Dhá¹ÂtarÃÂá¹£á¹Âra (Sanskrit: à ¤§à ¥Âà ¤¤à ¤°à ¤¾à ¤·à ¥Âà ¤Âà ¥Âà ¤°; Pali: Dhataraá¹Âá¹Âha) is one of the Four Heavenly Kings in Buddhism, the King of the Gandhabbas, known as the guardian of the eastern direction and a protector of the Dharma. He is also widely revered in East Asian Buddhist traditions.
The name Dhá¹ÂtarÃÂá¹£á¹Âra is a Sanskrit compound of the words dhá¹Âta (possessing; bearing) and rÃÂá¹£á¹Âra (kingdom; territory). Other names include:
Dhá¹ÂtarÃÂá¹£á¹Âra guards the eastern quarter of Mount Sumeru, the cosmic mountain at the center of the Buddhist universe. He leads the gandharvas (celestial musicians) and pià ÂÃÂcas (flesh-eating spirits). In Mahayana traditions, he is portrayed wearing armor and holding a pipa (a Chinese lute), symbolizing the use of music to spread joy and convert beings to the Dharma.
He is also considered a protector deity in both TheravÃÂda and Mahayana traditions. In the PÃÂli Canon, Dhataraá¹Âá¹Âha is one of the CÃÂtummahÃÂrÃÂjÃÂno or "Four Great Kings," each guarding one cardinal direction. He has many sons titled "Indra," and a daughter named Sirë.
With the spread of Indian Buddhism into East Asia, Dhá¹ÂtarÃÂá¹£á¹Âra was localized in art, literature, and religion:
In Chinese temples, ChÃÂguó TiÃÂn is enshrined in the Hall of the Heavenly Kings (天çÂÂ殿), usually as one of the Four Kings. He is associated with music and harmony, and his pipa represents the tuning of moral order. He is also part of the Twenty or Twenty-Four Heavenly Guardians.
Known as Trá» Quá»Âc Thiên Vðáng, he is said to reside on Mount Kiá»Ân ÃÂàLa near Mount Tu Di (Sumeru). He guards ÃÂông Thắng Thần Châu, wears armor, holds a pipa, and protects Buddhism. He is revered during religious festivals and depicted as one of the Twenty Heavenly Kings. He is also mythologized as a deity guarding the Eastern Palace under the Jade Emperor.
In Japan, Jikokuten is depicted as an armored guardian, often holding a sword or spear and trampling a jaki (demon). Though fierce in appearance, he is a benevolent protector of the Dharma.
In the Chinese classic Journey to the West, Dhá¹ÂtarÃÂá¹£á¹Âra participates in battles against Sun Wukong and other rebel forces in Heaven. In the Chinese novel Fengshen Yanyi, he is said to have been Ma Li Shou, a general who later ascended to divine status and was appointed the Heavenly King of the East.
A separate figure named Dhá¹ÂtarÃÂá¹£á¹Âra also appears as a NÃÂga King in the Bhà «ridatta JÃÂtaka, a previous life of the Buddha. This king was the father of the bodhisattva Bhà «ridatta.
Common items associated with Dhá¹ÂtarÃÂá¹£á¹Âra include:
Pipa (lute)
Azure Cloud Sword
Mixed Origin Umbrella
Divine Mouse (Hoa Ho Diao)