Dharmapala

波
A dharmapāla (Wylie: chos skyong, Chinese:波 , , , , ,
, , 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]) is a
type of wrathful god in Buddhism. The name means "Dharma protector or defender" in Sanskrit, and the
dharmapālas are also known as the Defenders of the Law (Dharma), or the Protectors of the Law. There
are two kinds of dharmapala, Worldly Protectors and Wisdom Protectors. Only Wisdom Protectors are
enlightened beings.[2]

Contents
Description
Tibetan Buddhism
Shingon Buddhism
Related deities
See also
References
Bibliography
External links

Description
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 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 dharmapālas in the Tibetan tradition is traceable to early 8th-century.[3]

Tibetan Buddhism

There are many different dharmapalas in Tibetan Buddhism. Each school has its own principle dharmapalas
and most monasteries have a dedicated dharmapāla which was originally comparable to a genius loci. The
many forms of Mahakala are emanations of Avalokiteshvara. Kalarupa and Yamantaka are considered by
practitioners to be emanations of Manjushri the Bodhisattva of Wisdom.

Principal wisdom protector dharmapalas include:

 Prana Atma (Tib. Begtse)
Ekajaṭī (Tib. ral chig ma)
Mahakala (Tib. Nagpo Chenpo)
Shri Devi (Tib. Palden Lhamo)
Yama (Tib. Shinje)

Other dharmapalas include:

Citipati
Mahakali
Yamantaka (Tib. Shinje Shed)
Hayagriva (Tib. Tamdrin)
Vaisravana (Tib. Kubera)
Rāhula (Tib. gza)
Vajrasādhu (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)
Tibetan (Citipati mask depicting
Mahākāla
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]

Shingon Buddhism

In Japanese Shingon Buddhism, a descendant of Tangmi, or Chinese Esoteric Buddhism, dharmapālas such as
Acala and Yamantaka are classified as Wisdom Kings. Other dharmapālas, notably Mahakala, belong to the
Deva realm, the fourth and lowest class in the hierarchy of honorable beings.

Related deities
In Tibetan Buddhism, there are two other classes of defender, the lokapālas and kṣetrapalas. Papiya,[5] Guan
Yu and Hachiman are also known as defenders.

See also
Begtse
Chinese guardian lions
Gyalpo spirits
Palden Lhamo
Skanda (Buddhism)
Snow Lion
Kongōrikishi
References
1. 「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）
2. https://www.himalayanart.org/search/set.cfm?setID=2404 Buddhist Protectors, Wisdom Deities:
Dharmapalas at Himalayan Art Resource
3. Robert E. Buswell Jr.; Donald S. Lopez Jr. (2013). The Princeton Dictionary of Buddhism (http
s://books.google.com/books?id=DXN2AAAAQBAJ). Princeton University Press. pp. 249–250.
ISBN 978-1-4008-4805-8.
4. Heart Jewel: The Essential Practices of Kadampa Buddhism, pages 71-3, Tharpa Publications
(2nd. ed., 1997) ISBN 978-0-948006-56-2
5. 曼荼羅 GIALABA (http://www.skink.us/GIALABA/2_2/2_2_001/001.htm)

Bibliography
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
Buddhist Protectors (http://www.himalayanart.org/pages/protectors/index.html) - outline page at
Himalayan Art Resources
Citipati Buddhist Protector (http://traditionalartofnepal.com/shop/masks/citipati-mask/) - Citipati
Ritual Mask

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