觀音義疏 2.67

2.67

Great Mastery (Maheśvara) is Maheśvara at the pinnacle of the form realm. The Loutan jing calls him Akaniṣṭha; the Huayan jing calls him Ultimate Form (Akaniṣṭha). Some people take him to be [the lord of] the sixth heaven, yet various sūtras and treatises mostly state that Great Mastery is at the pinnacle of the form realm. The Shilun says: 'Surpassing the Pure Abodes, there is a bodhisattva of the ten abodes named Great Mastery, the lord of the great-thousandfold world.' The Shizhu jing says: 'The radiance of the god Great Mastery surpasses all sentient beings. Because the offering made by the god Great Mastery at the nirvāṇa was the most supreme, he is not of the sixth heaven.' The Shilun says: 'Maheśvara is here translated as Great Mastery; riding a white ox, with eight arms and three eyes, he is a general of the gods.' It is not yet known whether this is the same name or refers to the king as the general.