Category Deities

In , and deities are the protectors or other historical figures.

Products related to Deities

Wisdom Kings – Mystic power of the sacred utterances

22
Jul
2022
Deities, Wisdom Kings
A is a type of wrathful deity in East Asian Buddhism alsp called Vidyārājas. Whereas the Sanskrit name is translated literally as "wisdom / knowledge king(s)," the term vidyā in Vajrayana Buddhism is also specifically used to denote mantras; the term may thus also be translated "mantra king(s)." Vidyā is translated in Chinese with the character 明 (lit. "bright, radiant", figuratively "knowledge(able), wisdom, wise"), leading to a wide array of alternative translations such as .
Read More
The Four Guardian Kings in Burmese depiction.

Lokapalas – The Heavenly Kings and protector spirits

22
Jul
2022
Deities, Lokapalas, Vajrayāna
Lokapāla means "guardian of the world" in Sanskrit and Pāli. The term has different uses depending on whether it is found in a Hindu or Buddhist context. In Hinduism, lokapāla refers to the Guardians of the Directions associated with the eight, nine and ten cardinal directions. In Buddhism, lokapāla refers to the , and to other protector spirits. Lokapāla is one of two broad categories of Dharmapāla (protectors of the Buddhist religion) -the other category .
Read More

Herukas – The unified consciousness with emptiness

18
Jul
2022
Deities, Herukas, Vajrayāna
, is the name of a category of , enlightened beings in Vajrayana Buddhism that adopt a fierce countenance to benefit sentient beings. In East Asia, these are called Wisdom Kings. represent the embodiment of indivisible bliss and emptiness. They appear as Iṣṭha-devatā or meditational for tantric sādhanā, usually placed in a mandala and often appearing in Yab-Yum. Heruka represents wrathful imagery with indivisible emptiness (śūnyatā), bliss, peace, wisdom, compassion (bodhicitta), and love. .
Read More
Tibetan (Citipati mask depicting Mahākāla

Dharmapalas – Defenders of the Justice

18
Jul
2022
Deities, Dharmapalas‎, Vajrayāna
A dharmapāla is a type of wrathful god in Buddhism. The name means "dharma protector" in Sanskrit, and the dharmapālas are also known as the Defenders of the Justice (Dharma), or the Guardians of the Law. There are two kinds of , Worldly Guardians () and Wisdom Protectors (jnanapala). Only Wisdom Protectors are enlightened beings. In Vajrayana iconography and thangka depictions, dharmapala are fearsome beings, often with many heads, many hands, or many feet. Dharmapala .
Read More
Mandala of the five Buddha families, Tibet, 19th century

Tibetan Buddhist deities – The Vajrayana Pantheon

17
Jul
2022
Deities, Vajrayāna
Mahayana Buddhists venerate numerous Buddhas. In Tibetan Buddhism, following the Vajrayana Buddhist tradition, the major bodhisattvas are known as the "eight great bodhisattvas", Ksitigarbha, Vajrapani, Akasagarbha, Avalokitesvara, Maitreya, Sarvanivāraṇaviṣkambhin, Samantabhadra and Manjushri. Each is associated with a different consort, direction, aggregate (or, aspect of the personality), emotion, element, color, symbol, and mount. Other female Bodhisattvas include and Cundi. Followers of Tibetan Buddhism consider reborn tulkus such as the Dalai Lamas and the Karmapas to be .
Read More
The Five Wisdom Kings is the most important grouping of Wisdom Kings (Vidyaraja)

Buddhist deities – Conceptual and metaphoric refuge

16
Jul
2022
Deities, Dharma
Buddhism includes a wide array of divine beings that are venerated in various ritual and popular contexts. Initially they included mainly Indian figures such as devas, asuras and , but later came to include other Asian spirits and local gods. They range from enlightened Buddhas to regional spirits adopted by Buddhists or practiced on the margins of the religion. The Pali Canon and others suggest that the Buddha taught that belief in a Creator deity .
Read More
Temple banner depicting a dancing tantric goddess flanked by bird-headed ḍākinīs

Dakinis – The blissful wisdom of tantric transformation

15
Jul
2022
Dakinis‎, Deities, Vajrayāna
The concept of the ḍākinī somewhat differs depending on the context and the tradition. In Nepalese and Tibetan Buddhism, can refer to both what can be best described as fierce-looking female embodiments of enlightened energy and to human women with a certain amount of spiritual development, both of which can help Tantric initiates attaining enlightenment. The ḍākinī appears in a Vajrayana formulation of the Buddhist refuge formula known as the Three Roots. Sometimes she .
Read More
The goddess Saraswati

Hindu goddesses – The cosmic powers of the Vedas

12
Jul
2022
Deities, Gods, Hinduism
Devī is the Sanskrit word for 'goddess'; the masculine form is deva. and deva mean 'heavenly, divine, anything of excellence', and are also gender-specific terms for a deity in . The concept and reverence for goddesses appears in the Vedas, which were composed around the 3rd millennium BCE. Goddesses such as , , , , , and have continued to be revered in the modern era. The medieval era Puranas witness a major .
Read More

The Holy Sites and Vibrant Tales in Dang

12
Jun
2022
Gods, Hinduism, Monuments, Temples
The Pandeshwor Mahadev is thought to have been established by Pandavas during their exile. There’s also an interesting local legend regarding the inside the temple and Saaj tree attached to the temple. When we travel through the Valley, which lies between the Mahabharat Range in the north and the Churia Range in the south, we travel back in , into the exciting tales of , , and queens. There .
Read More

The Stupas of Kathmandu valley – History & splendor

29
May
2022
Buddhas, Dharma, Monuments, Stupas
The of valley are unique in their and cultural relevance. They are a feat of intricate craftsmanship and artistry. From the domes, to the pillar bearing an umbrella to the beautiful doorways and the eyes (painted on most in ) all portray exemplary . Stupas not only remind us of the splendor of the and architecture of the past, they also have great and spiritual significance in .
Read More