A dharmapāla (Sanskrit: धर्मपाल, Tibetan: ཆོས་སྐྱོང་, Wylie: chos skyong, Chinese: 達磨波羅, 護法神, 護法鬼神, 諸天鬼神, 護法龍天, 諸天善神, Japanese: 達磨波羅, 護法善神, 護法神, 諸天善神, 諸天鬼神, 諸天善神諸大眷屬[1], Vietnamese: Hộ Pháp) 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 dharmapala, Worldly Guardians (lokapala) and Wisdom Protectors (jnanapala). Only Wisdom Protectors are enlightened beings.[2]
Dharmapāla
Khuyến Thiện Hộ Pháp (劝善护法, Dharmapāla of Encouraging of Good Deeds), 17th century, Bút Tháp Temple, Vietnam. Khuyến Thiện often stands with the Trừng Ác Dharmapāla to form a pair in Vietnamese Buddhism temples.
Trừng Ác Hộ Pháp （整恶护法, Dharmapāla of Punishing of Bad Deeds) of Bút Tháp Temple.
A protector of Buddhist dharma is called a dharmapala. They are typically wrathful deities, depicted with terrifying iconography in the Mahayana and tantric traditions of Buddhism.[3] The wrathfulness is intended to depict their willingness to defend and guard Buddhist followers from dangers and enemies. The Aṣṭagatyaḥ (the eight kinds of nonhuman beings) is one category of dharmapālas, which includes the Garuda, Deva, Naga, Yaksha, Gandharva, Asura, Kinnara and Mahoraga.[3]
In Vajrayanaiconography and thangka depictions, dharmapala are fearsome beings, often with many heads, many hands, or many feet. Dharmapala often have blue, black or red skin, and a fierce expression with protruding fangs. Although dharmapala have a terrifying appearance, they only act in a wrathful way for the benefit of sentient beings.
The devotional worship of dharmapālas in the Tibetan tradition is traceable to early 8th-century.[3]
The main functions of a dharmapāla are said to be to avert the inner and outer obstacles that prevent spiritual practitioners from attaining spiritual realizations, as well as to foster the necessary conditions for their practice.[4]
^Buddhist Protectors, Wisdom Deities: Dharmapalas at Himalayan Art Resource
^ abcRobert E. Buswell Jr.; Donald S. Lopez Jr. (2013). The Princeton Dictionary of Buddhism. Princeton University Press. pp. 249–250. ISBN978-1-4008-4805-8.
^Heart Jewel: The Essential Practices of Kadampa Buddhism, pages 71-3, Tharpa Publications (2nd. ed., 1997) ISBN978-0-948006-56-2
Kalsang, Ladrang (1996). The Guardian Deities of Tibet Delhi: Winsome Books. (Third Reprint 2003) ISBN81-88043-04-4.
Linrothe, Rob (1999). Ruthless Compassion: Wrathful Deities in Early Indo-Tibetan Esoteric Buddhist Art London: Serindia Publications. ISBN0-906026-51-2.
De Nebesky-Wojkowitz, Rene (1956). Oracles and Demons of Tibet. Oxford University Press. Reprint Delhi: Books Faith, 1996 - ISBN81-7303-039-1. Reprint Delhi: Paljor Publications, 2002 - ISBN81-86230-12-2.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Dharmapala.
Buddhist Protectors - outline page at Himalayan Art Resources
Citipati Buddhist Protector - Citipati Ritual Mask
May 07, 2023
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For other uses see Dharmapala disambiguation This article includes a list of general references but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations September 2015 Learn how and when to remove this template message A dharmapala Sanskrit धर मप ल Tibetan ཆ ས ས ང Wylie chos skyong Chinese 達磨波羅 護法神 護法鬼神 諸天鬼神 護法龍天 諸天善神 Japanese 達磨波羅 護法善神 護法神 諸天善神 諸天鬼神 諸天善神諸大眷屬 1 Vietnamese Hộ Phap is a type of wrathful god in Buddhism The name means dharma protector in Sanskrit and the dharmapalas are also known as the Defenders of the Justice Dharma or the Guardians of the Law There are two kinds of dharmapala Worldly Guardians lokapala and Wisdom Protectors jnanapala Only Wisdom Protectors are enlightened beings 2 DharmapalaKhuyến Thiện Hộ Phap 劝善护法 Dharmapala of Encouraging of Good Deeds 17th century But Thap Temple Vietnam Khuyến Thiện often stands with the Trừng Ac Dharmapala to form a pair in Vietnamese Buddhism temples Trừng Ac Hộ Phap 整恶护法 Dharmapala of Punishing of Bad Deeds of But Thap Temple Contents 1 Description 1 1 Tibetan Buddhism 1 2 Chinese Buddhism 1 3 Shingon Buddhism 2 Related deities 3 See also 4 References 4 1 Bibliography 5 External linksDescription EditA protector of Buddhist dharma is called a dharmapala They are typically