Śakra (Buddhism)
Ruler of the Trāyastriṃśa Heaven
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Through Rigveda, Jataka tales and The Buddha
In East Asian cultural traditions, Indra Śakra is known as Dìshìtiān (帝釋天) or Shìtí Huányīn (釋提桓因) in Chinese, as Taishakuten (帝釈天) in Japanese, as Jeseokcheon (제석천) in Korean, and as Đế Thích Thiên (帝釋天) or Thích Đề Hoàn Nhân (釋提桓因) in Vietnamese. In Chinese Buddhism, Indra Śakra is sometimes identified with the Taoist Jade Emperor (Yùhuáng Dàdì 玉皇大帝, often simplified to Yùhuáng 玉皇); both share a birthday on the ninth day of the first lunar month of the Chinese calendar (usually in February).
The Trāyastriṃśa heaven that Indra Śakra rules is located on the top of Mount Meru, imagined to be the polar center of the physical world, around which the Sun and Moon revolve. Trāyastriṃśa is the highest of the heavens in direct contact with humankind. Like all deities, Śakra is long-lived but mortal; when one Śakra dies, his place is taken by another deity who becomes the new Śakra. However, in some traditions, Śakra is either elevated to an enlightened being or a "stream-enterer" (Pali: sotāpanna). Several stories detailing Śakra are found in the Jataka tales, as well as several suttas.
Indra Śakra is married to Sujā, daughter of the chief of the asuras, Vemacitrin (Pāli Vepacitti). Despite this relationship, a state of war generally exists between the thirty-three gods and the asuras, which Indra Śakra manages to resolve with minimal violence and no loss of life.
Indra Śakra is often depicted in literature as a being who consults the Buddha on matters of morality. Together with Brahmā, he is considered a dharmapala, a protector of Buddhism.
Etymology
"Śakra" is a Sanskrit word meaning "mighty" or "powerful" and is used as an epithet of Indra in hymn 5.34 of the Rigveda. The related Pāli lexeme "Sakka" seems to have been the standard name of the king of heaven in Buddhist tradition.
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Names
Śakra is known by several names in Buddhist texts. Some of these include:
- Indra (Sanskrit; Chinese: 因陀羅; pinyin: Yīntuóluó; Japanese: Indara, Standard Tibetan: དབང་པོ་ dbang po)
- Mahendranīla (Sanskrit; lit. "Great Indra the Dark")
- Sahassākkha (Chinese: 娑婆婆; pinyin: Suōpópo; Japanese: Sababa; or 婆婆; Pópo; Japanese: Baba).
- Sahasrekṣaṇa (Sanskrit; Chinese: 千眼; pinyin: Qiānyǎn; lit. "Thousand Eyes")
- (Chinese: 天主; pinyin: Tiānzhǔ; lit. "Lord of Heaven")
Theravāda
Sakka's mythology and character is expounded upon in the Pali Canon, particularly in the Sakka Saṃyutta of the Saṃyutta Nikāya. Sakka plays a significant role in several of the Jātaka tales.
The commentator Buddhaghoṣa has identified Sakka as being identical to Vajrapāṇi. Thus, Sakka is identified as a Bodhisattva.
In the Mahāparinibbāna Sutta (DN 16), Sakka speaks the following verse, which has become standard in Buddhist funeral rites:
Aniccā vata saṅkhārā, uppādavayadhammino. Uppajjitvā nirujjhanti, tesaṃ vūpasamo sukho.
Translation:
"Impermanent, alas, are compounded things. It is the nature of things to arise and pass away. Having come into existence they cease. Their appeasement is the highest bliss."
Mahāyāna
In the Book of Equanimity, Śakra plays a central role in the fourth koan.
In the Mahāparinirvāṇa Sūtra, Śakra utters a stanza in response to the Buddha's death as a recognition of the Four Noble Truths. It is identical to the Pali formula found in the corresponding sutta.:
Anitya vata saṃskārā utpādvyayadharmiṇaḥ utpadya hi nirudhyante teṣāṃ vyupashamaḥ sukham.
Translation:
"Impermanent indeed are all formations; their nature consists of arising and disappearing; having arisen, they cease; their calming is happiness."
He is also recognized as one of the Twenty-Four Guardian Devas in Chinese Buddhist tradition.
Iconography
In Southeast Asia's Theravada communities, Śakra is depicted with blue or black skin, alongside a mount, Airavata, a three-headed elephant.
Folk belief
Śakra is equated with Haneullim in Korean folk religion. According to the Memorabilia of the Three Kingdoms, it is believed that Śakra is Hwanung's father.
In Chinese Buddhism, some equate him with the Jade Emperor.
In Mongolian Buddhism, Qormusta Tengri is syncretized with Śakra, and is believed to be involved with the creation of fire.
The ceremonial name of Bangkok alludes to Śakra:
Krungthepmahanakhon Amonrattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilokphop Noppharatratchathaniburirom Udomratchaniwetmahasathan Amonphimanawatansathit Sakkathattiyawitsanukamprasit
Translation:
กรุงเทพมหานคร อมรรัตนโกสินทร์ มหินทรายุธยา มหาดิลกภพ นพรัตนราชธานีบูรีรมย์ อุดมราชนิเวศน์มหาสถาน อมรพิมานอวตารสถิต สักกะทัตติยวิษณุกรรมประสิทธิ์
This name is composed of both Pāli and Sanskrit, prefaced with the only one Thai word, Krung, which means 'capital'. It can thus be written as: "Krung-dēvamahānagara amararatanakosindra mahindrāyudhyā mahātilakabhava navaratanarājadhānī purīramya uttamarājanivēsana mahāsthāna amaravimāna avatārasthitya shakrasdattiya vishnukarmaprasiddhi."
Popular culture
Śakra makes several appearances in popular culture, including:
- He is a character in the mobile game Monster Strike.
- He appears as a villain in the Chinese comic Fung Wan.
- He also appears as a villain in the manga series RG Veda.
- Indra Ōtsutsuki from the Naruto series is loosely based on Śakra. His younger brother's name is Asura, which plays on the myth of the battle between the deva and the asura.
- It is possible that Kami and Mr. Popo from the Dragon Ball series share a connection with Śakra. Mr. Popo's name is phonetically similar to the Chinese pronunciation of Sahassākkha (婆婆 Pópo), an epithet of Śakra. Kami's role as guardian deity is also similar to Śakra's relationship with the human world. This is further supported by the function of the Lookout, Kami's temple, which is reminiscent of Trāyastriṃśa heaven. Traditionally, this heaven is depicted as a flat surface on the top of Mt. Sumeru. There are thirty-two trees on the Lookout, which equate to the same number of palaces in Trāyastriṃśa (not counting the thirty-third, Śakra's palace, exemplified by the hyperbolic time chamber).