བརྒྱ་བྱིན། | Glossary of Terms

The lord of gods (Indra).

The epithet for the Vedic god Indra used most commonly in Buddhist literature. Śakra is chief of the gods of the Trāyastrimśa realm, and appears frequently during the life of the Buddha in a supportive role. For more detail, particularly on his role in this text, see UT22084-026-001-21015. He is addressed by the Buddha and other interlocutors by his personal name, Kauśika (q.v.). The Tibetan translation brgya byin (meaning “one hundred sacrifices”) follows the traditional Sanskrit semantic gloss that Śakra is an abbreviation of Śata-kratu, “one who has performed a hundred sacrifices.” Each world with a central Sumeru has a Śakra.

Name of a god (deva), also known as “Indra.”

Also known as Indra, he is the deity who is called “lord of the devas” and dwells on the summit of Mount Sumeru, wielding the vajra. The Tibetan translation is based on the etymology that śakra is an abbreviation of śata-kratu (“one who has performed a hundred sacrifices”). The highest Vedic sacrifice was the horse sacrifice, and there is a tradition that he became the lord of the gods through performing them. In this sūtra there are numerous Śakras in various worlds.

Also commonly known as Indra, he is the deity, called “lord of the devas,” who dwells on the summit of Mount Sumeru and wields the thunderbolt. The Tibetan translation is based on an etymology that śakra is an abbreviation of śata-kratu: one who has performed a hundred sacrifices. The highest Vedic sacrifice was the horse sacrifice, and there is a tradition that he became the lord of the gods through performing them.

A common alternate name for Indra, the king of the gods.

Common epithet of the god Indra, in Skt. meaning “Mighty One,” and in Tib., “Hundred Gifts” (because he is said to have attained his state by performing one hundred pūjās). This epithet often appears together with the title “Lord of the Gods.” He is ruler of the Heaven of the Thirty-Three.

A divine being who rules the Heaven of the Thirty Three; equivalent to, or identified with, Indra.

King of the gods of the desire realm.

Alternate name for Indra, the lord who rules the Heaven of the Thirty-Three.

Alternate name for Indra, the lord who rules the Heaven of the Thirty-Three.

The lord of the gods. Also known as Indra, the deity who is called “lord of the devas” dwells on the summit of Mount Sumeru and wields the thunderbolt. The Tibetan translation brgya byin (meaning “one hundred sacrifices”) follows the traditional Sanskrit semantic gloss that śakra is an abbreviation of śata-kratu, one who has performed a hundred sacrifices. Each world with a central Sumeru has a Śakra.

Another name for Indra, a Vedic god who eventually emerged as one of the most important in the Vedic pantheon. Indra retains his role as the “Lord of the Gods” in Buddhist literature, where he is often referred to by the name Śakra.

The lord of the gods. Alternatively known as Indra, the deity that is called “lord of the gods” dwells on the summit of Mount Sumeru and wields the thunderbolt. The Tibetan translation brgya byin (meaning “one hundred sacrifices”) is based on an etymology that śakra is an abbreviation of śata-kratu, one who has performed a hundred sacrifices. Each world with a central Sumeru has a Śakra.

The name of the king of the thirty-three gods, also known as Indra, who presides over the desire realm heaven called “the gods of the thirty-three.”

A divine being who rules the Heaven of the Thirty-Three. Also known as Indra.

The lord of the gods.

The lord of the gods in the Heaven of the Thirty-Three.

A divine being who rules the Heaven of the Thirty-Three.

The lord of the gods of the Thirty-Three.

King of the gods in the Heaven of the Thirty-Three. Also known as Indra.

Epithet of Indra.

More commonly known in the West as Indra, the deity that is called “lord of the devas,” dwells on the summit of Mount Sumeru, and wields the thunderbolt. The Tibetan translation is based on an etymology that śakra is an abbreviation of śata-kratu: one who has performed a hundred sacrifices. The highest Vedic sacrifice was the horse sacrifice, and there is a tradition that he became the lord of the gods through performing them.

