Forty-two peaceful deities: 2 definitions
Introduction:
Forty-two peaceful deities means something in Buddhism, Pali. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.
In Buddhism
Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)
The Forty-two Peaceful Deities are known in Tibetan as (1) zhi lha zhe gnyis or (2) zhi ba'i lha zhe gnyis.
- Samantabhadra (buddha),
- Samatabhadrī,
- Vairocana,
- Akṣobhya,
- Ratnasambhava,
- Amitābha,
- Amoghasiddhi,
- Ākāśadhātvīśvarī,
- Buddhalocanā,
- Māmakī,
- Paṇḍaravāsinī,
- Samayatārā,
- Kṣitigarbha,
- Vajrapāṇi,
- Ākāśagarbha,
- Avalokiteśvara,
- Lāsyā,
- Mālyā,
- Gītā,
- Nartī,
- Maitreya,
- Nivaraṇaviśkambhin,
- Samantabhadra (bodhisattva),
- Mañjuśrī,
- Dhūpā,
- Puṣpā,
- Ālokā,
- Gandhā,
- Amṛtakuṇḍalin,
- Hayagrīva,
- Mahābala,
- Yamāntaka,
- Aṅkuśā,
- Pāśā,
- Sphoṭā,
- Ghaṇṭā,
- Munīndra,
- Vemacitra,
- Śākyamuni,
- Siṃha,
- Jvālamukha,
- Yamarāja,

Tibetan Buddhism includes schools such as Nyingma, Kadampa, Kagyu and Gelug. Their primary canon of literature is divided in two broad categories: The Kangyur, which consists of Buddha’s words, and the Tengyur, which includes commentaries from various sources. Esotericism and tantra techniques (vajrayāna) are collected indepently.
General definition (in Buddhism)
The forty-two Peaceful Deities belong to the maṇḍala of the Hundred Peaceful and Wrathful Deities, and feature in several practices and cycles of teachings, most notably the Tibetan Book of the Dead and the Guhyagarbha Tantra.
The forty-two Peaceful Deities are:
- Samantabhadra (buddha),
- Samatabhadrī,
- Vairocana,
- Akṣobhya,
- Ratnasambhava,
- Amitābha,
- Amoghasiddhi,
- Dhātvīśvarī (or Vajradhātvīśvarī)
- Buddhalocanā
- Māmakī
- Paṇḍaravāsinī
- Samayatārā
- Mañjuśrī
- Avalokiteśvara
- Vajrapāṇi
- Maitreya
- Kṣitigarbha
- Ākāśagarbha
- Sarvanivaraṇaviśkambhin
- Samantabhadra
- Lāsyā
- Mālā
- Gītā
- Nṛtyā
- Puṣpā
- Dhūpā
- Ālokā
- Gandhā
- Kauśika
- Vemacitra
- Śākyamuni
- Shravasingha (or Dhruvasiṃha, Siṃhapradyota)
- Jvālāmukhadeva
- Dharmarāja
- Acala
- Yamāntaka
- Hayagrīva
- Amṛtakuṇḍalī
- Aṅkuśā
- Pāśā
- Śṛṅkhalā
- Ghaṇtā
See also (Relevant definitions)
Partial matches: Peaceful, Deity.
Full-text (+192): Zhi lha zhe gnyis, Zhi ba'i lha zhe gnyis, Mahabodhisattva, Tubpa druk, Ashtabodhisattva, Gowa yab shyi, Mahopaputra, Upaputra, Chope lhamo gye, Nyewe se gye, Vajrakula, Ratnakula, Padmakula, Ashtamahopaputra, Rin chen rigs, Pad ma'i rigs, Las kyi rigs, Nye ba'i sras chen brgyad, Go ma shyi, Tathagatakula.
Relevant text
Search found 2 books and stories containing Forty-two peaceful deities; (plurals include: two peaceful deitieses). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Guhyagarbha Tantra (with Commentary) (by Gyurme Dorje)
Introduction 2: (The Essence, Classification and Purpose of Syllables) < [Chapter 4 (text and commentary)]
Text 15.31 (Commentary) < [Chapter 15 (Text and Commentary)]
10a. The Zur family (Introduction) < [Introduction]
The Great Chariot (by Longchenpa)
Part 3d.2e - The perfect retinue < [B. The explanation of the kayas and wisdoms]