Bhaisajyaguru (薬師 Ch. Y�oshī, Jp. Yakushi), more formally Bhaisajyaguruvaiduryaprabha (Jp. 薬師瑠璃光如来 Yakushirorikō nyorai) and also known as the Master of Healing or Medicine Buddha, is the Buddha of healing. His full name means "Medicine Master Lapis Lazuli Light". In Mahayana Buddhism, Bhaisajyaguru represents the healing aspect of the historical Buddha Sakyamuni.

Origin

Bhaisajyaguru is described in the eponymous Bhaisajyaguru-sutra (Jp. 薬師経 Yakushi-kyō) as bodhisattva who made and fulfilled 12 vows, two of them related to healing. On achieving Buddhahood, he became the Buddha of the realm of Vaiduryanirbhasa (Jp. 浄瑠璃 Jōruri) in the eastern quarter, where he is attended to by the bodhisattvas Nikko and Gakko. Yakushi is notably absent from the Mandala of the Two Realms, but is one of the Thirteen Buddhas.

Iconography

Bhaisajyaguru is typically depicted seated, wearing simple clothes, with a jar of medicine in his right hand and the left hand held up in the mudra meaning "No Fear". However, the medicine jar is a relatively new development and early depictions can be very difficult to tell apart from Shakyamuni.

Role in Japan

Starting in the 7th century Yakushi has been the object of a popular cult in Japan, largely supplanting the previous cult of Ashuku (Akshobhya). Some of Yakushi's role has been taken over by Jizo (Ksitigarbha), but Yakushi still presides over the Japanese Buddhist memorial service to dead.

Role in Tibet

The practice of Medicine Buddha, the Supreme Healer (or Sangye Menla in Tibetan) is not only a very powerful method for healing and increasing healing powers both for oneself and others, but also for overcoming the inner sickness of attachment, hatred, and ignorance, thus to meditate on the Medicine Buddha can help decrease physical and mental illness and suffering.

Tibetan Buddhists consider the Medicine Buddha Empowerment to be the most powerful blessing for healing, dispelling sickness and for awakening the innate healing wisdom that lies within every individual.

This is the short version of the Medicine Buddha Mantra:

Tayata Om Bhaykandze Bhaykandze Maha Bhaykandze Bhaykandze Radza Samudgate Soha

Phonetically, it sounds like:

Tah-yah-tah OM, beck-and-zay beck-and-zay, mah-hah beck-and-zay beck-and-zay, rod-zah sah-moo-gah-tay, so-hah!

Medicine Buddha Resources (http://www.dharma-haven.org/tibetan/medicine-buddha.htm)