As per Tibetan belief, the Dhyani Buddhas were created by Adi Buddha who is regarded as the primordial and highest being. They are not historical beings, rather they are transcendent beings who represent universal divine principles or forces. They are representative of various aspects of the enlightened consciousness and are aid in spiritual transformation.
The Dhyani Buddhas, each of them, represent certain attributes and symbols. They are the embodiment of the five wisdoms that overpower five sinister evils that prevent a man's desire to renounce the world and seek spiritual growth. They are also embodiments of the five skandhas or the elements that combine to make up cosmic existence and human personality.
Each Buddha dominates one of the direction of space as well as one of the cosmic realms.
Lastly, they are also accorded a specific colour, mudra (hand gesture), symbolic animal as a throne and a sacred symbol.
The Five Dhyani Buddhas
| Vairocana | Akshobhya | Ratnasambhava | Amitabha | Amogasiddha | ||
| Name | Buddha Supreme and Eternal; The Radiant One | Immovable or Unshakable Buddha | Source of Precious Things or Jewel-Born One | Buddha of Infinite Light | Almighty Conquerer or Lord of Karma | |
| Direction | Center | East | South | West | North | |
| Color | white | blue | yellow | red | green | |
| Mudra | dharmachakra (wheel-turning) | bhumisparsa (witness) | varada (charity) | dhyana | abhaya (fearlessness) | |
| Vija (Syllable) | Om | Hum | Trah | Hrih | Ah | |
| Symbol | wheel | thunderbolt | jewel (ratna) or Three Jewels (triratna) | lotus | double thunderbolt | |
| Embodies | sovereignty | steadfastness | compassion | light | dauntlessness | |
| Type of wisdom | integration of the wisdom of all the Buddhas | mirrorlike | wisdom of equality | discriminating | all-accomplishing | |
| Cosmic element (skandha) | rupa (form) | vijnana (consciousness) | vendana (sensation) | sanjna (name or perception) | samsakara (volition) | |
| Earthly element | ether | water | earth | fire | air | |
| Antidote to | ignorance and delusion | anger and hatred | desire and pride | malignity | envy and jealousy | |
| Sense | sight | sound | smell | taste | touch | |
| Vehicle | lion | elephant | horse | peacock (because of eyes on its plumes) | garuda (half-man, half-bird) | |
| Spiritual son | Manjushree | Vajrapani | Ratnapani | Avalokiteshvara | Vajrapani | |
| Consort | White Tara | Locana | Mamaki | Pandara | Green Tara | |
| Paradise | Abhirati, the Land of Exceeding Great Delight | Sukhavati, Western Paradise, or Pure Land | ||||
| Other info | Integration or origin of other Dhyani Buddhas |
