Eightfold Division of Ghosts and Spirits

1) gods (devas), 2) dragons (nagas), 3) yakshas, 4) gandharvas, 5) asuras , 6) garudas , 7) kinnaras , 8) maharaga .

All eight categories of beings are not ordinarily visible to the human eye; however, their subtle bodies can be clearly seen by those with higher spiritual powers.

Gods are discussed in a separate entry. (See gods.) Brief descriptions of the other seven follow.

Dragons (naga in Sanskrit) "can do all kinds of transformations; they can become big or small. They can appear and disappear. How did they get to become dragons? They are said to be 'spiritual', that is, 'inconceivable'. How did they get to be dragons, that is, animals, if they have spiritual penetrations? When they were cultivating the Way, they were 'quick with the vehicle and slow with the precepts.' They cultivated the Great Vehicle Dharma with great vigor, but they did not keep the precepts. Because they cultivated the Great Vehicle Dharma, they gained spiritual penetrations. Because they failed to keep the precepts, they turned into animals. . . .

dragon deity
[竜神] (Skt, Pali naga; Jpn ryujin )
Also, dragon god. A deification of the dragon, one of the eight kinds of nonhuman beings held to be guardians of Buddhism. Dragon deities are said to have various powers, such as the ability to cause rain. The Sanskrit naga means snake or serpent. According to Indian mythology, naga -demons with human faces and serpent-like lower extremities inhabited the waters or lived under the earth. Their ruler, naga-raja (serpent-king), was feared as a huge poisonous being on the one hand and worshiped as the god who caused rain to fall on the other. When Buddhist scriptures were translated into Chinese, naga was rendered in Chinese as lung, or dragon. Hence the terms dragon gods, dragon kings, and the naga girl, or dragon girl.
 
dragon kings
[竜王] (Skt naga-raja; Jpn ryuo )
Kings of the dragons said to live at the bottom of the sea. Eight dragon kings, each with many followers, are depicted in the Lotus Sutra assembling at the ceremony on Eagle Peak to hear the sutra taught. According to the Dragon King of the Sea Sutra, dragons are often eaten by giant birds called garudas, which are their natural enemies. See also dragon deity; eight great dragon kings.
eight great dragon kings
[八大竜王] ( Jpn hachidai-ryuo )
Also, eight dragon kings. Eight dragon kings who assembled at the gathering where Shakyamuni preached the Lotus Sutra, as described in the sutra. Kumarajiva's translation of the Lotus Sutra refers to them by their Sanskrit names: Nanda, Upananda, Sagara, Vasuki, Takshaka, Anavatapta, Manasvin, and Utpalaka. According to the "Introduction" (first) chapter of the Lotus Sutra, each attends the gathering accompanied by several hundreds of thousands of followers.

 

"Yakshas are 'speedy ghosts.' They get around very fast. There are ground-traveling and space-traveling . There are water-traveling too. are very fierce. Some specialize in sapping people of their energy. You may know some people who have very weak energy-systems. No matter what kind of good food they eat, they never have any energy. Most likely a ghost is busy living off of their energy. Some drink human blood; some eat people's essence. There are many varieties of yakshas.

 
yaksha
[夜叉] (Skt; Jpn yasha )
One of the eight kinds of nonhuman beings mentioned in Buddhist literature. In Hindu mythology, yakshas were benevolent spirits and followers of Kubera, the god of wealth, who is also referred to as Vaishravana. Buddhism later included them as one of the eight kinds of nonhuman beings who work to protect Buddhism. Yakshas are regarded as followers of the heavenly king Vaishravana who is said to dwell halfway up the northern slope of Mount Sumeru, and also as guardians of the northern quarter. In some sutras, however, they are depicted as ugly, fierce demons that torment or harm human beings. See also Vaishravana.

 

 

"Gandharvas are 'incense-inhaling spirits', musicians in the court of the Jade Emperor. When the emperor wants some music, he lights some incense and the all come to play.

 

"Asuras have big tempers. Take a look around you: whoever has a big temper is an . There are human , ghost , and animal . . . .

"Asura is a Sanskrit word that means 'ugly'. It also means 'no (an alcoholic beverage like beer)'. They have the blessings of the gods but not the authority. They enjoy heavenly blessings, but they have no say in running things. Since they have no power, they are always fighting for power, battling with the heavenly armies.

 

"Garudas are great golden winged -birds. They have a wingspan of three hundred sixty yojanas. When they flap their wings, the ocean waters part and all the dragons at the bottom of the sea are exposed as potential meals. The dragons have no time to transform into anything. They are gobbled up on the spot by the garudas, who eat them with the same relish as we eat noodles. All gone!

