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Adharmapāla[a] is a type ofwrathful god inBuddhism. The name means "dharma protector" in Sanskrit, and thedharmapālas are also known as theDefenders of the Justice (Dharma), or theGuardians of the Law. There are two kinds ofdharmapala, Worldly Guardians (lokapala) and Wisdom Protectors (jnanapala). Only Wisdom Protectors are enlightened beings.[2]
A protector of Buddhistdharma is called adharmapala. They are typicallywrathful deities, depicted with terrifying iconography in theMahayana and tantric traditions of Buddhism.[3] The wrathfulness is intended to depict their willingness to defend and guard Buddhist followers from dangers and enemies. TheAṣṭagatyaḥ (the eight kinds of nonhuman beings) is one category ofdharmapālas, which includes theGaruda,Deva,Naga,Yaksha,Gandharva,Asura,Kinnara, andMahoraga.[3]
InVajrayanaiconography andthangka 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. Althoughdharmapala have a terrifying appearance, they only act in a wrathful way for the benefit of sentient beings.
The devotional worship ofdharmapālas in the Tibetan tradition is traceable to early 8th-century.[3]
There are many differentdharmapalas inTibetan Buddhism. Each school has its own principledharmapalas and most monasteries have a dedicateddharmapāla which was originally comparable to agenius loci.[citation needed] The many forms ofMahakala are emanations ofAvalokiteshvara.[citation needed] Kalarupa andYamantaka are considered by practitioners to be emanations ofManjushri[citation needed] theBodhisattva ofWisdom.
Principal wisdom protectordharmapalas include:[citation needed]
Otherdharmapalas include:[citation needed]
The main functions of adharmapāla 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]
InChinese Buddhism, theTwenty-Four Protective Deities or the Twenty-Four Devas (Chinese: 二十四諸天;pinyin:Èrshísì Zhūtiān) are a group of gods who are venerated asdharmapālas. In addition,Wisdom Kings such asAcala,Ucchusma,Mahamayuri, andHayagriva are venerated asdharmapālas as well.
In JapaneseShingon Buddhism, a descendant ofTangmi, orChinese Esoteric Buddhism,dharmapālas such asAcala andYamantaka are classified asWisdom Kings. Otherdharmapālas, notablyMahakala, belong to theDeva realm, the fourth and lowest class in the hierarchy of honorable beings.
In Tibetan Buddhism, there are two other classes of defender, thelokapālas andKshetrapala Papiya.[5]Guan Yu andHachiman are also known as defenders.
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