udumbara A type of plant said to bloom only once in three thousand years. Used in Buddhist literature to symbolize the rarity of encountering a buddha.
Universal Worthy (Skt Samantabhadra, Ch Puxian, J Fugen) A bodhisattva who is the subject of chapter twenty-eight of the Lotus Sutra and of the Universal Worthy Sutra. He is symbolic of religious practice and is usually depicted riding a white elephant.
Uruvilva Kashyapa (Uruvilvā Kāśyapa) A disciple of Shakyamuni, the eldest of the three Kashyapa brothers. When Shakyamuni came to Uruvilva village to preach, he became one of the Buddha’s early converts along with his two brothers.
utpala Blue lotsu.