Why Amitabha?

Learning Point No 296

Many know only of the historical Gautama Buddha.  But there are many buddhas and Lord Gautama himself refers to them. In fact there is in Theravada Buddhism even a sutra or holy teaching titled Salutation to the 28 Buddhas.

With respect to Amitabha, he is considered the overall Buddha and as his name implies, he is the Buddha of Infinite Light. As he has attained enlightenment, he has no form like a human but projects himself in the image of human to reach out to men and beings. He is divine energy that is pervasive and hence omnipresent. 

Amitabha Buddha

In fact, calling out his name Omitofo or Amitabha is as good as calling out to all saints or enlightened ones like Ji Gong. Thus he has promised that the devout who chants or sings "Namo Omitofo" will be able to tap into his divine energy and be blessed not only by him but by all heavenly saints. 

Ji Gong too calls on Omitofo when he blesses men

There are many bodhisattvas or posats who have been enlightened through Amitabha and Kuanyin the Goddess of Mercy is one of them. 

In Buddhist mythology, it states that she was born from Amitabha Buddha's right eye, after which he proclaimed,"Om Mani Padme Hum" -- Hail to the jewel in the lotus -- a sentiment of her preciousness to him. Some believe she is actually an incarnation of Amitabha Buddha.  Refer post:  Origin and meaning of Om Mani Padme Hum

Goddess Kuanyin

There are many who due to being less literate or to dire circumstances like ill health or disasters are unable to recite long prayers or sutras. Thus the best mantra or prayer must be short, sweet and effective.

Namo Omitofo.

Amitabha Buddha takes centre-stage at Bo Tien Temple Singapore

Reference:  
http://www.buddhanet.net/e-learning/history/amithaba-txt.htm

Extract below is from http://www.amituofo.com/amituofo/ 

"In the sacred Buddhist texts of China, the Sutra of Buddha of Infinite Life relates Amitabha Buddha. 

On a certain occasion, Sakyamuni Buddha (the Buddha of our present age) was on Vulture Peak, surrounded by his disciples. Ananda, the Buddha’s personal attendant, noticed the radiant beauty of the Buddha and inquired what was the Buddha’s joy. 

Sakyamuni relates the following story: In an infinite time in the past, Bhiksu Dharmakara observed the misery of all sentient beings, and moved by compassion, he vowed to establish a pure and perfect land where all could be liberated from their suffering. He then made forty-eight Vows in which he promised to establish this land or else he would not attain enlightenment. 

The Sutra declares the Bhiksu Dhamakara practiced for many eons until he accomplished all his vows. Since he has achieved his aims, he is considered to be the Buddha of that land-The Buddha Of Infinite Light and Life."

Amitabha Buddha

The extract below is from wikipedia 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amit%C4%81bha 

"According to the Larger Sūtra of Immeasurable Life (Mahāyāna Amitāyus Sūtra) Amitābha was, in very ancient times and possibly in another system of worlds, a monk named Dharmakāra. In some versions of the sūtra, Dharmakāra is described as a former king who, having come into contact with the Buddhist teachings through the buddha Lokesvararaja, renounced his throne. He then resolved to become a buddha and so to come into possession of a buddhakṣetra ("buddha-field", a realm existing in the primordial universe outside of ordinary space time, produced by a buddha's merit) possessed of many perfections. "