Dhṛtarāṣṭra

Dhṛtarāṣṭra
Statue of Dhrtarastra (持國天王), in Wofo Temple in Beijing, China
Sanskritधृतराष्ट्र
Dhṛtarāṣṭra
Pāliधतरट्ठ
Dhataraṭṭha
Burmeseဓတရဋ္ဌနတ်မင်း
(Romanization: "Datarattha Nat Min")
Chinese持國天王
(Pinyin: Chíguó Tiānwáng)
Japanese持国天
(romaji: Jikokuten)
Korean지국천
(RR: Jiguk cheon)
Sinhalaධෘතරාෂ්ට්‍ර
TagalogDhltalastla
Thaiท้าวธตรฐ
Thao Thatarot
Tibetanཡུལ་འཁོར་སྲུང
Wylie: yul 'khor srung
THL: Yulkhor Sung
VietnameseTrì Quốc Thiên Vương
Information
Venerated byTheravāda

Mahāyāna

AttributesGuardian of the East
icon Buddhism portal

Dhṛtarāṣṭra (Sanskrit: धृतराष्ट्र; Pali: Dhataraṭṭha) 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.

Etymology and Names

The name Dhṛtarāṣṭra is a Sanskrit compound of the words dhṛta (possessing; bearing) and rāṣṭra (kingdom; territory). Other names include:

Role and iconography

Dhṛtarāṣṭra guards the eastern quarter of Mount Sumeru, the cosmic mountain at the center of the Buddhist universe. He leads the gandharvas (celestial musicians) and piśācas (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 Theravāda and Mahayana traditions. In the Pāli Canon, Dhataraṭṭha is one of the Cātummahārājāno or "Four Great Kings," each guarding one cardinal direction. He has many sons titled "Indra," and a daughter named Sirī.

Veneration in East Asia

With the spread of Indian Buddhism into East Asia, Dhṛtarāṣṭra was localized in art, literature, and religion:

China

In Chinese temples, Chíguó Tiān is enshrined in the Hall of the Heavenly Kings (天王殿), 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.

Vietnam

Known as Trị Quốc Thiên Vương, he is said to reside on Mount Kiền Đà La near Mount Tu Di (Sumeru). He guards Đông 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.

Japan

Jikokuten statue

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.

Legends and Literature

In the Chinese classic Journey to the West, Dhṛtarāṣṭra 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 Dhṛtarāṣṭra also appears as a Nāga King in the Bhūridatta Jātaka, a previous life of the Buddha. This king was the father of the bodhisattva Bhūridatta.

Dharma Instruments and Attributes

Common items associated with Dhṛtarāṣṭra include:

Pipa (lute)

Azure Cloud Sword

Mixed Origin Umbrella

Divine Mouse (Hoa Ho Diao)

References

  1. ↑ "Dhṛtarāṣṭra". Wisdom Library. 28 September 2010. Retrieved 2019-02-20.