Skip to content
Category

Sinhalese Buddhist deities

page 1
Kālī
Kali (; , ), also called Kalika, is a major goddess in Hinduism, primarily associated with time, death, and destruction. Kali is also connected with transcendental knowledge and is the first of the ten Mahavidyas, a group of goddesses who provide liberating knowledge. Of the numerous Hindu goddesses, Kali is held as the most famous. She is the preeminent deity in the Hindu tantric and the Kalikula worship traditions, and is a central figure in the goddess-centric sects of Hinduism as well as in Shaivism. Kali is chiefly worshipped as the Divine Mother, Mother of the Universe, and Divine femini
Rāvaṇa
Ravana () is the principal antagonist of the ancient Hindu epic Ramayana and its several other versions. He is traditionally depicted as a ten-headed rakshasa (demon) king of Lanka (present-day Sri Lanka). In the Ramayana, Ravana is described as the eldest son of sage Vishrava and Kaikasi. He abducted Rama's wife, Sita, and took her to his kingdom of Lanka, where he held her in the Ashoka Vatika. Rama, with the support of vanara King Sugriva and his army of vanaras, launched a rescue operation for Sita against Ravana in Lanka. Ravana was subsequently slain, and Rama rescued his beloved wife Si
Gangā
goddess personifying the river Ganges in Hinduism
Navagraha
thumb|right|The Nine Devas, Khleang style of Angkor. thumb|200px|Navagraha, Sun at the center surrounded by the planets, Painting by Raja Ravi Varma The navagraha (, Nine planets) are nine heavenly bodies and deities that influence human life on Earth according to Hinduism and Hindu mythology. The term is derived from nava ( "nine") and graha ( "planet, seizing, laying hold of, holding"). The nine parts of the navagraha are the Sun, Moon, planets Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn, and the two nodes of the Moon.
Vibhīṣaṇa
Vibhishana () is the younger brother of Ravana, the King of Lanka, in the ancient Indian epic Ramayana, and one of the eight Chiranjivis. Though a rakshasa himself, Vibhishana turned his back on Ravana, and defected to Rama's side, owing to his dharma. After Rama defeated Ravana, the former crowned Prince Vibhishana as the King of Lanka before returning to Ayodhya. thumb|Vibhishana (left) shows the Pushpaka Vimana to Rama and Lakshmana
Pattini
Pattini (, ) is considered a guardian deity of Sri Lanka in both Sri Lankan Buddhism and Sinhalese folklore. She is also worshipped by Sri Lankan Tamil Hindus under the name Kannaki Amman.
Upulvan
thumb|Statue Upulvan-Vishnu, [[Seema Malaka, Sri Lanka]] Upulvan (, ; Sanskrit: Utpalavarna) is the guardian deity (Pali: Khettapala; Sanskrit: Kshetrapala) of Sri Lanka. Sri Lankan Buddhists believe him also as a protector of the Buddhism in the country. The name Upulvan depicts his body colour which means "blue water lily coloured". The cult of Upulvan started during the medieval period in Sri Lanka. According to the local lore and legend, Upulvan is the god whom the Buddha entrusted with the guardianship of Sri Lanka and Buddha Śāsana of the country.