Renowned in Mahayana Buddhism, Kṣitigarbha Bodhisattva is known for his vows to take responsibility for the instruction of all beings in the six worlds between the death of Gautama Buddha and the rise of Maitreya, as well as to not achieve Buddhahood until all hells are emptied.
The Sutra of the Fundamental Vows of the Bodhisattva Kṣitigarbha details many ways that beings who “see the image of Kṣitigarbha or hear this sutra, who recite it and offer fragrant flowers, food, clothing or precious jewellery, and who reverently praise, gaze at and worship him” will be protected and aided.
Some examples are below, with many more in the Sutra itself.
Kṣitigarbha, today, I sincerely entrust multitudes in the heavens and the worlds to you. In the future, if any heavenly being or any good man or good woman in any of the worlds plants a tiny good root in Buddhadharma, even as tiny as a hair, a speck of dust, a grain of sand or a drop of water, you should use your divine power to protect this person. Guide him on the path of Dharma, step by step and never allow him to regress or lose it.
Sutra of the Fundamental Vows of the Bodhisattva Kṣitigarbha
Moreover, Kṣitigarbha, in the future, those heavenly or human beings about to fall into the evil level, if at the front door of hell they can recite a Buddha’s or a Bodhisattva’s name, or a sentence from a Mahayana sutra, you should use your divine power and employ every possible way to help and save them. You can manifest your limitless form around their homes and shatter the hells for them. Let all of them ascend to heaven and enjoy wonderful happiness. At that time, the World Honored One spoke a verse: Those heavenly beings and humans now and in the future, I sincerely entrust them all to you. Using great divine power to cross them over, do not allow them to fall into the evil levels.
Sutra of the Fundamental Vows of the Bodhisattva Kṣitigarbha
At that time, Bodhisattva Kṣitigarbha, Mahasattva knelt down, placed his hands together and said to Buddha, “World Honored One, please do not be concerned. In the future, if any good man or good woman shows a little reverence for Buddhadharma, I shall use hundreds or thousands of convenient ways to help and cultivate this person and relieve him or her from suffering. Those people who have studied the Dharma and have heard of good deeds will progress naturally and will never regress from the Way.
Sutra of the Fundamental Vows of the Bodhisattva Kṣitigarbha
The Buddha told Bodhisattva Empty Space Store, “Listen, listen, I shall explain this to you. In the future, any good man or good woman who sees the image of Kṣitigarbha or hears this sutra, who recites it and offers fragrant flowers, food, clothing or precious jewellery, and who reverently praises, gazes at and worship him will earn these twenty eight benefits:
Sutra of the Fundamental Vows of the Bodhisattva Kṣitigarbha
They will be protected by heavenly beings and dragons.
They will increase in good mind day after day.
They will accumulate superior wisdom.
They will never regress from Bodhi.
They will be opulent in food and clothing.
They will never suffer from any disease.
They will be far away from flood, fire and disaster.
They will not be stolen from or robbed.
They will be respected by everyone.
Gods and ghosts will help and support them.
A woman may be reborn as a male in the next life.
A woman may be born as a king’s or minister’s daughter.
They will be born with good-looking features.
They will be reincarnated in heaven.
They may be reincarnated as a king.
They will be aware of their former lives.
They will obtain anything they ask.
Their families and relatives will be joyful.
All disasters or accidents will be eliminated.
They will be rid of all bad karma.
They will go anywhere without problems.
They will have pleasant and peaceful dreams.
Their deceased relatives will be far away from suffering.
They will receive the blessings from their past lives.
They will be praised by Buddhas and Bodhisattvas.
They will become intelligent and have a good roots.
They will possess a merciful heart.
They will ultimately realize Buddhahood.
Ideally, artwork or statues depicting Kṣitigarbha Bodhisattva should be placed in a clean shrine or altar placed in the south of a residence as detailed below.
World Honored One, I observe that the present and future living beings may construct shrines to Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva out of clay, marble, bamboo, or wood at clean locations on the south side of their residences. Place within these shrines either paintings or statues of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva made of gold, silver, bronze or iron; then, perform acts of devotion by burning incense, making offerings, paying homage and reciting praises to Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva before these shrines.
Sutra of the Fundamental Vows of the Bodhisattva Kṣitigarbha