Deities According to Function

Subjects, Topics & Types:
- Description (below)
- Protector Deities Page
- Traditions Outline Page
- Buddhist Outline Page
- Protector Deity Glossary
- Unidentified Deities (Worldly)
- Unidentified Deities (All)
- Masterworks
- Confusions
- Others...

Videos:
- Worldly Protectors
- Protector Deity Videos

General Divisions & Classes of Buddhist Protectors:

1. Enlightened (Wisdom) Protectors 出世间护法 (智慧护法)

2. Worldly Protectors 世间护法:
- Four Guardian Kings 四大天王 (of the Directions)
- Guardians of the Ten Directions 十方护方神 (十护方天)
- Indian Gods 印度神祇
- Subjugated Spirits 受降伏之神灵
- Mountain & Valley Gods 山神与谷神
- Tsen Spirits 赞神 & Drala Warriors 戰神
- Miscellaneous Worldly Spirits 其他世间神灵 (see a list)
- Bon Adaptations 苯教融摄神祇
- Others... 其他……

Worldly Protectors (jigten pa'i lha)
Worldly Protectors, or Deities, is a Buddhist term used to differentiate between Enlightened (Wisdom) Protectors and Worldly (unenlightened) Protectors. The Worldly Protectors are principally the Guardian Kings of the Four Directions, along with the ten protectors of the eight directions, above and below, along with regional and mountain gods which can be continually added to the Buddhist 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).

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Jeff Watt 2-2003 [updated 6-2017]