"The dragons were getting very upset about this, because large numbers of them were being eaten, their species had become endangered. They went to the Buddha to complain, and the Buddha gave them each a thread from his precept sash, saying, 'You can wear this, and then you will be invisible to the peng-birds (Chinese word for garudas).'

"That worked fine for the dragons, but the -birds were then going hungry. And so they went to the Buddha and said, 'What about us? Dragons are our primary food supply. We're going to starve!' Shakyamuni Buddha said, 'Don't worry. I'll tell all of my disciples to set out some food for you when they eat lunch every day.' That is why left-home people set some food out for the birds.

 
garuda
[�楼羅] (Skt; Jpn karura )
In Indian mythology, a giant bird that feeds on dragons and is regarded as the king of birds. It is depicted in Buddhist artworks as having the head and wings of an eagle and the body of a man. The god Vishnu was believed to ride a garuda, which was revered as a deification of the sun's fire. The garuda was incorporated into Buddhism and came to be counted as one of the eight kinds of nonhuman beings, along with dragons and asuras. In Chinese translations of Buddhist scriptures, garuda is often rendered as "golden-winged bird."

Source: http://www.sgilibrary.org/search_dict.php

 

"Kinnaras are also musical spirits in the Jade Emperor's court. The Jade Emperor (Shakra Indra Devanam) does a lot of entertaining and always has play music so the gods can dance. The gods can dance! They dance because they are so happy they forget about everything.

"Mahoragas are huge snake-spirits." (DFS IX 1677-1678)

1) Chinese Mandarin: , , ; 2) Sanskrit: , 3) Pali: , 4) Alternate Translations: eightfold pantheon . . . , eight divisions of gods and ghosts, (lit.) gods, dragons, and [others of] the eight divisions.

See also: gods, ghosts, Ten Dharma Realms, Six Paths of Rebirth.

(Source: Epstein, 2003: pp. 64 - 65)

Buddhist Text Translation Society (http://www.BTTSonline.org) References: DFS IV 562, VII 1233-1235, 1254-1257, IX 1675 1678; SS VII.

 

(NOTE: Numerous corrections and enhancements have been made under Shastra tradition and "Fair Use" by an Anonymous Buddhist Monk Redactor (Compiler) of this Online Buddhist Encyclopedia Compilation)

Related Websites:
www.Shakyamuni-Buddha.com,
www.Amitabha-Buddha.com, www.Amitabha-Sutra.com,
www.Bhaisajya-Guru.com, www.Medicine-Buddha.org,
www.Avatamsaka-Sutra.com, www.Flower-Adornment.com,
www.Shurangama-Mantra.com, www.Shurangama-Sutra.com,
www.Prajna-Paramita.com, www.Diamond-Sutra.net, www.Vajra-Sutra.com,
www.Sixth-Patriarch.com, www.Dharani-Sutra.com, www.Sanghata-Sutra.com, 
www.Manjushri-Bodhisattva.com, www.Avalokiteshvara-Bodhisattva.com,
www.Samantabhadra-Bodhisattva.com, www.Ksitigarbha-Bodhisattva.com, www.Ksitigarbha.com,
www.Nagarjuna-Bodhisattva.com, www.Nalanda-University.com, www.Tibetan-Thangka.com,
www.Buddhist-Sutras.com, www.Buddhist-Sutra.com, www.Ayurvedic-College.org

Primary Original Source: The Tripitaka Sutra, Shastra and Vinaya teachings
(as found in the scripture storehouse of the Indian Sanskrit-Siddham, Chinese, Tibetan and Japanese traditions of the Nalanda Tradition of ancient Nalanda University) of Shakyamuni Buddha, and his Arya Sagely Bodhisattva Bhikshu Monk and Upasaka disciples. 

These Good and Wise Advisors (Kaliyanamitra) Dharma Master teachers include Arya Venerables Nagarjuna, Ashvaghosha, Aryasura,  Kumarajiva, Shantideva, Chandrakirti, Chandragomin, Vasubandhu, Asanga, Hui Neng, Atisha, Kamalashila, Dharmarakshita, Tsong Khapa, Thogme Zangpo, Patanjali, Sushruta, Charaka, Vagbhata, Nichiren, Hsu Yun, Hsuan Hua, Shen Kai, Tenzin Gyatso, Kyabje Zopa, Ajahn Chah, Vasant Lad, and other modern day masters.  We consider them to be in accord with Master Hsuan Hua’s "Seven Guidelines for Recognizing Genuine Teachers"

Nalanda Online University's teachings are based especially on the Dharma Flower Lotus Sutra, the Avatamsaka Sutra, the Shurangama Sutra, the Ksitigarbha Sutra, the Bhaisajya Guru Sutra, the Dharani Sutra, the Vajra Sutra, the Prajna Paramita Hridayam Sutra, the Guhyasamaja, the Kalachakra and their commentaries (shastras) by the above Arya Tripitakacharya Dharma Masters. 

