Ganesha in Buddhism
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Vināyaka (IAST; Jp. Binayaka, 毘那夜迦), Vighnāntaka, or Gaṇapati (Jp: Ganabachi, 誐那鉢底; Tibetan: tshogs bdag) is a Buddhist deity venerated in various traditions of Mahayana Buddhism. He is the Buddhist equivalent of the Hindu god Ganesha. In Tibetan Buddhism he is also known as the Red Lord of Hosts (Tibetan: tsog gi dag po, mar po).[1] In Japanese Buddhism he is also known as Kangiten (Japanese: 歓喜天, "god of bliss";[2] Sanskrit (IAST): Nandikeśvara) or Shōten (聖天, lit. "sacred god"[3] or "noble god"[4]).[3][5][6][7]
Vināyaka (Gaṇapati) | |
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God of obstacles, bliss, protection, wealth, and success | |
Affiliation | Deva Vairochana Buddha Eleven-Headed Avalokiteshvara Amritakundalin Sanbō Kōjin |
Weapon | axe, trident |
Gender | Male |
Personal information | |
Parents |
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Equivalents | |
Hinduism equivalent | Ganesha |
The Buddhist Vināyaka is considered a protector from evil, a remover of obstacles (physical and mental) especially invoked at the beginning of an undertaking, a general benefactor, wealth deity, and a deity of joy and pleasure.[8][9][10][11][12] Although Vināyaka and the Hindu Ganesha share a common origin and a number of traits, there are also some marked differences between the two. For example, the Buddhist deity is commonly understood to be an emanation of the bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara (Guanyin) or of the Buddha Vairocana.
Vināyaka is depicted in numerous forms depending on the tradition. In Indo-Tibetan Buddhism he is depicted with a big belly and may be white, red or yellow, and have four or more arms that carry various weapons and implements. He is often accompanied by a rat. In Japan, a popular depiction is a male-female couple (both with elephant heads) standing in an embrace in an iconographic depiction known as the "Dual Kangiten" (双身歓喜天, Sōshin Kangiten) or the "Embracing Kangiten."
Ganesh is also a popular deity in Thailand, revered by Thai Buddhists and Thai Hindus alike.