# Dharmapala > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Dharmapala > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Dharmapala.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dharmapala > Source revision: 1331565379 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) For other uses, see [Dharmapala (disambiguation)](/source/Dharmapala_(disambiguation)). A ***dharmapāla***[a] is a type of [wrathful god](/source/Wrathful_deity) in [Buddhism](/source/Buddhism). The name means "*[dharma](/source/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](/source/Lokapala)*) and Wisdom Protectors (*jnanapala*). Only Wisdom Protectors are enlightened beings.[1] ## Description A protector of Buddhist [dharma](/source/Dharma) is called a *dharmapala*. They are typically [wrathful deities](/source/Wrathful_deities), depicted with terrifying iconography in the [Mahayana](/source/Mahayana) and tantric traditions of Buddhism.[2] The wrathfulness is intended to depict their willingness to defend and guard Buddhist followers from dangers and enemies. The *[Aṣṭagatyaḥ](/source/A%E1%B9%A3%E1%B9%ADagatya%E1%B8%A5)* (the eight kinds of nonhuman beings) is one category of *dharmapālas*, which includes the [Garuda](/source/Garuda), [Deva](/source/Deva_(Buddhism)), [Naga](/source/N%C4%81ga), [Yaksha](/source/Yaksha), [Gandharva](/source/Gandharva), [Asura](/source/Asura_(Buddhism)), [Kinnara](/source/Kinnara), and [Mahoraga](/source/Mahoraga).[2] In [Vajrayana](/source/Vajrayana) [iconography](/source/Vajrayana#Symbols_and_imagery) and [thangka](/source/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.[2] ### Tibetan Buddhism There are many different *dharmapalas* in [Tibetan Buddhism](/source/Tibetan_Buddhism). Each school has its own principle *dharmapalas* and most monasteries have a dedicated *dharmapāla* which was originally comparable to a [genius loci](/source/Genius_loci).[citation needed] The many forms of [Mahakala](/source/Mahakala) are emanations of [Avalokiteshvara](/source/Avalokiteshvara).[citation needed] Kalarupa and [Yamantaka](/source/Yamantaka) are considered by practitioners to be emanations of [Manjushri](/source/Manjushri)[citation needed] the [Bodhisattva](/source/Bodhisattva) of [Wisdom](/source/Praj%C3%B1%C4%81_(Buddhism)). Principal wisdom protector *dharmapalas* include:[citation needed] - [Prana Atma](/source/Begtse) (Tib. *Begtse*) - [Ekajaṭī](/source/Ekajati) (Tib. *ral chig ma*) - [Mahakala](/source/Mahakala) (Tib. *Nagpo Chenpo*) - [Shri Devi](/source/Palden_Lhamo) (Tib. Palden Lhamo) - [Yamaraja/Dharmaraja/Kalarupa](/source/Yama_(Buddhism_and_Chinese_mythology)) (Tib. *Shinje*) Other *dharmapalas* include:[citation needed] - [Bhairava](/source/Bhairava) ([Nepali](/source/Nepali_language): भैरव) - [Citipati](/source/Citipati_(Buddhism)) - [Mahakali](/source/Mahakali) - [Yamantaka](/source/Yamantaka) (Tib. *Shinje Shed*) - [Hayagriva](/source/Hayagriva_(Buddhism)) (Tib. *Tamdrin*) - [Vaisravana](/source/Vaisravana) (Tib. *Kubera*) - [Rāhula](/source/Rahu#Buddhist_culture) (Tib. *gza*) - Vajrasādhu (Tib. *Dorje Legpa*) - [Brahma](/source/Brahm%C4%81_(Buddhism)) (Tib. "Tshangs Pa") - [Maharakta](/source/Ganesha_in_world_religions#Tibetan_Buddhism) (Tib. *tsog gi dag po, mar chen*) - [Kurukulla](/source/Kurukulla) (Tib. *rig che ma*) - [Vajrayakṣa](/source/Vajrayak%E1%B9%A3a) (Takkiraja) (Tib. *du pai gyal po*) 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.