Wealth ceremonies on specific festivals (such as the Tibetan New Year) to attract believers to participate in prayers.

- In modern times, the mantra of the God of Wealth is also used by some non-Buddhists as a tool to pray for career success, but Tibetan Buddhism emphasizes that its practice must be combined with correct faith and altruism.

Summary

The mantra of the God of Wealth represents the harmonious unity of material and spiritual wealth in Tibetan Buddhism, and its origin can be traced back to the fusion of Indian Buddhism and Tibetan tantra. Chanting this mantra is not only to pray for wealth, but also a way of practice to purify the mind and cultivate generosity and compassion. Through the right motivation and practice, the mantra of the God of Wealth can help practitioners eliminate obstacles, increase merit, and ultimately move towards the goal of liberation.