Four Heavenly Kings

File:Four Guardian Kings in Burmese art.jpg

The Four Guardian Kings in Burmese depiction.

The Four Heavenly Kings (Caturmahārāja), according to Buddhist cosmology, are four dieties that reside in the lowest heavenly realm.Template:Princeton inline Each diety watches over one cardinal direction of the world. They are said to "serve as protectors of the dharma and of sentient beings who are devoted to the dharma".Template:Princeton inline

In Chinese mythology, they are known collectively as the "Fēng Tiáo Yǔ Shùn" (Template:Zh) or "Sì Dà Tiānwáng" (Template:Zh).

The Template:Nowrap is a standard component of Chinese Buddhist temples.

In the Sanskrit language they are called Caturmahārāja or Caturmahārājikādeva (Four Great Heavenly Kings).

References

Sources

Template:Princeton source
Chaudhuri, Saroj Kumar. Hindu Gods and Goddesses in Japan. New Delhi: Vedams eBooks (P) Ltd., 2003. Template:ISBN.
Nakamura, Hajime. Japan and Indian Asia: Their Cultural Relations in the Past and Present. Calcutta: Firma K.L. Mukhopadhyay, 1961. Pp. 1–31.
Potter, Karl H., ed. The Encyclopedia of Indian Philosophies, volume 9. Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass, 1970–. Template:ISBN, Template:ISBN (set).
Thakur, Upendra. India and Japan: A Study in Interaction During 5th cent.–14th cent. A.D.. New Delhi: Abhinav Publications, 1992. Template:ISBN. Pp. 27–41.