Womb Realm

In Vajrayana Buddhism, the Womb Realm (Sanskrit: garbhakoṣadhātu, Traditional Chinese: 胎蔵界; Pinyin: Tāizāngjiè; Rōmaji: taizōkai) is the metaphysical space inhabited by the Five Compassion Buddhas.

This mandala, along with the Diamond Realm, form the core of Chinese Tangmi and Japanese Tendai and Shingon Buddhist rituals, including abhisheka "initiation".

[3] In traditional Tangmi and Shingon halls, the Womb Realm Mandala is hung on the east wall, symbolizing the young stage of Mahāvairocana.

[5] The following is a basic outline of the main halls or quarters of the Womb Realm Mandala:[6] Vairocana is depicted in regal attire wearing a jewelled crown in the center of an eight-petaled lotus.

The hall is marked off by a five-colored boundary path with each color referring to one of the five buddhas, knowledges, directions, roots, conversions, syllables, elements, and forms.

Japanese Womb Realm mandala , 9th century, Tō-ji , Kyōto, Japan.
Womb World from Mandala of the Two Worlds (Kongōkai Taizōkai mandara). Hanging scroll, textile. Japan, 15th century.
The central eight petal hall. The center figure represents the young stage of Vairocana . He is surrounded by eight Buddhas and bodhisattvas (clockwise from top: Ratnasambhava , Samantabhadra , Saṅkusumitarāja, Manjushri , Amitābha , Avalokiteśvara , Amoghasiddhi and Maitreya )