Gods of Wrath

Wrathful deities are a notable feature of the iconography of Hindu, Jain, and Buddhist culture. 

These wrathful or fierce deities are those aspects and manifestations of enlightened Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, or Devas (divine beings). 

Chemchok Heruka with Consort

They possess the power to destroy obstacles to enlightenment and are also termed krodha-vighnantaka, "wrathful onlookers on destroying obstacles".

Defenders, destroyers, demons or gods these tantric deities are the ideal avatars for our chaotic and confusing age.

Traditionally, wrathful deities are understood to be aspects of benevolent principles - fearful only to those who perceive them as alien forces. When recognized as aspects of oneself and tamed by spiritual practice they assume their true benevolence.

Palden Lhamo Principal Female Wisdom Protector

Herukas (khrag 'thung, "blood drinker") are enlightened masculine beings who adopt fierce forms to express their detachment from the world of ignorance. 

Dakinis (khandroma, "sky-goer") are their feminine counterparts, sometimes depicted with a heruka and sometimes as independent deities. 

Dharmapala statue at Bút Tháp Temple, Vietnam

These dharmapalas or protectors of the faith can appear in their fierceness as a Garuda, Nāga, Yaksha, Gandharva, or Asura.

Or as supernatural beings - bodhisattvas who wage war without any mercy against demons and enemies of their belief systems or religions.

The Eight Dharmapala are:

• Yama, the god of death
• Mahakala, the Great Black One
• Yamantaka, the conqueror of death
• Vaiśravaṇa or Kubera, the god of wealth
• Hayagriva, the Horse-necked one
• Palden Lhamo, female protectress of Tibet
• White Brahma or Tshangs pa
• Begtse, a war god from Mongolia

 Prayer that Removes All Obstacles from the Path

Chogyam Trungpa has said wrathful deities work more directly and forcefully with passion, aggression, and delusion - conquering and trampling them.

They represent the power and compassion of enlightened activity - using multiple skillful means (upaya) to guide us in tantric transformation of our negative emotions.

Let us pray they can protect us from our baser selves.