Concept of Devas in Buddhist mythology [Part 1]

Buddhist Sutra literature (study)

by Gopika G | 2022 | 25,006 words

This page relates 鈥楥oncept of Devas in Buddhist mythology鈥� of the study on the Buddhist Sutra literature with special reference to the Saddharma-Pundarika (otherwise known as the Lotus Sutra) and other Mahayana Sutras. Throughout, the thesis aims to enhance understanding of the religious, cultural, and mythological significance of the Saddharmapundarika Sutra within Mahayana Buddhism

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Part 1 - Concept of Devas in Buddhist mythology

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鈥�Mythology may describe as a historical and scientific study of myths and legends. Myths and legends are classified as physical, historical, ritualistic, artistic, ethical, mystical or allegorical and so on. Myths are traditional, have in had their source often in individual imagination. Psychologically the function of myth is to strengthen the tradition and make it more super natural reality of ancient events. Myth touches the deepest desire of humankind, their fears, their hopes, their passion, their sentiments and it validates the social orders, justifies the existing social scheme and ranges from expressions of complete creativity to legalism鈥�.^[1]

Buddhist mythology includes numerous divine beings and legendary creatures. Many of them are common to Puranic mythology. Asuras, 驰补办峁蝉, Garudas, 狈腻驳补蝉 are example.

According to 惭补丑腻测腻苍补 Buddhism, Devas are divine beings but they are not considered as full enlightened or on Buddhist path. They are not immortals or creator Gods and they have not any ultimate power. But in Puranic mythology Devas are considered as immortals and they have some powers. Devas like 惭补丑别艣惫补谤补, 艢补办谤补 (Indra)and Brahma are common in both Buddhist mythology and Puranic mythology.

艢补办谤补

In 笔腻濒颈 literature 艢补办谤补 (艢akka) has more importance any other Gods. In 笔腻濒颈 texts 艢补办谤补 is mentioned as dev膩n膩峁� indo^[2] or king of all Gods. In 闯腻迟补办补 stories 艢补办谤补 is an important character. Many Buddhist 蝉奴迟谤补蝉 mentions 艢补办谤补 as the ruler of Tr膩tastri峁兣沘 heaven located in the top of mount Sumeru.

惭补丑别艣惫补谤补

In Puranic mythology 惭补丑别艣惫补谤补 is often referred to God 艢颈惫补. In 艢颈惫补pur膩峁嘺惭补丑别艣惫补谤补 refers to one of the eight names of 艢颈惫补. In Buddhist mythology 惭补丑别艣惫补谤补 helps the people who follows the Buddhist path and punishes bad people for their evil deeds. He is considered as one of the important deities in Sri Lankan Buddhism.

厂奴谤测补

In Buddhist mythology 艢奴谤测补 still considered as the Sun-God, but his natural back ground has not been taken into account. He is one of the c膩turmah膩r膩jak膩yika^[3] devas. In vedas 蝉奴谤测补 is known as 膧诲颈测补 because he is the son of Aditi. The same tradition is preserved in Buddhist mythology in which he is known as Adicca.^[4] 厂奴谤测补 is mentioned as a disciple of Buddha.

Candra

Candra is considered as moon god in Indian culture. In Buddhism Candra is one of the guardian gods.

叠谤补丑尘腻

In puranic mythology 叠谤补丑尘腻 is the creature of universe. In Buddhism 叠谤补丑尘腻 is considered as protector of Dhamma and never portrayed as the creator God. In Buddhist mythology 叠谤补丑尘腻 is depicted as a deity less important than Buddha. 厂补诲诲丑补谤尘补辫耻峁囜笉补谤墨办补厂奴迟谤补 mentioned 叠谤补丑尘腻 as 叠谤补丑尘腻厂补丑腻峁僷补迟颈.

Samantagandha (The Wind God)

In 辫耻谤腻峁嘺蝉 and vedas 痴腻测耻 is the God of wind. In 厂补诲诲丑补谤尘补辫耻峁囜笉补谤墨办补, Samanagandha is considered as wind god and mentioned as one of the many devas who accompany 艢补办谤补 in Buddha鈥檚 sermon.