[3] ### Chinese Buddhism In [Chinese Buddhism](/source/Chinese_Buddhism), the [Twenty-Four Protective Deities](/source/Twenty-Four_Protective_Deities) or the Twenty-Four Devas ([Chinese](/source/Chinese_language): 二十四諸天; [pinyin](/source/Pinyin): *Èrshísì Zhūtiān*) are a group of gods who are venerated as *dharmapālas.* In addition, [Wisdom Kings](/source/Wisdom_King) such as [Acala](/source/Acala), [Ucchusma](/source/Ucchusma), [Mahamayuri](/source/Mahamayuri), and [Hayagriva](/source/Hayagriva_(Buddhism)) are venerated as *dharmapālas* as well. ### Shingon Buddhism In Japanese [Shingon Buddhism](/source/Shingon_Buddhism), a descendant of [Tangmi](/source/Tangmi), or [Chinese Esoteric Buddhism](/source/Vajrayana#Chinese_Esoteric_Buddhism), *dharmapālas* such as [Acala](/source/Acala) and [Yamantaka](/source/Yamantaka) are classified as [Wisdom Kings](/source/Wisdom_King). Other *dharmapālas*, notably [Mahakala](/source/Mahakala), belong to the [Deva realm](/source/Deva_(Buddhism)), the fourth and lowest class in the hierarchy of honorable beings.[citation needed] ## Related deities In Tibetan Buddhism, there are two other classes of defender, the [lokapālas](/source/Four_Heavenly_Kings) and [Kshetrapala](/source/Kshetrapala) Papiya.[4] [Guan Yu](/source/Guan_Yu) and [Hachiman](/source/Hachiman) are also known as defenders. ## See also - [Asian witchcraft](/source/Asian_witchcraft) - [Begtse](/source/Begtse) - [Chenghuangshen](/source/Chenghuangshen) - [Door gods](/source/Door_gods), for similar protective East Asian deities - [Gyalpo spirits](/source/Gyalpo_spirits) - [Heng and Ha](/source/Heng_and_Ha) - [Nio](/source/Nio_(Buddhism)) - wrathful guardians of Japanese Buddhist temples - [Palden Lhamo](/source/Palden_Lhamo) - [Skanda](/source/Skanda_(Buddhism)) - [Snow Lion](/source/Snow_Lion) - [Vajrapani](/source/Vajrapani) ## Footnotes 1. Sanskrit: धर्मपाल, , , [pinyin](/source/Pinyin): dámó bōluó, hùfǎ shén, hùfǎ guǐshén, zhūtiān guǐshén, hùfǎ lóngtiān, zhūtiān shànshén, 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[5], [kana](/source/Kana): だるまは ら, ごほう ぜんしん, ごほうしん, しょ てんぜんしん, しょ てん きじん, しょ てん ぜんしん しょだい, [rōmaji](/source/R%C5%8Dmaji): darumahara, gohō zenshin, gohōshin, shoten zenshin, shoten kijin, shoten zenshin shodaiken, Vietnamese: *Hộ Pháp* ## References 1. [Buddhist Protectors, Wisdom Deities: Dharmapalas at Himalayan Art Resource](https://www.himalayanart.org/search/set.cfm?setID=2404) 1. Robert E. Buswell Jr. & Donald S. Lopez Jr. (2013). [*The Princeton Dictionary of Buddhism*](https://books.google.com/books?id=DXN2AAAAQBAJ). Princeton University Press. pp. 249–250. ISBN 978-1-4008-4805-8. 1. *Heart Jewel*: The Essential Practices of Kadampa Buddhism, pages 71-3, Tharpa Publications (2nd. ed., 1997) ISBN 978-0-948006-56-2 1. [曼荼羅 GIALABA](http://www.skink.us/GIALABA/2_2/2_2_001/001.htm) 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](https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E8%88%AC%E8%8B%A5%E5%BF%83%E7%B5%8C%E5%A5%89%E8%AE%83%E6%96%87)） ### 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](https://www.himalayanart.org/pages/protectors/index.html) - outline page at Himalayan Art Resources - [Citipati Buddhist Protector](https://traditionalartofnepal.com/shop/masks/citipati-mask/) - Citipati Ritual Mask --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Dharmapala](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dharmapala) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dharmapala?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.