wrathful deities depicted with terrifying iconography in the Mahayana and tantric traditions of Buddhism 3 The wrathfulness is intended to depict their willingness to defend and guard Buddhist followers from dangers and enemies The Aṣṭagatyaḥ the eight kinds of nonhuman beings is one category of dharmapalas which includes the Garuda Deva Naga Yaksha Gandharva Asura Kinnara and Mahoraga 3 In Vajrayana iconography and thangka depictions dharmapala are fearsome beings often with many heads many hands or many feet Dharmapala often have blue black or red skin and a fierce expression with protruding fangs Although dharmapala have a terrifying appearance they only act in a wrathful way for the benefit of sentient beings The devotional worship of dharmapalas in the Tibetan tradition is traceable to early 8th century 3 Tibetan Buddhism Edit Tibetan Citipati mask depicting Mahakala There are many different dharmapalas in Tibetan Buddhism Each school has its own principle dharmapalas and most monasteries have a dedicated dharmapala which was originally comparable to a genius loci citation needed The many forms of Mahakala are emanations of Avalokiteshvara citation needed Kalarupa and Yamantaka are considered by practitioners to be emanations of Manjushri citation needed the Bodhisattva of Wisdom Principal wisdom protector dharmapalas include citation needed Prana Atma Tib Begtse Ekajaṭi Tib ral chig ma Mahakala Tib Nagpo Chenpo Shri Devi Tib Palden Lhamo Yama Tib Shinje Other dharmapalas include citation needed Citipati Mahakali Yamantaka Tib Shinje Shed Hayagriva Tib Tamdrin Vaisravana Tib Kubera Rahula Tib gza Vajrasadhu Tib Dorje Legpa Brahma Tib Tshangs Pa Maharakta Tib tsog gi dag po mar chen Kurukulla Tib rig che ma Vajrayaksa Takkiraja Tib du pai gyal po The main functions of a dharmapala are said to be to avert the inner and outer obstacles that prevent spiritual practitioners from attaining spiritual realizations as well as to foster the necessary conditions for their practice 4 Chinese Buddhism Edit In Chinese Buddhism the Twenty Four Protective Deities or the Twenty Four Devas Chinese 二十四諸天 pinyin Ershisi Zhutian are a group of gods who are venerated as dharmapalas In addition Wisdom Kings such as Acala Ucchusma Mahamayuri and Hayagriva are venerated as dharmapalas as well Shingon Buddhism Edit In Japanese Shingon Buddhism a descendant of Tangmi or Chinese Esoteric Buddhism dharmapalas such as Acala and Yamantaka are classified as Wisdom Kings Other dharmapalas notably Mahakala belong to the Deva realm the fourth and lowest class in the hierarchy of honorable beings Related deities EditIn Tibetan Buddhism there are two other classes of defender the lokapalas and Kshetrapala Papiya 5 Guan Yu and Hachiman are also known as defenders See also EditBegtse Door gods for similar protective East Asian deities Heng and Ha Vajrapani and Skanda Gyalpo spirits Palden Lhamo Skanda Buddhism Snow Lion Nio wrathful guardians of Japanese Buddhist templesReferences Edit 梵天帝釋二大天王 日本國中大小神祇 諸天善神 諸大眷屬 般若心經奉讚文 Buddhist Protectors Wisdom Deities Dharmapalas at Himalayan Art Resource a b c Robert E Buswell Jr Donald S Lopez Jr 2013 The Princeton Dictionary of Buddhism Princeton University Press pp 249 250 ISBN 978 1 4008 4805 8 Heart Jewel The Essential Practices of Kadampa Buddhism pages 71 3 Tharpa Publications 2nd ed 1997 ISBN 978 0 948006 56 2 曼荼羅 GIALABA Bibliography Edit Kalsang Ladrang 1996 The Guardian Deities of Tibet Delhi Winsome Books Third Reprint 2003 ISBN 81 88043 04 4 Linrothe Rob 1999 Ruthless Compassion Wrathful Deities in Early Indo Tibetan Esoteric Buddhist Art London Serindia Publications ISBN 0 906026 51 2 De Nebesky Wojkowitz Rene 1956 Oracles and Demons of Tibet Oxford University Press Reprint Delhi Books Faith 1996 ISBN 81 7303 039 1 Reprint Delhi Paljor Publications 2002 ISBN 81 86230 12 2 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Dharmapala Buddhist Protectors outline page at Himalayan Art Resources Citipati Buddhist Protector Citipati Ritual Mask Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Dharmapala amp oldid 1153034579, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