At Nalanda Online University we practice daily and introduce you to (via downloadable multimedia MP3 audio and WMV video lectures) the teachings and practices of the Five Traditions transmitted by the Buddha Shakyamuni:

1.  Teaching School  (Mahayana Sutrayana - Paramitayana - Hua Yan and Tian Tai, Yogachara, Nalanda Prasangika Madhyamika, Theravada Sutta)   

See also: Tripitaka (1. Sutras, 2. Vinaya, 3. Shastras or Abhidharma, or Tantra), Taisho Catalog Numbering System, Dharma, and names of individual sutras (such as Shurangama Sutra, Avatamsaka Sutra [Flower Adornment Sutra], Lotus Sutra [Wonderful Dharma Flower Sutra], Earth Store Sutra, Dharani Sutra, Brahma Net Sutra, Medicine Master Buddha Sutra, Sixth Patriarch Platform Sutra, Sutra in 42 Sections, Sutra on the Buddha's Bequeathed Teaching, et al.


2.  Moral Regulations School  (Vinaya Pratimoksha Shila - Bodhisattva Pranidhana - Vajrayana-Samaya - Yogic Yama)

3.  Esoteric School  (Vajrayana - Mantrayana - Tantrayana - Dharani - Secret School of the Mahayana)

4.  Meditation School  (Indian Dhyana Samadhi - Shamatha - Vipassana, Chinese Chan, Japanese Zen,
        Tibetan Mahamudra of Kagyupa, and Tibetan Dzogchen of Nyingmapa)

5.  Pure Land Devotional School  (Bhakti Puja - Buddha-Bodhisattva Mindfulness and Nama Japa --
         Name Recitation of Buddhas Amitabha-Amitayus, Medicine Buddha - Bhaisajya Guru - Akshobhya,
         and Bodhisattvas: Avalokiteshvara-Guanyin-Chenrezig-Mahakala, Tara, Samantabhadra Universal Worthy,
         Manjushri-Kalarupa Great Wisdom, Maitreya Great Loving-Kindness, Mahasthamaprapta Great Strength, 
         Ksitigarbha - Earth Store Great Vows, Vajrapani, Vajrasattva,
         Chandraprabha Moonlight Radiance, Suryaprabha Sunlight Radiance, Medicine King Bodhisattva, Medicine Superior Bodhisattva
         and others Dharma Protecting Dharmapala Lokapala Bodhisattvas, Gods and Goddesses) 

Compilation Sources for the Above Material on the Teachings of the Buddha:

Primary Compilation Source: Epstein, Ronald B., Ph.D, compiler, Buddhist Text Translation Society's Buddhism A to Z, Burlingame, California: Buddhist Text Translation Society, 2003. ISBN: 0881393533  Paperback: 284 pages.  www.BTTSOnline.org     www.Amazon.com  
http://www.bttsonline.org/product.aspx?pid=118     http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0881393533/ref=ase_medicinebuddh-20

Secondary Compilation Source: The Seeker’s Glossary of Buddhism, 2nd ed., San Francisco, California: Sutra Translation Committee of the United States and Canada, 1998: www.budaedu.org.tw     

Secondary Compilation Source: Muller, Charles, editor, Digital Dictionary of Buddhism [DDB], Toyo Gakuen University, Japan, 2007:  Username is "guest", with no password.
http://buddhism-dict.net/ddb - Based in large part on the Dictionary of Chinese Buddhist Terms with Sanskrit and English Equivalents (by Soothill and Hodous) Delhi, India: Motilal Banarsidass, 1997.

Secondary Compilation Source: Ehrhard, Diener, Fischer, et al, The Shambhala Dictionary of Buddhism and Zen, Boston, Massachusetts: Shambhala Publications, 1991.  296 pages.  ISBN 978-0-87773-520-5  www.Shambhala.com,   http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0877735204/ref=ase_medicinebuddh-20,
http://www.shambhala.com/html/catalog/items/isbn/978-0-87773-520-5.cfm

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To the far reaches of space in the ten directions,
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(Like Ananda says in the Shurangama Sutra introduction to the Shurangama Mantra,
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Updated May 10, 2008