The wrathful deities of Tibetan Buddhism, with their ferocious appearance, are not embodiment of the evil of sinister forces. On the contrary, they are symbolic of benevolence that takes violent forms to protect the cosmos and the human mind by infusing fear in the evil spirits.
Images of wrathful deities, placed in temples as well as home, are meant to ward off the evil forces and remind everyone to kill the destructive passions within.
Though, the wrathful deities are used as a focus of the Buddhist devotion and worship, yet the external and internal offerings presented to them differ from those offered to the calm deities.
External offerings for wrathful deities are usually six in number and include a cemetary flower, incense of singed flesh, lamp burning human fat (or a similar alternative), scent of bile, blood (symbolised by red water) and human flesh (usually symbolised by parched barley flour and butter realistically colored and modeled).
On the other hand, the internal offering presented to the wrathful deities are the five senses - heart, tongue, nose, a pair of eyes and a pair of ears. As per Tibetan texts, these offerings are human organs, however, in reality replicas created out of barley flour and butter are made use of in ceremonies.
Presentation of wrathful deities in sculptures, paintings and masks show them with stout bodies, short but thick limbs, numerous heads and several hands and feet. They have a face that reflects anger. Each and every component of face, from eyes to teeth, lips, and nostrils, all combine to create an expression that is fearsome. Also, there is a third eye in the middle of the forhead.
The ferocious expression is further enhanced by dishevelled hair, a crown of a skull and sometimes numerous heads. Quiet ofetn, they are also shown riding an animal accompanied by a female consort.
The Eight Wrathful Deities
The eight dharampalas are the most significant of the all Tibetan wrathful deities. These deities are fearsome bodhisattvas who are everready to fight the enemies of Buddhism. Their main function is to overcome all the obstacles, whether inner or outer, that prevents a practitioner from attaining spiritual enlightenment. In Tibet, most of the monasteries have their individual dharampala. These eight wrathful deities are either worshipped as a group or individually. These eight wrathful deities are
- Lha-mo - The sole wrathful female deity who also happens to
be the fierce goddess of the city of Lhasa
- Tshangs-pa Dkar-po - In Tibetan, Tshangs-pa Dkar-po is the "White
Brahma" while in Sanskrit he is the Sita-Brahma. He is the Buddhist
view of Brahma and is not usually as ferocious as others.
- Beg-tse - In Tibetan Buddhism, Beg-tse is known as Beg Tse
Lcam Sring while in English he is known as the "the Great Coat of
Mail". Begtse, a son of a demon and a goblin, was initially the
Lord of Wars in Central Asia. Today, Tibetan Buddhist consider him a
lower god because he could not attain complete liberation. He is mainly
called upon to protect institutions and practitioners of dharma.
- Mahakala - Mahakala, in Sanskrit language means great black
one. The black colour of Mahakala is symbolic of his all embracing,
comprehensive nature. The black colour is the one in which all other
colours loose their individuality. It is also symbolic of the total
nonappearance of any colour as well. In this sense, Mahakala is
representative of ultimate reality. He is the cosmic nature of time into
which everything will merge in due course of time. Mahakala is absolute,
eternal, measureless and ever present.
Mahakala is worshipped in Tibet in three forms - The Six-Armed (Shadbhuja) Mahakala, The Four-Armed (Chatur-bhuja) Mahakala, The White Mahakala ( Shad-bhuja Sita) Mahakala. The first one is revered by the Gelukpa order as the fierce and powerful form of Avalokiteshvara, the Buddha of compassion while the second one is favoured by the Nyingmpa order as the performer of the four positive karma or action beneficial for the worshippers. The third form is the wealth aspect of Mahakala which favours the economic well being and luxuries of the tantric practitioners.
- Yama - Known as Gshin-rje in Tibetan language, Yama is the
god of death. He is shown holding the Tibetan wheel of life.
Yamnataka - Yamnantaka is the death's death, yama's death. Yamantaka is perceived as as a wrathful manifestation of Mañjusri, the Buddha of wisdom. He is represented with nine heads( bulls and Manjushri), thirty four arms (each holding a symbolic obhect) and sixteen legs.
- Hayagriva - Hayagriva, in Tibetan, is called Rta-mgrin and is
the wrathful manifestation of Avalokiteshvara. He is wroshipped for his
exceptional abilities to cure diseases, specially skin diseases which
are caused by the nagas or the dreadful waterspirits with serpent
bodies. The Tibetan horse dealer have special reverance for this
wrathful deity as he is supposed to scare away the demons by neighing
like a horse. Even when called upon, he announces his arrival by
neighing. The loud sound of neighing destroys all unreal appearances of
substantiality and uncover the beautiful reality of freedom.
- Kubera, or Vaisravana - Kubera or Vaisravana is the god of
wealth and perhaps the sole wrathful deity who is not represented in a
terrifying form. In Tibetan Buddhism, he is also the guardian of north
as such he is frequently depicted on temple murals outside the main
door.
Apart from the eight dharapalas, Tibetan Buddhism also has other categories of wrathful deities.
Heruka
Heruka (Chakrasamvara) is symbolic of indivisible bliss and emptiness. He is depicted as having blue body with four faces and twelve arms. He is shown embracing his consort Vajravarahi. The two together represent the divine embrace which is symbolic of the union of great bliss and emptiness. Heruka is also depicted in other forms.
Lokpalas
Lokpalas are the Four Heavenly Kings who guard the cardinal directions of the world. These four kings are Virudhaka, Virupaksha, Dhritarashtra and Vaishravana. Together, these four kings are the protector of the world and ward off any evil to protect dharma.
- Virudhaka - Virudhaka is the fiercest of all and is the blue
coloured, sword wielding protector of southern direction.
- Virupaksha - Red Virupaksha, the protector of the western
direction has a naga or a serpent coiled around him.
- Dhritarashtra - Dhritarashtra is the white, lute-playing
guardian king of the east.
- Vaishravana - Vaishravana is the king of the north and holds an umbrella.
Kshetrapala
Kshetrapalas are the regional and field protector. In this sense, they are attached to the physical surroundings such as the place of residence.
