Śakra (Sanskrit) or Sakka (Pāli) (zh: 帝釋天尊) is a name of a deity mentioned in Vedic religion, Hinduism, Jainism, and Buddhism. Sanskrit (sa संस्कृता वाक् saṃskṛtā vāk, for short sa संस्कृतम् saṃskṛtam) is a historical Pali ( ISO 15919 / ALA-LC: Pāḷi is a Middle Indo-Aryan language or Prakrit of India. This article discusses the historical religious practices in the Vedic time period see Hinduism and Indian religions for details Hinduism is a religious tradition that originated in the Indian subcontinent. Jainism, traditionally known as Jain Dharma / Shraman Dharma (जैन धर्म is an ancient religion of India. Buddhism is a family of beliefs and practices

Vedic religion and Hinduism

The name Śakra "powerful", used as an epithet of Indra, is found in several verses of the Rig Veda ^[1]. Indra ( Sanskrit: इन्द्र or इंद्र Indra, Malay: Indera, Thai: พระอินทร์ Phra-Intra The Rigveda ( Sanskrit sa ऋग्वेद ṛgveda, a compound of ṛc "praise verse" and veda "knowledge" It is also found many times in the other Vedas such as the Samaveda^[2] and Atharva Veda^[3]. "Veda" redirects here For other uses see Veda (disambiguation. The Samaveda ( Sanskrit: सामवेद sāmaveda, from sāman "melody" + veda "knowledge") is third (in the usual The Atharvaveda ( Sanskrit: अथर्ववेद atharvaveda, a Tatpurusha compound of {{IAST|atharvan}}, an ancient Rishi The name is also copiously used in many later texts like the Mahabharata^[4].

Jainism

Indra (alias Sakra) and Sachi Riding the Divine Elephant Airavata, Folio from a Jain text, Panchakalyanaka (Five Auspicious Events in the Life of Jina Rishabhanatha [Adinatha]), circa 1670-1680, Painting in LACMA museum, originally from Amber, Rajasthan

In Jain texts, Śakra appears several times as a name of the king of the devas. In Hinduism (specifically early Vedic accounts Shachi (also known as Indrani (queen of Indra Aindri, Mahendri and Poulomi In Hinduism, Airavata (ऐरावत is a white elephant who carries Lord Indra. In Jainism, Rishabh Dev (ऋषभदेव or Adinatha (other names used Riṣhabh, Riṣhabhanāth, Rushabh, Rushabhdev The Los Angeles County Museum of Art, also known as LACMA, is an Art museum in Los Angeles County California. Rājasthān ( Devanāgarī: राजस्थान raːdʒəst̪ʰaːn is the largest state of the Republic of India in terms of area Jainism, traditionally known as Jain Dharma / Shraman Dharma (जैन धर्म is an ancient religion of India. Deva (देव in Devanagari script pronounced as /'d̪evə/ is the Sanskrit word for "god Deity " ^[5].

Buddhism

Śakra (Sanskrit) or Sakka (Pāli) is the ruler of the Trāyastriṃśa Heaven in Buddhist cosmology. Sanskrit (sa संस्कृता वाक् saṃskṛtā vāk, for short sa संस्कृतम् saṃskṛtam) is a historical Pali ( ISO 15919 / ALA-LC: Pāḷi is a Middle Indo-Aryan language or Prakrit of India. The Trāyastriṃśa ( Sanskrit; Pāli Tāvatiṃsa) heaven is an important world of the devas in Buddhist cosmology. Buddhist cosmology is the description of the shape and evolution of the universe according to the canonical Buddhist scriptures and commentaries His full title is Śakro devānām indraḥ (Pāli: Sakko devānaṃ indo "Śakra, lord of the devas"^[6]). A deva (देव Sanskrit and Pāli) in Buddhism is one of many different types of non-human beings who share the characteristics of being more powerful In Buddhist texts Śakra is the proper name and not an epithet of this deity; conversely, Sanskrit indra, Pāli inda is sometimes used as an epithet for Śakra in the sense "lord". In the Chinese tradition, he is usually identified with the Taoist Jade Emperor, whose birthday is celebrated on the ninth day of the first lunar month of the Chinese calendar (usually in February). Taoism (pronounced /ˈdaʊɪzəm/ or /ˈtaʊɪzəm/ also spelled '''Daoism''') refers to a variety of related Philosophical and Religious traditions The Jade Emperor ( or 玉帝 Yù Dì) is the Taoist ruler of Heaven and all realms of existence below including that of Man and Hell The Chinese calendar is lunisolar, incorporating elements of a Lunar calendar with those of a Solar calendar.

In Buddhist texts, Śakra's myth and character are very different from those of the Vedic Indra. According to G. P. Malalasekara, "Sakka and Indra are independent conceptions. None of the personal characteristics of Sakka resemble those of Indra. Some epithets are identical but are evidently borrowed, though they are differently explained. "^[7]

The Trāyastriṃśa heaven which Śakra rules is located on the top of Mount Sumeru (cf. The Trāyastriṃśa ( Sanskrit; Pāli Tāvatiṃsa) heaven is an important world of the devas in Buddhist cosmology. Sumeru ( Sanskrit) or Sineru ( Pāli) is the name of the central world-mountain in Buddhist cosmology. Meru), imagined to be the polar center of the physical world, around which the Sun and Moon revolve. For the Mountain in Tanzania, see Mount Meru (Tanzania. Mount Meru ( Sanskrit: मेरु (also called Trāyastriṃśa is the highest of the heavens which is in direct contact with the Earth.

Like the other deities of this heaven, Śakra is long-lived but mortal. When one Śakra dies, his place is taken by another deity who becomes the new Śakra.

Buddhist stories about Śakra (past or present) are found in the Jātaka stories and in several sutras, particularly in the Saṃyutta Nikāya. The Jātaka Tales ( Sanskrit जातक and Pali, Malay: jetaka Lao: satok refer to a voluminous body of Folklore -like literature

Śakra is married to Sujā^[8], daughter of the chief of the Asuras, Vemacitrin (Pāli Vepacitti). Šuja is a Village and Municipality in Žilina District in the Žilina Region of northern Slovakia. Asura ( Sanskrit, Pāli and Korean, Tib Lhamayin, Jp Ashura, Cn Axiuluo) in Buddhism Vemacitrin ( Sanskrit) or Vepacitti ( Pāli) is the name of a leader of the Asuras who figures prominently in many Buddhist sūtras

Despite this relationship, a state of war generally exists between the Thirty-three gods and the Asuras, which Śakra manages to resolve with minimal violence and no loss of life.

Śakra is mentioned in many Buddhist sūtras, and is often shown consulting the Buddha on questions of morality. Siddhārtha Gautama ( Sanskrit; Pali: Siddhattha Gotama) was a spiritual Teacher from Ancient India and the founder Together with Brahmā, he is considered a protector of the Buddhist religion. A Brahmā in Buddhism is the name for a type of exalted passionless deity ( deva) of which there are multiple in Buddhist cosmology. Buddhism is a family of beliefs and practices

References

1. ^ Rig Veda: Rig-Veda Book 1: HYMN X. Indra
2. ^ Hymns of the Samaveda
3. ^ http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/av/av208.htm
4. ^ The Mahabharata, Book 13: Anusasana Parva: Anusasanika Parva: Section XVII
5. ^ Jaina Sutras, Part I: Lives of the Ginas: Life of Mahâvîra, Lecture 4
6. ^ Sakka
7. ^ Sakka
8. ^ Sujá