DharmapalaFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaFor other uses, see Dharmapala (disambiguation).Part of a series onBuddhismDharma Wheel.svgHistory[show]Dharma Concepts[show]Practices[show]Nirva?a[show]Traditions Canons[show]OutlinePortal icon Buddhism portalv t eIn Vajrayana Buddhism, a dharmapala (Wylie: chos skyong) is a type of wrathful deity. The name means "Dharma-defender" in Sanskrit, and the dharmapalas are also known as the Defenders of the Law (Dharma), or the Protectors of the Law, in English.Contents[hide] 1 Description1.1 Tibetan Buddhism1.2 Tangmi and Shingon Buddhism2 Related deities3 See also4 Notes5 References6 External linksDescription[edit]In Vajrayana iconography and thangka depictions, dharmapalas are fearsome beings, often with many heads, many hands, or many feet. Dharmapalas often have blue, black or red skin, and a fierce expression with protruding fangs. Though dharmapalas have a terrifying appearance and countenance, they are all bodhisattvas or buddhas, meaning that they are embodiments of compassion that act in a wrathful way for the benefit of sentient beings.Tibetan Buddhism[edit]In Tibet, principal Dharmapalas include:Mahakala (Tib. Nagpo Chenpo)MahakaliYama (Tib. Shinje)Yamantaka (Tib. Shinje Shed)Hayagriva (Tib. Tamdrin)Vaisravana (Tib. Kubera)Shri Devi (Tib. Palden Lhamo)Ekaja?i (Tib. ral chig ma)Rahula (Tib. gza)Vajrasadhu (Tib. Dorje Legpa)Tshangs Pa DkarpoMaharakta (Tib. tsog gi dag po, mar chen)Kurukulla (Tib. rig che ma)Takkiraja (Tib. du pai gyal po)Prana Atma (Tib. Begtse)In Tibet, most monasteries have a dedicated dharmapala which was originally comparable to a genius loci. The many forms of Mahakala, for example, are emanations of Avalokiteshvara. Kalarupa, Yamantaka and Shri Devi (Tib. Palden Lhamo) are considered by practitioners to be emanations of the Buddha of Wisdom (Manjushri).The main functions of a dharmapala are said to be to avert the inner and outer obstacles that prevent spiritual practitioners from attaining spiritual realizations, as well as to foster the necessary conditions for their practice.[1]Tangmi and Shingon Buddhism[edit]In Japanese Shingon Buddhism, a descendent of Tangmi ("Tang Dynasty Esoterica" in ancient China), the dharmapala Yamantaka (Daiitoku) is classified as a Wisdom King. Some other dharmapalas, notably Mahakala (Daikoku), belong to the fourth hierarchy of deities (tenbu).Related deities[edit]In Tibetan Buddhism, there are two other classes of defender, the lokapalas and k?etrapalas. Papiya,[2] Guan Yu and Hachiman are also known as defenders.