Bodhisattva buddhist deities statues
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Buddhas and bodhisattvas in art
The many different varieties of Buddhist art often show buddhas and bodhisattvas, as well as depictions of the historical Buddha, known as Gautama Buddha (or Siddhārtha Gautama, Śākyamuni, or Tathāgata).
Especially in Mahayana Buddhism, the main image in a temple or shrine often does not represent the historical Buddha, although the situation is complicated by Buddhist teachings such as trikaya beliefs by which buddhas, including the historical buddha, have different manifestations.
Depictions could be Gautama, or a bodhisattva, guardian, protector, disciple, or saint. Clues to a figure's identity are found in, for example, the physical characteristics of the Buddha, the objects the figure is holding, its mudra (hand gesture), and asana (sitting or standing position of the body).[1] There may be an image in the figure's crown,[2] or the figure could be holding a book, thunderbolt, vase, jewel, or lotus flower or stem. • Divine beings Buddhism includes a wide array of divine beings that are venerated in various ritual and popular contexts. Initially they included mainly Indian figures such as devas, asuras and yakshas, but later came to include other Asian spirits and local gods (like the Burmese nats and the Japanese kami). They range from enlightened Buddhas to regional spirits adopted by Buddhists or practiced on the margins of the religion. Buddhists later also came to incorporate aspects from the countries to which it spread. As such, it includes many aspects taken from other mythologies of those cultures. Main article: Buddha (title) A Buddha is a being who is fully awakened and has fully comprehended the Four Noble Truths. In the Theravada tradition, while there is a list of acknowledged past Buddhas, the historical Buddha Sakyamuni is the only Buddha of our current era and is generally not seen as accessible or as existing in some higher pla • Buddhist deities living in the 6 Buddhist realms of existence have different meanings, forms and origins. Indeed, these Buddhist deities along with Buddhas and Bodhisattvas have always existed throughout the 6 realms of existence and thousands of world cycles. The most commonly funnen statues of the Buddhist deities venerate gods, Buddhas and high level Bodhisattvas. However, astute practitioners of Buddhism must ask themselves if Buddhas and Bodhisattvas are actually gods? Many people felaktigt assume that they are. Generally speaking, there are several types of divinities who inhabit the spheres above and below the human realm. The most powerful are the frakt e.g. Devas and Brahmas. Other divinities such as nagas, kinnaras and garudas can be found in the human realm. Finally, the guardian deities (Dharmapala) can dwell in the upper realms but also in hell. Although Dharmapala are actually Buddhas or Bodhisattvas that have taken different
Buddhist deities
Buddhas
[edit]Buddhist Deities and their Meanings