Buddhist deities
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Buddhism |
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Buddhism includes a wide array of
Buddhists later also came to incorporate aspects from the countries to which it spread. As such, it includes many aspects taken from other mythologies of those cultures.
Buddhas
A
- Avatamsaka Sutra and the Vairocanābhisaṃbodhi Sūtra. He is the central Buddha in Huayan Buddhism, Chinese Esoteric Buddhism and Shingon. His pure land is known as the Padmagarbhalokadhātu (the lotus treasury world) and also as "Densely Arrayed Akaniṣṭha" (Ghanavyūhakaniṣṭha).
- Akshobhya ("the Imperturbable"), his buddha-field is Abhirati (lit. "The Joyous").
- Amitābha (Amida Buddha, ."Infinite Light"), the principal Buddha of Pure Land Buddhism. His buddha-field is called Sukhāvatī ("Blissful").
- Amoghasiddhi ("Infallible Success")
- Ratnasambhava ("Jewel Born")
Each is associated with a different consort, direction, aggregate (or, aspect of the personality), emotion, element, color, symbol, and mount.[1] In later, especially tantric sources, each male Buddha is associated with a specific female Buddha (though their names and attributes vary across the various Buddhist sources). Here is one common list of the five female Buddhas (also called prajñās, or vidyas):[2][3]
- Ākāśadhātvīśvarī ("The Sovereign Lady of the Sphere of Infinite Space"), the prajñā of Vairocana
- Locanā, the prajñā of Akṣobhya
- Māmakī ("Mine-maker"), the prajñā of Ratnasambhava
- Paṇḍāravāsinī ("White Robed One"), the prajñā of Amitabha
- Tārā ('Star"), sometimes associated with Amoghasiddhi, sometimes Amitabha
In Tibetan Buddhism, several female Buddhas are also recognized, such as Tara, the most popular female Buddha in Tibetan Buddhism, who comes in many forms and colors. Other female Buddha figures include Vajrayogini, Nairatmya, and Kurukullā.
Other Buddhas besides these five include Bhaisajyaguru (the Buddha of medicine) and Nageshvara Raja (the king of the Nāgas).
There is also the idea of the
Some historical figures are also seen as Buddhas, such as the Buddhist philosopher Nagarjuna (sometimes called the second Buddha) and the figure of Padmasambhava.
Bodhisattvas
In Theravada Buddhism, bodhisatta is a term used mainly for Sakyamuni Buddha before his awakening. It is also commonly believed that the future Buddha, Maitreya (Pali: Metteya) currently resides in Tushita Heaven, and this figure is one of the few bodhisattvas who have a prominent place in Theravada.[4][5]
In Mahayana Buddhism, a bodhisattva is any being that has aroused bodhicitta (mind of awakening) and is thus working towards full Buddhahood. Bodhisattvas who are seen as powerful and highly advanced are highly venerated in this tradition.
In India, a list known as the "Eight Close Sons" (Skt. aṣṭa utaputra) became the main set of bodhisattvas of Shakyamuni Buddha's entourage, they are:[6][7]
- Mañjuśrī ("Gentle Glory") Kumarabhuta ("Young Prince"), the main bodhisattva of wisdom
- Avalokiteśvara ("Lord who gazes down at the world"), the savior bodhisattva of great compassion
- Vajrapāṇi ("Vajra in hand"), the bodhisattva of protection, the protector of the Buddha (in East Asian sources, this slot is taken by Mahāsthāmaprāpta, though Vajrapāṇi is also found in these traditions)
- Maitreya ("Friendly One"), will become the Buddha of our world in the future
- Kṣitigarbha ("Earth Source"), known as the savior of beings from hell
- Ākāśagarbha ("Space Source") also known as Gaganagañja, associated with the space element (ākāśa).
- Sarvanivāraṇaviṣkambhin ("He who blocks the hindrances")
- Samantabhadra("Universal Worthy", or "All Good"), associated with vows
In Tibetan Buddhism, a Vajrayana Buddhist tradition, the major bodhisattvas are these "eight great bodhisattvas".[8]
The bodhisattva
Other male bodhisattvas appearing in Indian sources include
In the
In addition, Buddhist traditions in different countries have also absorbed native deities into their localized Buddhist pantheon, sometimes as Bodhisattvas. Some examples are
: Hachiman Daibosatsu).Certain historical figures have been considered to be bodhisattvas, like
Protector deities
There are various types of apotropaic deities whose main role is as guardian deities, protectors or general removers of evil. Some of these are unique to Buddhism and others are Indian deities that Buddhism shares with Hinduism. These deities can be seen as bodhisattvas, as devas, or even as manifestations of a Buddha.