An epithet of Indra.

Chief of the gods of the Thirty-Three, who presides over the desire realm heaven.

More commonly known in the West as Indra, the deity who is called “lord of the devas” and dwells on the summit of Mount Sumeru and wields the thunderbolt. The Tibetan translation is based on an etymology that śakra is an abbreviation of śata-kratu, “one who has performed a hundred sacrifices.” The highest vedic sacrifice was the horse sacrifice and there is a tradition that he became the lord of the gods through performing them.

A divine being who rules the Heaven of the Thirty-Three. Another name for Indra.

More commonly known in the West as Indra, the deity that is called “lord of the devas” dwells on the summit of Mount Sumeru and wields the thunderbolt. The Tibetan translation is based on an etymology that śakra is an abbreviation of śata-kratu, one who has performed a hundred sacrifices. The highest vedic sacrifice was the horse sacrifice, and there is a tradition that he became the lord of the gods through performing them. Each world with a central Sumeru has a Śakra; therefore this sutra mentions them in the plural.

A divine being who rules the Heaven of the Thirty-Three. Also known as Indra.

A divine being who rules the Heaven of the Thirty-Three.

Name of the god who rules the Heaven of the Thirty-Three.

Another name of Indra, the chief god in the Realm of the Thirty-Three Gods.

Usually (when spelled with the capital letter) this is one of the names of Indra; in this case is denotes any of the ruling gods in the Realm of the Thirty-Three Gods.

Common epithet of the god Indra, in Skt. meaning “Mighty One,” and in Tib., “Hundred Gifts” (because he is said to have attained his state by performing one hundred pūjās). This epithet often appears together with the title “King of Gods.” He is ruler of the Heaven of the Thirty-Three.

A divine being who rules the Heaven of the Thirty-Three.

King of the gods of Trāyastriṃśa, another name for Indra.

A divine being who rules the Heaven of the Thirty Three; equivalent to, or identified with, Indra.

The lord of the gods, also known as Indra, he dwells on the summit of Mount Sumeru and wields the thunderbolt. The Tibetan translation brgya byin (meaning “one hundred sacrifices”) is based on an etymology that śakra is an abbreviation of śata-kratu, one who has performed a hundred sacrifices. Each world with a central Sumeru has a Śakra.

An epithet for Indra, the king of the gods in Hindu mythology.

The lord of the gods. Also called “Kauśika.”

Another name for Indra, the divine being who rules the Heaven of the Thirty-Three.

A prominent god who rules the Heaven of the Thirty-Three, often identified with Indra; a member of the Buddha’s retinue.

A divine being who rules the Heaven of the Thirty-Three. Also known as Indra.

Common epithet of the god Indra, in Skt. meaning “Mighty One,” and in Tib., “Hundred Gifts.” The Tibetan translation is based on an alternate etymology that śakra is an abbreviation of śata-kratu, “one who has performed a hundred sacrifices.” This epithet often appears together with the title devendra “Lord of Gods.” He is ruler of the Heaven of the Thirty-Three.

An alternative name for Indra, lord of the devas, who, according to Buddhist cosmology, resides in the Heaven of the Thirty-Three.

The king of the gods.

In Buddhist texts, usual name for Indra, king of gods of the desire-realm (kāmadhātu) of a particular universe; hence a Śakra is lower in status than a Brahmā, who resides at the summit of the realm of pure matter (rūpadhātu). As in the case of Brahmā, a title, or status, rather than a personal name; each universe has its Śakra.

The lord of the gods. Alternatively known as Indra, the deity that is called “lord of the gods” dwells on the summit of Mount Sumeru and wields the thunderbolt. The Tibetan translation brgya byin (meaning “one hundred sacrifices”) is based on an etymology that śakra is an abbreviation of śata-kratu, one who has performed a hundred sacrifices. Each world with a central Sumeru has a Śakra.

The lord of the gods.

