In Mahayana Buddhism, celestial Buddhas and Bodhisattvas represent various manifestations of Wisdom Energy. There are passive and Active, male and female, and peaceful and wrathful manifestations.
By Praying to these manifestations and repeating their Mantras, we can invoke their help and their particular qualities can manifest in our lives. It is taught that saying their Mantra is like calling out your mother's name when you were a lost child. You call and call until they hear you and come to you. Often some form of the 7 Limbed Prayer is used in praying to the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas.
Buddhas (male and female, peaceful) represent passive energy. Buddhas just are. Medecine Buddha is Health, Vairochana is Awareness, Buddha Locana (female) is the Buddha-Eye. Using Buddhas is like us tapping into their energy (actually just the Wisdom energy that's always out there). Herukas (male) and Dakinis (female) are the wrathful forms of Buddhas, but being wrathful are more responsive and thus the connection and reaction is made more quickly, and so they can function almost as Bodhisattvas.
Bodhisattvas are the more active energy. Bodhisattvas come to us, as we go towards them. Avalokiteshvara (Chenrezi) or Tara work for us. They fill us with compassion. They remove our obstacles for us. They intercede on our behalf.
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