Buddhist Beliefs

There are several Gods In Buddhism which are also known as deities. Buddhists do not believe that there is one creator of the universe or one absolute God.

Buddhists believe that life depends on other people and circumstances which we have no control over. No one has a fixed or permanent self, as our circumstances change so will we.

The Lord Buddha is described as the ninth incarnation of Vishnu. He is depicted as having a calm and graceful appearance, with long ear lobes and his hands in a boon-giving and protecting attitude. He is often depicted in either a standing or sitting pose.

Dipankara Buddha is a deity of Mahayana Buddhism. He is believed to have come from the mythological city Deepavati. He is also known as ‘The Enlightener’ and was given the name Dipankar because there was a manifestation of a large number of lamps, Dipa, at the moment of his birth.

Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara is among the 108 forms of Lakeswarg. He refuses to accept Nirvana as he considers this as selfish in view of the ignorance of the great majority of people who have not reached that stage. His sacrifice symbolizes infinite compassion, sharing of mankind’s misery and his willingness to help others. He is known as the Bodhisattva of compassion and is the protector from danger.

Amoghasddha represents the cosmic element of conformation, Samskar. He is green in color and his symbol is the double thunderbolt, viswa vajra. He is associated with the rainy season and always faces north. Sometimes he is depicted with a seven headed serpent as his umbrella, in front of his shrines there is a square pit which is meant for the snakes.

The Eagle King Garuda is a man-bird who is often seen kneeling before Vishnu’s shrines. He is nearly always represented as a human bar his huge wings which fold out from his shoulders. He can also be seen with his head as a birds as well,

Shadakshari is also a form of Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara. He is always seen with adornments, he is white in color, has four arms and carried a rosary in the right hand and a full lotus in the left, his other two hands are raised to his chest with the palms enjoined with a ‘Jewel’ which is regarded as a symbol of knowledge.

Yamantaka is depicted with the head of a bull and two arms, he has a crown of skulls and a third eye. In painting he is seen with sixteen feet, thirty four arms holding all of the tantra and nine heads. Yamantaka is the conqueror of death.

There are a further 8 Gods in Buddhism, all of which represent different aspects of Buddhism’s beliefs.