Thursday, August 03, 2006

Hindu deities in Buddhism

Saraswati Devi ji, Lakshmi Devi ji and Kaali Mata are three of the most important goddesses of Hinduism. Sri Mata Vaishno Devi ji combines all three goddesses in Her self. These three deities form a trinity in Himalayan Buddhism, too, scholar-civil servant C. Phonsog points out.
The Ladakhi goddess Jamyaang corresponds to Saraswati Devi ji. The male deity Chandraa-zig is the God of Compassion and an incarnation of Lord Buddha. He is the equivalent of Lakshmi Devi ji. Chhak-dor, too, is a male deity, is ferocious and corresponds to Kaali Mata.
Images of these three deities will be found at the main entrance of every Ladakhi Buddhist home. They will either be clay images or three paintings or prints on the wall above the door, or at least block-prints. This trinity is believed to ward off evil.
More than half the deities of Himalayan (Mahayan) Buddhism are Hindu.

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