Wisdom King
The Wisdom Kings (Sanskrit: Vidyārāja) are beings that are venerated in
In
Other important Wisdom Kings include
- Ucchuṣma
- Hayagriva
- Āṭavaka
- Rāgarāja
- Aparajita
- Mahachakra
- Padanaksipa
Five Protector Goddesses
The Pañcarakṣā ("Five Protectors") are five protector goddesses which are important in tantric Buddhism, the term also refers to their dhāraṇīs.[10][11][12][13]
These five protective dhāraṇī-goddesses are:[10]
- Mahāpratisarā (known for protection against defilements, disease and evils),
- Mahāsahasrapramardinī (for protection against evil spirits),
- Mahāmāyūrī or vidyārājñī (for protection against snake-poison),
- Mahāśītavatī (for protection against 'cruel' planets, cruel animalss and poisonous insects), and
- Mahārakṣā mantrānusāriṇī (for protection against diseases).
Dharmapalas
In Tibetan Buddhism, there are numerous "dharma protectors" (dharmapalas) which are considered to be emanations of bodhisattvas or Buddhas. These include popular dharma protectors like: Ekajaṭī, Mahākāla, Palden Lhamo, and Hayagrīva.
The Twenty Four Dharmapalas
In Chinese Buddhism, there is a list of Twenty-Four Protective Deities (Chinese: 二十四諸天; pinyin: Èrshísì Zhūtiān). These dharmapalas (Dharma protectors) are seen as defenders of Buddhism and protectors of Buddhists against evil or harm. They are:
- Maheśvara (Shiva)
- Brahma
- Śakra (Indra)
- Lakshmi
- Sarasvati
- Vaiśravaṇa
- Virūḍhaka
- Dhṛtarāṣṭra
- Virūpākṣa
- Surya
- Chandra
- Guhyapāda
- Pañcika
- Skanda
- Pṛthvī
- Spirit of the Bodhi Tree
- Hārītī
- Mārīcī
- Sāgara
- Yama
- Kinnara King
- Emperor Zi Wei
- Emperor Dongyue
- Thunder God
Devas
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Devas are divine beings, though they are not all necessarily wise or on the Buddhist path and hence not final objects of refuge. They have very long lives which have much less suffering than humans, but are not immortal or immune from suffering. Some devas have no physical form and exist in the formless realms. None of them are creator gods, and they are neither omniscient nor omnipotent.
Various Indian deities were part of Indian Buddhism from an early period. Examples include Śakra (known as "lord of the devas", the Buddhist Indra) who rules over the devas of the "Heaven of the Thirty Three" (Trayatrimsa), the four Lokapalas ("guardians of the world"), and goddesses like Lakshmi and Hariti.
The four lokapalas are also known as the Four Heavenly Kings (Cāturmahārāja). Each rules over a specific direction and also a class of non-human beings.
- gandharvas and piśācas.
- pretas.
- nāgas and pūtanas.
- Vaiśravaṇa - Guardian of the North. Leader of the yakṣas and rākṣasas.
With the
, is also regarded as both a bodhisattva and a deva.In Japanese Buddhism, Shinto gods were also syncretized into the pantheon under the honji suijaku theory by being conflated with the Indian deities imported from Buddhism, such as Ugajin and Ōkuninushi.
Yidam
The yidam, or ishta-devata, is a personal meditation deity. The Sanskrit word iṣṭadevatā or iṣṭadevaḥ is defined by V. S. Apte as "a favorite god, one's tutelary deity."[14] Though this term is used in many popular books on Buddhist Tantra, the term işţadevatā has not been attested in any Buddhist tantric text in Sanskrit. The unrelated Tibetan version of the term, possibly of entirely native origin, is yi-dam[15] is said to be a contraction of Tib. yid-kyi-dam-tshig,[16] meaning "samaya of mind"- in other words, the state of being indestructibly bonded with the inherently pure and liberated nature of mind.
The ishta-devata of Hinduism is an aspect of God for personal worship.
Wrathful deities
In the
Other beings
Asuras
The Asuras, sometimes translated as Titans or Demigods, are often depicted as enemies of the Devas and fighting them in wars. They are said to have been defeated by the Devas, led by Sakra, king of the gods.[20] They are often seen as being led by strong passions, such as hatred and greed.
Māra
Māra (literally meaning "death") refers to either a specific being, or to a class of beings, who are depicted as being antagonistic to the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha. As lord of the desire realm, Māra is depicted as working to keep beings under his control.
Yaksha
The yaksha are a broad class of nature-spirits, usually benevolent, who are caretakers of the natural treasures hidden in the earth and tree roots.[21] Having been worshiped in India since before the Vedic period, Hinduism adopted the worship of yaksha like Kubera. Later their worship was adopted by Buddhism. In Jainism, yakshas were worshiped as shasana devatas from the beginning.
