Medicine buddha or the healing buddha is said to dispense spiritual medicine when properly worshipped. It is even believed that an efficacious cure may be accomplished by merely touching the image. His right hand holds a branch of myrobalan plant and it is  in the varadamudra posture or the giving gesture.  His left hand is on his lap, holding a lapis lazuli pindapatra or a container containing medicines.

The Buddha has a long- lobed ears , and curly hair . He wears a monastic robe , and is seated cross—legged . The blue or lapis lazuli color of the body symbolizes that he accepts all the diseases and sickness of  all suffering beings himself. The plant myrobalan represents the medicine, which heals all the sicknesses of sentient beings.

According to the ancient  Medical sutra  or text , he made 12 great vows before his attainment of Buddhahood. The important vows are as follows  :

1. to eliminate sickness from all living beings and
2. Make them feel easy and happy in order to attain Buddhahood and
3. To liberate beings from disaster and calamities.

It is said that the land of Buddha Bhaisajya is entirely pure and is paved with lapis lazuli.The cities,buildings and palaces are made of seven jewels . In that land the sentient beings do no commit any evil deeds;hence there is no lower realm.               

In the Tibetan medical tradition, Medicine Buddha is said to be the source of all medical treatises.This Buddha is invoked for  the elimination of disasters and sickness of all kinds.