| Indra Śakra | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Sanskrit | शक्र Śakra |
| Pāli | सक्क Sakka |
| Burmese | သိကြား (Thagya,[ðədʑá]) |
| Chinese | 帝釋天 (Pinyin:Dìshìtiān) 釋提桓因 (Pinyin:Shìtí Huányīn) |
| Japanese | 帝釈天 (romaji:Taishakuten) 釋提桓因 (romaji:Shakudai Kan'in) |
| Khmer | សក្ក (Sakkak) |
| Korean | 제석천 (帝釋天) (RR:Jeseok Cheon) 석제환인 (釋提桓因) (RR:Seokje Hwan'in) |
| Mongolian | сакра ᠭᠠᠯᠤᠰᠵᠴᠠᠮᠺᠳᠪᠨ or ᠭᠣᠰᠹᠵᠬᠬᠺᠹᠬᠺᠮᠭᠰᠠᠺᠷᠣᠳ or ᠭᠠᠳᠭᠹᠭᠭᠦᠭ |
| Sinhala | ශක්ර (Shakra) |
| Tagalog | Sakla |
| Thai | ท้าวสักกะ (Thâo Sàkkà) or พระอินทร์ (Phrâ In) |
| Tibetan | བརྒྱ་སྦྱིན་ Wylie: brgya sbyin THL: da ö gya jin དབང་པོ་ Wylie: dbang po THL: wangpo |
| Vietnamese | 帝釋天 Đế Thích Thiên 釋提桓因 Thích Đề Hoàn Nhân |
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Indra, with the epithet ofŚakra (Sanskrit:शक्रŚakra;Pali:सक्कSakka), is the ruler of theTrāyastriṃśa Heaven according toBuddhist cosmology. The name Śakra ("powerful") as an epithet ofIndra is found in several verses of theRigveda. Indra is also referred to by the title "Śakra, Lord of theDevas" (Sanskrit:Śakra devānāṃ indraḥ; Pali:Sakka devānaṃ inda).[1]
InEast Asian cultural traditions, Indra Śakra is known asDìshìtiān (帝釋天) orShìtí Huányīn (釋提桓因) in Chinese, asTaishakuten (帝釈天) in Japanese, asJeseokcheon (제석천) in Korean, and asĐế Thích Thiên (帝釋天) orThích Đề Hoàn Nhân (釋提桓因) in Vietnamese. InChinese Buddhism, Indra Śakra is sometimes identified with theTaoistJade Emperor (Yùhuáng Dàdì玉皇大帝, often simplified toYùhuáng玉皇); both share a birthday on the ninth day of the first lunar month of theChinese calendar (usually in February).
The Trāyastriṃśa heaven in which Indra Śakra rules is located on the top ofMount Meru, imagined to be the polar center of the physical world, around which the Sun and Moon revolve. Trāyastriṃśa is the highest of the heavens in direct contact with humankind. Like all deities, Indra Śakra is long-lived but mortal. When one Śakra dies, his place is taken by another deity who becomes the new Śakra. Several stories about Indra Śakra are found in theJataka tales, as well as severalsuttas.
Indra Śakra is married toSujā,[2] daughter of the chief of theasuras,Vemacitrin (PāliVepacitti). Despite this relationship, a state of war generally exists between the thirty-three gods and the asuras, which Indra Śakra manages to resolve with minimal violence and no loss of life.
Indra Śakra is often depicted inliterature as a being who consults theBuddha on matters of morality. Together withBrahmā, he is considered adharmapala, a protector ofBuddhism.
"Śakra" is a Sanskrit word meaning "mighty" or "powerful", and is used as an epithet of Indra in hymn 5.34 of theRigveda. The related Pāli lexeme "Sakka" seems to have been the standard name of the king of heaven in Buddhist tradition.
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Śakra is known by several names in Buddhist texts. Some of these include:
Sakka's mythology and character is expounded upon in thePali Canon, particularly in the Sakka Saṃyutta of theSaṃyutta Nikāya.
Sakka plays a significant role in several of the Jātaka tales.
The commentatorBuddhaghoṣa has identified Sakka as being identical to Vajrapāṇi.
In theMahāparinibbāna Sutta (DN 16), Sakka speaks the following verse, which has become standard in Buddhist funeral rites:
Aniccā vata saṅkhārā, uppādavayadhammino. Uppajjitvā nirujjhanti, tesaṃ vūpasamo sukho.
"Impermanent, alas, are compounded things. It is the nature of things to arise and pass away. Having come into existence they cease. Their appeasement is the highest bliss."
In theBook of Equanimity, Śakra plays a central role in the fourthkoan.
In theMahāparinirvāṇa Sūtra, Śakra utters a stanza in response to the Buddha's death as a recognition of theFour Noble Truths. It is identical to the Pali formula found in the corresponding sutta.:[3]
Anitya vata saṃskārā utpādvyayadharmiṇaḥ utpadya hi nirudhyante teṣāṃ vyupashamaḥ sukham.
"Impermanent indeed are all formations; their nature consists of arising and disappearing; having arisen, they cease; their calming is happiness."
He is also recognized as one of theTwenty-Four Guardian Devas in Chinese Buddhist tradition.[4]
In Southeast Asia's Theravada communities, Śakra is depicted with blue or black skin, alongside a mount,Airavata, a three-headed elephant.[5]
Śakra is equated withHaneullim in Korean folk religion. According to theMemorabilia of the Three Kingdoms, it is believed that Śakra is Hwanung's father.
InChinese Buddhism, some equate him with theJade Emperor.
InMongolian Buddhism,Qormusta Tengri is syncretized with Śakra, and is believed to be involved with the creation of fire.
The ceremonial name ofBangkok alludes to Śakra:[6]
Krungthepmahanakhon Amonrattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilokphop Noppharatratchathaniburirom Udomratchaniwetmahasathan Amonphimanawatansathit Sakkathattiyawitsanukamprasit
กรุงเทพมหานคร อมรรัตนโกสินทร์ มหินทรายุธยา มหาดิลกภพ นพรัตนราชธานีบูรีรมย์ อุดมราชนิเวศน์มหาสถาน อมรพิมานอวตารสถิต สักกะทัตติยวิษณุกรรมประสิทธิ์
This name is composed of bothPāli andSanskrit, prefaced with the only one Thai word,Krung, which means 'capital'. It can thus be written as:"Krung-dēvamahānagara amararatanakosindra mahindrāyudhyā mahātilakabhava navaratanarājadhānī purīramya uttamarājanivēsana mahāsthāna amaravimāna avatārasthitya shakrasdattiya vishnukarmaprasiddhi."
Śakra makes several appearances in popular culture, including:
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)| Buddhas 如来部 (Nyorai-bu) |  | |
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| Circumstantial appearances 垂迹身部 (Suijakushin-bu) | ||
| Religious masters 高僧・祖師部 (Kōsō・Soshi-bu) | ||
Saddharma Puṇḍarīka Sūtra | ||
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