In Buddhism, it is believed that they reside deep under the Himalayas where they guard the wealth of the Earth. The yaksha are ruled over by Kubera, the lord of wealth.[22]
In
Other spirit beings
There are numerous otherworldly spirits and legendary creatures found in Buddhist texts and Buddhist mythology. Many of these are shared with Hindu mythology. These include:
- Nāga, a serpentine deity or race in Hindu, Buddhist and Jain traditions
- Garuḍas, eagly like beings
- Apsaras female water spirits
- Gandharvas, celestial musicians
- Kinnaras
- Mahoragas
- Kumbhanda
- Parjanya
- Maṇimekhalā
See also
- Buddhist cosmology
- Chinese gods and immortals
- Hindu deities
- Japanese Buddhist pantheon
- Karma in Buddhism
- Religion in Asia
References
- ^ Williams, P.; Tribe, A.; Wynne, A. (2002). Buddhist Thought: A Complete Introduction to the Indian Tradition. India: Taylor & Francis. p. 211.
- ^ Vessantara (2014), Female Deities in Buddhism. Windhorse Publications.
- ^ "Buddhist Mantras - Mantras of Buddhas, Bodhisattvas and other archetypal figures, plus miscellaneous mantras and chants". www.visiblemantra.org. Retrieved 2023-12-07.
- ^ Leighton, Taigen Dan (2012). Faces of Compassion: Classic Bodhisattva Archetypes and Their Modern Expression — An Introduction to Mahayana Buddhism. Simon and Schuster. p. 246.
- ^ Jory, Patrick (2016). Thailand's Theory of Monarchy: The Vessantara Jataka and the Idea of the Perfect Man. SUNY Press. p. 72.
- ^ Dalai Lama XIV Bstan-ʼdzin-rgya-mtsho, Dalai Lama XIV, Dalai Lama, Santideva (1994). A Flash of Lightning in the Dark of Night: A Guide to the Bodhisattva's Way of Life, pp. 128-129, note 23. Shambhala.
- ^ Wang, Michelle C. (2017) Maṇḍalas in the Making: The Visual Culture of Esoteric Buddhism at Dunhuang, p. 158. BRILL.
- ^ Mipham, Jamgon (2008). Garland of Jewels: The Eight Great Bodhisattvas. United States: KTD Publications.
- ^ "The Inquiry of Lokadhara, Introduction". 84000 Translating The Words of The Buddha. Archived from the original on 2022-01-01. Retrieved 2022-01-01.
- ^ a b "Dictionary | Buddhistdoor". www2.buddhistdoor.net. Retrieved 2024-01-10.
- ISBN 90-04-05827-3.
- ISBN 978-81-208-2944-2.
- ISBN 978-81-7017-406-6.
- ISBN 978-8120805675.
- ^ Blofeld, John (1992). The Tantric Mysticism of Tibet: A Practical Guide to the Theory, Purpose, and Techniques of Tantric Meditation. Penguin.
The function of the Yidam is one of the profound mysteries of the Vajrayana... Especially during the first years of practice the Yidam is of immense importance. Yidam is the Tibetan rendering of the Sanskrit word Istadeva-the indwelling deity; but, where the Hindus take the Istadeva for an actual deity who has been invited to dwell in the devotee's heart, the Yidams of Tantric Buddhism are in fact the emanations of the adepts own mind.
- ^ a b Harding, Sarah (Spring 2005). "The Dharma Dictionary". Buddhadharma: The Practitioner's Quarterly.
- ^ Pandit, B. (2005). Explore Hinduism. United Kingdom: Heart of Albion. p. 173.
- ^ Farrer-Halls, G. (2002). The Feminine Face of Buddhism. United States: Quest Books. p. 42.
- ^ Forrester, S. T. (2006). Dancing in the Fire of Transformation. Flute Player Publications. pp. 357–358.
- ^ Chalmers, Robert (1895). The Jataka: or stories of the Buddha's former births. Vol. I. Cambridge: University Press. Retrieved 2021-06-03.
- ^ "Yaksha". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 2007-07-15.
- ^ Encyclopedia of World Art. Vol. 13. United Kingdom: McGraw-Hill. 1959. p. 831.
- ^ Powell, A. (1995). Living Buddhism. United States: University of California Press. p. 59.
Further reading
- ISBN 1-57731-403-4.
- Garson, Nathaniel DeWitt (May 2004). Penetrating the Secret Essence Tantra: Context and Philosophy in the Mahayoga System of rNying-ma Tantra (PhD dissertation). Retrieved 2024-01-11.