烏枢沙摩明王うすさまみょうおう

Meanings

Ucchusma; Ususama Myōō

A Buddhist Wisdom King (明王) associated with purification, especially of unclean places like toilets. Often invoked for protection and cleansing rituals.

烏枢沙摩明王うすさまみょうおうは、不ふ浄じょうを清きよめる力ちからがあると信しんじられている。
Ususama Myōō is believed to have the power to purify defilement.
この寺てらには烏枢沙摩明王うすさまみょうおうを祀まつったお堂どうがある。
This temple has a hall dedicated to Ususama Myōō.

Kanji

烏crow, raven
枢hinge, pivot, door
沙sand
摩chafe, rub, polish
明bright, light
王king, rule, magnate
芻grass cutting, hay
蒭to cut grass, hay, fodder

Related words

明みょう王おう
A general term for Wisdom Kings in Buddhism; 烏枢沙摩明王 is one specific Wisdom King.
不ふ動どう明みょう王おう
Another prominent Wisdom King, often contrasted with Ususama Myōō in esoteric Buddhist iconography.

Written forms

烏枢沙摩明王
- うすさまみょうおう
  Most common kanji spelling for this Buddhist deity.
- うすしゃまみょうおう
烏芻沙摩明王
- うすさまみょうおう
  Variant kanji form; less common.
- うすしゃまみょうおう
烏蒭沙摩明王
- うすさまみょうおう
  Variant kanji form; less common.
- うすしゃまみょうおう
うすしゃまみょうおう

Etymology

A Japanese transcription, through Chinese Buddhist usage, of Sanskrit Ucchuṣma. The characters 烏枢沙摩 are primarily phonographic, followed by the title 明王.