Dharma Protectors

Dharma protectors (Skt. dharmapāla; Tib. ཆོས་སྐྱོང་, chö kyong, Wyl. chos skyong) — deities whose role is to protect the teachings and practitioners. They are sometimes emanations of buddhas or bodhisattvas (supermundane), and sometimes spirits and demons (mundane) who have been subjugated and bound under oath by great practitioners such as Guru Padmasambhava. Among the best known are Ekajati, Mahakala, Dza Rahula and Damchen Dorje Lekpa.

Further Reading

• Ladrang Kalsang, The Guardian Deities of Tibet (India: Wisdom Books, 2007)
• Lelung Shyepé Dorje, Life Stories of an Ocean of Oath-Bound Protectors of the Teachings (Wyl. dam can bstan srung rgya mtsho'i rnam thar)