The Four Heavenly Kings are four Buddhist gods, each of whom watches over one cardinal direction of the world. In Chinese Mythology, they are known collectively as the "F?ng Tiáo Y? Shùn" (simplified Chinese: ????; traditional Chinese: ????; literally: "Good climate") or "Sì Dà Ti?nwáng" (Chinese: ????; literally: "Four Great Heavenly Kings") in the ancient Sanskrit language they are called the "Caturmah?r?ja" (???????????), or Caturmah?r?jik?deva: Four Great Heavenly Kings. The Hall of the Heavenly Kings is a standard component of Chinese Buddhist temples.
Video Four Heavenly Kings
Names
The Kings are collectively named as follows:
The Four Heavenly Kings are said to currently live in the C?turmah?r?jika heaven (Pali C?tummah?r?jika, "Of the Four Great Kings") on the lower slopes of Mount Sumeru, which is the lowest of the six worlds of the devas of the K?madh?tu. They are the protectors of the world and fighters of evil, each able to command a legion of supernatural creatures to protect the Dharma.
- Four Heavenly Kings statues at the royal crematorium of King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand
Maps Four Heavenly Kings
Mythology
All four Kings serve ?akra, the lord of the devas of Tr?yastri??a. On the 8th, 14th and 15th days of each lunar month, the Kings either send out emissaries or go themselves to inspect the state of virtue and morality in the world of men. Then they report their findings to the assembly of the Tr?yastri??a devas.
On the orders of ?akra, the Kings and their retinues stand guard to protect Tr?yastri??a from another attack by the Asuras, which once threatened to destroy the realm of the devas. They also vowed to protect the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Buddha's followers from danger.
According to Vasubandhu, devas born in the C?turmah?r?jika heaven are 1/4 of a kro?a in height (about 750 feet tall). They have a five-hundred-year lifespan, of which each day is equivalent to 50 years in our world; thus their total lifespan amounts to about nine million years (other sources say 90,000 years).
The attributes borne by each King also link them to their followers; for instance, the n?gas, magical creatures who can change form between human and serpent, are led by Vir?p?k?a, represented by a snake; the gandharvas are celestial musicians, led by Dh?tar???ra, represented with a lute. The umbrella was a symbol of regal sovereignty in ancient India, and the sword is a symbol of martial prowess. Vai?rava?a's mongoose, which ejects jewels from its mouth, is said to represent generosity in opposition to greed.
- Statues of the Four Heavenly Kings of Jik?-ji, Takasago, Hy?go, Japan.
In popular culture
- The Spice Boys are a collective of antagonists called ????? (Mazoku Shitenn?, lit. Four Heavenly Kings of the Demon Clan) in the anime Dragonball Z.
- The Elite Four from the Pokémon franchise are known as the Four Heavenly Kings in the original Japanese.
- The Four Guardians from the video game series Mega Man Zero are known as the Four Heavenly Kings in the original Japanese.
- The Four Kings of Heaven (or Negacommanders in the original English dub) is the collective name of four antagonists in the Sailor Moon franchise.
- The Four Heavenly Kings is an association of aliens in Ultraman Mebius.
- The Four Heavenly Kings of Orochi from The King of Fighters video game series.
- The Four Heavenly Kings is a group of four powerful "Gourmet Hunters" in the anime/manga Toriko.
- The Elite Four from the anime Kill la Kill are known as the Four Heavenly Kings in the original Japanese.
See also
- Guardians of the directions
- Bacab
- Lokapala
- Tetramorph
- Titan (mythology)
- Anemoi
- Four Dwarves (Norse Mythology)
- Four Stags (Norse Mythology)
References
External links
- Schumacher, Mark. "Shitenno - Four Heavenly Kings (Deva) of Buddhism, Guarding Four Cardinal Directions". Digital Dictionary of Buddhism in Japan.
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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