Buddhist mythology

Buddhist mythology operates within the Buddhist belief system. It is a relatively broad mythology, as it was adopted and influenced by several diverse cultures such as of Gandhara. Later on, it also came to incorporate aspects from countries such as China and Japan.[1] As such, it includes many aspects taken from other mythologies of those cultures. Saraswati is a Hindu Deva from Gandhara and the kami[1] are considered to be local, Japanese bodhisattvas by many Japanese Buddhists).

Wrathful deities

Main article: Wrathful deities

One notable feature of Tibetan Buddhism and other Vajrayana traditions in particular is the use of Wrathful deities.[2] While the deities have a hideous and ferocious appearance,[3] they are not personifications of evil or demonic forces.[2] The ferocious appearance of these deities is used to instill fear in evil spirits which threaten the Dharma.[3]

Wrathful deities are used in worship and devotion[2] with the practice dating to the 8th century[2] having been instituted by Padmasambhava.[2] The origin of these deities comes from mythology in Hinduism, Bon, or other folk deities.[2]

Yaksha

Main article: Yaksha

The Yaksha are a broad class of nature-spirits, usually benevolent, who are caretakers of the natural treasures hidden in the earth and tree roots.[4] Having been worshiped in India since before the Vedic period, Hinduism adopted the worship of Yakshas like Kuber. Later their worship was adopted by Buddhism. In Jainism Yakshas were worshipped as Shasana Devatas from the beginning.[5]

In Buddhism, it is believed that they reside deep within the Earth under the Himalayas[6] where they guard the wealth of the Earth.[6] The Yaksha are ruled over by Kubera, the Lord of wealth.[6]

Yidam

The Yidam, or Ishta-devata, is a personal meditation deity. The Sanskrit word iṣṭadevatā or iṣṭadevaḥ is defined by V. S. Apte as "a favorite god, one's tutelary deity."[7] Though this term is used in many popular books on Buddhist Tantra, the term işţadevatā has not been attested in any Buddhist tantric text in Sanskrit. The unrelated Tibetan version of the term, possibly of entirely native origin, is yi-dam[8] is said to be a contraction of Tib. yid-kyi-dam-tshig,[9] meaning "samaya of mind"- in other words, the state of being indestructibly bonded with the inherently pure and liberated nature of mind.

The Ishta-devata of Hinduism is an aspect of God for personal worship.[10] In Buddhism, a Yidam is a manifestation of enlightenment[11] and may take the form of Sambhogakāya Buddhas, tantric deities, bodhisattvas, Dharma protectors or other historical figures.[11]

Hells

Main article: Naraka (Buddhism)

Heavens

The following four worlds are bounded planes. each 80,000 yojanas square, which float in the air above the top of Mount Sumeru. Although all of the worlds inhabited by Devas (that is, all the worlds down to the Cāturmahārājikakāyika world and sometimes including the Asuras) are sometimes called "heavens", in the western sense of the word the term best applies to the four worlds listed below:

Earthly realms

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Buddhism and Mythology
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Wrathful Deities Archived October 6, 2010, at the Wayback Machine.
  3. 1 2 Wrathful Guardians of Buddhism - Aesthetics and Mythology
  4. ↑ "yaksha". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 2007-07-15.
  5. ↑ [Triloksaar]
  6. 1 2 3 Yakshas Hindu Gods of Wealth Archived February 23, 2010, at the Wayback Machine.
  7. ↑ V. S. Apte, A Practical Sanskrit Dictionary, p. 250.
  8. ↑ ""The function of the Yidam is one of the profound mysteries of the Vajrayana... Especially during the first years of practice the Yidam is of immense importance. Yidam is the Tibetan rendering of the Sanskrit word Istadeva-the indwelling deity; but, where the Hindus take the Istadeva for an actual deity who has been invited to dwell in the devotee's heart, the Yidams of Tantric Buddhism are in fact the emanations of the adepts own mind. "The Tantric Mysticism of Tibet: A Practical Guide to the Theory, Purpose, and Techniques of Tantric Meditation by John Blofeld. Penguin:1992
  9. ↑ Harding, Sarah. "The Dharma Dictionary." Buddhadharma Magazine, Spring 2005.Dharma Dictionary: Yidam
  10. ↑ Ishta Devata or Personal God
  11. 1 2 Yidam

Further reading

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