Buddhist Protectors, Worldly Deities

Protector Deities Main Page | Protector Deities Traditions Outline Page | Buddhist Protectors Outline Page | Mountain Gods | Dralha: Warrior Appearance Outline

Database Search: All Images | Painting | Sculpture

Worldly Deities, or Worldly Protectors (jigten pa'i lha): a Buddhist term used to differentiate between enlightened protectors and worldly protectors. The Worldly Protectors are the Guardian Kings of the four main directions, the ten protectors of the eight directions, above and below, along with regional and mountain gods which can be continually added to the pantheon.

The Direction Guardians, or Four Guardian Kings, or the Four Heavenly Kings, reside on the innermost ring of islands (or the lower slopes) around the four sided mythical mount Sumeru, the center of the idealized Buddhist and Hindu worlds. Vaishravana (North), Dhritarashtra (East), Virudhaka (South), Virupaksha (West).
Worldly Protector (Buddhist): Garwai Nagpo
Worldly Protector (Buddhist)
Garwai Nagpo
 		Worldly Protector (Buddhist): Dorje Legpa
Worldly Protector (Buddhist)
Dorje Legpa
 		Vaishravana (Buddhist Protector): Riding a Lion
Vaishravana (Buddhist Protector)
Riding a Lion
Worldly Protector (Buddhist): (unidentified)
Worldly Protector (Buddhist)
(unidentified)
 		Worldly Protector (Buddhist): Cha Kyung
Worldly Protector (Buddhist)
Cha Kyung
 		Worldly Protector (Buddhist): Rahula
Worldly Protector (Buddhist)
Rahula
Worldly Protector (Buddhist): Rahula
Worldly Protector (Buddhist)
Rahula
 		Worldly Protector (Buddhist): Pehar
Worldly Protector (Buddhist)
Pehar
 		Worldly Protector (Buddhist): Pehar
Worldly Protector (Buddhist)
Pehar