The Tibetan name used in this text corresponds to the Sanskrit “Śakra,” another name for the preeminent vajra-wielding Vedic deity Indra who is called “lord of the deities” and is associated with storms and righteous warfare. The Tibetan translation is based on an etymology that śakra is an abbreviation of śata-kratu, “one who has performed a hundred sacrifices.” In Buddhism, he is the god of the realm equivalent to the second heaven of the desire realm, the heaven of Thirty-Three Gods. In the Buddhist Avataṃsaka cosmology of innumerable (asaṃkhyeya) interpenetrating buddha realms, there are myriad Śakras (aka Indra), each presiding over his own world-system.

The lord of the gods. Also known as Indra, the deity who is called “Lord of the Gods” dwells on the summit of Mount Meru and wields the thunderbolt. The Tibetan translation brgya byin (meaning “one hundred sacrifices”) follows the traditional Sanskrit semantic gloss that śakra is an abbreviation of śata-kratu, one who has performed a hundred sacrifices. Each world with a central Meru has a Śakra.

Alternate name for Indra, the lord who rules the Heaven of the Thirty-Three.

One of the chief Vedic deities. God of war and Lord of heaven.

Common epithet of the god Indra, in Skt. meaning “Mighty One,” and in Tib., “Hundred Gifts” (because he is said to have attained his state by performing one hundred pūjās). This epithet often appears together with the title “Lord of Gods.” He is ruler of the Heaven of the Thirty-Three.

The lord of the gods. Alternatively known as Indra, the deity that is called “lord of the devas” dwells on the summit of Mount Sumeru and wields the thunderbolt. The Tibetan translation brgya byin (meaning “one hundred sacrifices”) is based on an etymology that śakra is an abbreviation of śata-kratu, one who has performed a hundred sacrifices. Each world with a central Sumeru has a Śakra.

A powerful deity who rules the Heaven of the Thirty-Three. Another name for Indra.

Another name for Indra, the god who rules the Heaven of the Thirty-Three.

Alternate name for Indra, the king of the gods in Hindu mythology.

An alternative name for Indra, lord of the gods, who, according to Buddhist cosmology, resides in the Heaven of the Thirty-Three.

An epithet for Indra, ruler of the Heaven of the Thirty-Three.

A divine being who rules the Heaven of the Thirty-Three.

Chief of the gods who reside in the Heaven of the Thirty-Three. Also known as Indra.

Another name for Indra, the god who rules the Heaven of the Thirty-Three.

The lord of the gods, also known as Indra, he dwells on the summit of Mount Sumeru and wields the thunderbolt. The Tibetan translation brgya byin (meaning “one hundred sacrifices”) is based on an etymology that śakra is an abbreviation of śata-kratu, one who has performed a hundred sacrifices. Each world with a central Sumeru has a śakra.

An alternative name for Indra, lord of the gods, who, according to Buddhist cosmology, resides in the Heaven of the Thirty-Three.

Alternate name for Indra, the lord who rules the Heaven of the Thirty-Three.

Alternate name for Indra, the lord who rules the Heaven of the Thirty-Three.

More commonly known as Indra, the deity who is called “lord of the gods” dwells on the summit of Mount Sumeru and wields the thunderbolt. The Tibetan translation is based on an etymology that śakra is an abbreviation of śata-kratu (“one who has performed a hundred sacrifices”): he is said to have become the lord of the gods through performing the horse sacrifice, which was the highest Vedic sacrifice. Each world with a central Sumeru has a Śakra, so this sūtra mentions them in the plural.

Also known as Indra, and by the epithet Kauśika. Lord of the gods in the Heaven of the Thirty-Three.

Also known as Kauśika and as Indra. King of the gods in the Heaven of the Thirty-three.

The lord of gods (Indra).

An alternative name for Indra, lord of the gods, who, according to Buddhist cosmology, resides in the Heaven of the Thirty-Three.

Common epithet of the god Indra, in Skt. meaning “Mighty One,” and in Tib., “Hundred Gifts” (because he is said to have attained his state by performing one hundred pūjās). This epithet often appears together with the title “King of Gods.” He is ruler of the Heaven of the Thirty-Three.

