Samantabhadra is one of the 4 major Bodhisattvas in Buddhism.
According to the Avatamsaka Sutra (the Garland Sutra, meaning
Flower Adornment Sutra), Samantabhadra expressed the cherished wish
to disseminate the doctrines of the Buddha and was nicknamed
"Samantabhadra the Tireless Traveller". He stood in attendance at
Sakyamuni's (i.e. the Buddha's) right side and was in charge of
benevolence, while Manjusri stood to the Buddha's left as the
Bodhisattva in charge of wisdom. Since Samantabhadra was in the
habit of reading and observing nature on the road, he needed a
mount that could walk as smoothly as possible. That is why he was
fond of riding his white elephant with 6 tusks. So in the Buddhist
art, he is often shown as holding a double curved sceptre in his
hand and sitting on a lotus seat fastened to the back of his
elephant.
That Mount Emei had become his bodhimandala had something to do
with the natural light on the top of the mountain. It was said that
when Pu Gong, a hermit of the Eastern Han Dynasty spotted the
spectacular rays on the mountaintop, he consulted an Indian monk
who had just arrived in China, who said,"This is the auspicious
symbol of Samantabhadra. This light was originally used to protect
Tathagata, but now it has made it's presence felt in this place for
the benefit of the multitude." Such explanation was in accordance
with the description of Samantabhadra's residence in the Garland
Sutra, which says, " There is a Mountain of Brightness in the
Southwest, where quite a few Bodhisattvas have resided since
ancient times. The current Bodhisattva living there is
Samantabhadra together with 3,000 family members. He often preaches
the doctrines there." As the Garland Sutra was spread into China
during the Eastern Jin Dynasty, Buddhists at that time began to
worship Mount Emei as Samantabhadra's residence and bodhimandala.
This tradition was handed down till this day.
http://www.buddhistdoor.com/bdoor/0108/sources/fourmtn2.htm
