འཇིག་རྟེན་སྐྱོང་བ། | Glossary of Terms

Literally “world protectors.” They are the same as the four Mahārājas, the Four Great Kings of the quarters (Tib. rgyal chen bzhi), namely, Vaiśravaṇa, Dhṛtarāṣṭra, Virūḍhaka, and Virūpākṣa, whose mission is to report on the activities of humankind to the gods of the Trāyastriṃśa heaven (Heaven of the Thirty-Three) and who have pledged to protect the practitioners of the Dharma. Each universe has its own set of four.

They are the same as the four Mahārājas, the Great Kings of the four directions, namely, Vaiśravaṇa, Dhṛtarāṣṭra, Virūḍhaka, and Virūpākṣa, whose mission is to report on the activities of mankind to the gods of the Trāyastriṃśa heaven and who have pledged to protect the practitioners of the Dharma. Each universe has its own set of four.

Also known as the four great kings (mahārāja), Vaiśravaṇa, Dhṛtarāṣṭra, Virūḍhaka, and Virūpākṣa are pledged to protect practitioners of the Dharma.

One category of Dharma protectors in Buddhism. See also “four guardians of the world.”

In this case, “guardians” seems to refer to the Four Great Kings of the cardinal directions, namely, Vaiśravaṇa, Dhṛtarāṣṭra, Virūḍhaka, and Virūpākṣa, who pledged to protect the Dharma and practitioners.

See “Four Great Kings.”

This refers to the Four Great Kings.

Lit. “World Protectors.” They are usually the same as the Four Mahārājas but are here included as a separate group.

Lit. “World-Protectors.” They are the same as the four Mahārājas, the great kings of the quarters (rgyal chen bzhi), namely, Vaiśravaṇa, Dhṛtarāṣṭra, Virūḍhaka, and Virūpākṣa, whose mission is to report on the activities of mankind to the gods of the Trāyastriṃśa heaven and who have pledged to protect the practitioners of the Dharma. Each universe has its own set of four.

“World protector,” a class of guardian deities, usually presiding over the quarters of the world.

One category of Dharma protectors in Buddhism.

One category of Dharma protectors in Buddhism.

A class of guardian deities. Sometimes used to refer to the Four Great Kings (see “Four World Guardians”).

See “Four Great Kings.” 

See “Lokapāla.”

A group of four nonhuman beings who stand guard over the four directions.

Also known as the Four Great Kings.

The guardians of the cardinal and ordinal directions, the zenith, and nadir.

A class of guardian deities, usually presiding over the quarters of the world.

Another term for the Four Guardian Kings.

A class of guardian gods, usually presiding over the quarters of the world.