“Mighty One.” Another name for the god Indra, the king of the gods in Trāyastriṃśa heaven. It is derived from the Sanskrit root śak- (“to be able”).

The lord of the gods. More commonly known in the West as Indra, the deity who is called “lord of the gods” dwells on the summit of Mount Sumeru and wields the thunderbolt. The Tibetan translation brgya byin (meaning “one hundred sacrifices”) is based on an etymology that śakra is an abbreviation of śata-kratu, one who has performed a hundred sacrifices. Each world with a central Sumeru has a Śakra. Also referred to by the epithet Kauśika.

The lord of the gods. More commonly known in the West as Indra, the deity that is called “lord of the devas” dwells on the summit of Mount Sumeru and wields the thunderbolt. The Tibetan translation brgya byin (meaning “one hundred sacrifices”) is based on an etymology that śakra is an abbreviation of śata-kratu, one who has performed a hundred sacrifices. Each world with a central Sumeru has a Śakra. He is also called “Kauśika.”

An alternative name for Indra, lord of the gods, who, according to Buddhist cosmology, resides in the Heaven of the Thirty-Three.

See Indra.

One of the names of Indra.

One of the principal gods. He rules over the Heaven of the Thirty-Three.

The king of the gods, synonymous with the Vedic god Indra.

An alternative name for Indra, lord of the gods, who, according to Buddhist cosmology, resides in the Heaven of the Thirty-Three.

See “Indra.”

More commonly known in English as “Indra,” the deity who is called “lord of the devas” dwells on the summit of Mount Sumeru and wields a thunderbolt. The Tibetan translation is based on an etymology that śakra is an abbreviation of śata-kratu, one who has performed a hundred sacrifices. The highest Vedic sacrifice was the horse sacrifice, and there is a tradition that he became the lord of the gods through performing them. Each world with a central Sumeru has a Śakra; therefore, this sūtra mentions them in the plural.

Common epithet of the god Indra, in Sanskrit meaning “Mighty One,” and in Tibetan “Hundred Gifts.” The Tibetan translation is based on an alternate etymology that śakra is an abbreviation of śata-kratu, “one who has performed a hundred sacrifices.” This epithet often appears together with the title Devendra (“Lord of Gods”). He is ruler of the Heaven of the Thirty-Three.

An alternative name for Indra, one of the most important gods in the Vedic pantheon. Śakra retains his role as the “Lord of the Gods” in Buddhist literature, where he presides over the Heaven of the Thirty-Three.

King of the gods in the Thirty-Three. Also known as Indra.

An alternate name of Indra; a Vedic god who, along with Brahmā, first exhorted Śākyamuni to teach the Dharma. Śakra’s importance in the Brahmanical pantheon was eventually eclipsed by Viṣṇu.

Another name for Indra, the chief god in the realm of the thirty-three gods.

An alternative name for Indra, lord of the gods, who, according to Buddhist cosmology, resides in the Heaven of the Thirty-Three.

An epithet used in many Buddhist texts to refer to Indra.

The name of the king of the worldly gods, synonymous with the name Indra.

Sometimes functioning as an alternate name for Indra, Śakra is considered to be the ruler of the god realm and the leader of the army of devas.

A common epithet of Indra, the lord of the gods, who dwells on the summit of Mount Sumeru and wields the thunderbolt. The Tibetan translation is based on an etymology that śakra is an abbreviation of śata-kratu: one who has performed a hundred sacrifices (Tib. brgya byin). The highest Vedic sacrifice was the horse sacrifice, and there is a tradition that he became the lord of the gods through performing a hundred of them.

Epithet of Indra. Literally, “he who contains one hundred sacrificial rites.”

Epithet of Indra. Literally, “he who contains one hundred sacrificial rites.”

A Vedic god who eventually emerged as one of the most important in the Vedic pantheon. Indra retains his role as the “Lord of the Gods” in Buddhist literature, where he is often referred to by the name Śakra. As a guardian of the directions, he guards the eastern quarter.