Ksitigarbha’s name may be translated as “Earth Store,” “Earth Treasury,” or “Earth Womb.” He is usually depicted as a monk with a shaven head, holding a staff in one hand and a Mani jewel in the other. The staff is used to force open the gates of hell and the gem to light up the darkness for all the beings. Ksitigarbha’s staff also has six metal rings at the top, which jingle as he walks, announcing his presence, warding off predators and scaring away small animals that might inadvertently be crushed underfoot. The six rings also represent the six realms of existence (which are: the deava, asura, human, animal, hell, and hungry ghosts realms).
Ksitigarbha is known for his vow to liberate all beings in the six realms between the death of Shakyamuni Buddha and the rise of Maitreya Buddha, as well as his vow not to achieve Buddhahood until all the hells are emptied.
In schools of Chinese Esoteric Buddhism, the manta of Ksitigarbha comes from the Treasury of Mantras section of the Mahavairocana Tantra. The effect of this mantra is producing the “Samadhi Realm Adamantine Indestructible Conduct.” The mantra is: Namah Samantabuddhanam ha ha ha sutanu svaha.
Another mantra associated with Ksitigarbha is the “Mantra of Eliminating Fixed Karma,” which is: Om Pramardani Svaha.