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The Four Great Kings - List

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The four great kings are Buddhist wrathful entities which preside over one of the four directions of space, and are each associated with a particular type of non-human being.

Virupaksa of the four great kings.Virupaksa of the four great kings.Virupaksa of the four great kings.Virupaksa of the four great kings.
A statue of Virupaksa on of the four great kings.

The Four Great Kings are devas in the Indian pantheon and feature in some of the earliest Buddhist scriptures as lokapalas, for example found in the Vajradhatu Mandala (Vajra sphere), representing a strand of Indian religious thought which was being adopted and adapted by Buddhists, probably in the first few centuries after the death of the Buddha.
Within a monastic or template setting each sanctuary represents a realm of the Buddha, the kings serve to protect the temple in which they are situated, and especially the central group of Buddhas which will reside in the main hall, against harmful or destructive forces. They each command armies of beings who are sworn to uphold the teaching of the Buddha within their assigned direction.
The lokapalas are usually depicted riding a horse, wearing a suit of armor and bearing suitable attributes such as various weapons, pennons and banners, wish-fulfilling gems in a gold dish, and lassos. They are regarded by Buddhism as aspects of the national ego transmuted into destroyers of frivolous activities, unacceptable to the teaching.
In China, each is additionally associated with the Four Heraldic Animals of Chinese astronomy/astrology, as well as playing a more secular role in rural communities ensuring favourable weather for crops and peace throughout the land. Easily identified by their armour and boots, each has his own magic weapon and associations.

The Four Great Kings

01. Dhatarattha or Dhṛtarāṣṭra. (T.: Yukhorkhyong; Tt.: yul khor skyong).

He who upholds the realm whose symbol is a pipa or lute and is orientated east, he rules over the gandharvas (celestial musicians).
Dhṛtarāṣṭra is white in colour and Dhṛtarāṣṭa means "watcher of lands".

02. Virūlhaka or Virūḍhaka. (T.: Phakyepo; Tt.: phags skyes po).

He who causes to grow, whose symbol is the sword and is orientated south and rules over the kumbhāṇḍas.
Virūḍhaka is blue in colour (sometimes green) and holds a sword, his name means "ever growing".

03. Virūpakkha or Virūpākṣa. (T.: Chenmizang; Tt.: spyan mi bzang).

He who sees all, his symbol is a stupa or naga (snake) and is orientated west and rules over the nāgas.
Virūpākṣa is red in colour and his name means "all seeing".

04. Vessavana, Vaiśravaṇa or Kubera. (T.: Namtose; Tt.: rnams thos sres).

He who hears everything has a symbol of an parasol or umbrella, sometimes a stupa, and is orientated to the north and rules over the yakṣas. Most often colored as Green.
The indian Kubera, equivalent to the Vaiśravaṇa in Buddhism, is yellow in colour. Holding a (victory) banner and mongoose spitting jewels as he is said to be the god of wealth and good fortune.

Synonyms/tags: lokapala, heavenly kings, sida tianwang, guardians of the four directions, 四大天王, Dikpāla, Lokapāla, Guardians of the World”, Cāturmahārāja




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