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{{short description|Ruler of the Trāyastriṃśa Heaven}}
{{Infobox Buddha
| name = Śakra
| image = Ming dynasty statue of Sakra (帝釋天 or 帝释天; Dìshìtiān) in Zhihua Temple (智化寺) in Beijing, China.jpg
| caption = [[Ming dynasty]] statue of Śakra in [[Zhihua Temple]] in [[Beijing]], [[China]]
| sanskrit_name = शक्र
 Śakra
| bengali_name = মহান আকাশ সম্রাট
| pali_name = सक्क
 Sakka
| burmese_name = သိကြား (Da-gyar)
| chinese_name = 帝釋天 ([[Pinyin]]: ''Dìshìtiān'') 釋提桓因 ([[Pinyin]]: ''Shìtí Huányīn'')
| japanese_name = {{ruby-ja|帝釈天|たいしゃくてん}} ([[romaji]]: ''Taishakuten'') {{ruby-ja|釋提桓因|しゃくだいかんいん}} ([[romaji]]: ''Shakudai Kan'in'')
| tibetan_name = <big><big>བརྒྱ་སྦྱིན་</big></big> Wylie: brgya sbyin THL: da ö gya jin <big><big>དབང་པོ་</big></big> Wylie: dbang po THL: wangpo
| mongolian_name = сакра {{MongolUnicode|ᠭᠠᠯᠤᠰᠵᠴᠠᠮᠺᠳᠪᠨ}} or {{MongolUnicode|ᠭᠣᠰᠹᠵᠬᠬᠺᠹᠬᠺᠮᠭᠰᠠᠺᠷᠣᠳ}} or {{MongolUnicode|ᠭᠠᠳᠭᠹᠭᠭᠦᠭ}}
| khmer_name = សក្ក (Sakkak)
| korean_name = 제석천 (帝釋天) ([[Revised Romanization of Korean|RR]]: ''Jeseok Cheon'') 석제환인 (釋提桓因) ([[Revised Romanization of Korean|RR]]: ''Seokje Hwan'in'')
| sinhala_name = ශක්‍ර (Shakra)
| thai_name = ท้าวสักกะ
| indonesian_name = Kaisar surgawi yang agung Sakriwha
| vietnamese_name = 帝釋天 Đế Thích Thiên 釋提桓因 Thích Đề Hoàn Nhân
| veneration = [[Theravada]], [[Mahayana]], [[Vajrayana]]
| attributes =
| shakti =
| preceded_by =
| succeeded_by =
}}

{{Buddhism}}

'''Śakra''' ([[Sanskrit]]: शक्र '''Śakra'''; [[Pali]]: सक्क '''Sakka''') is the ruler of the [[Trāyastriṃśa]] Heaven according to [[Buddhist cosmology]]. He is also referred to by the title "Śakra, Lord of the [[deva (Buddhism)|Deva]]s" (Sanskrit: ''{{IAST|Śakra devānāṃ indraḥ}}''; Pali: ''{{IAST|Sakka devānaṃ inda}}'').<ref name=autogenerated1>[http://www.palikanon.com/english/pali_names/sa/sakka.htm Sakka]</ref> The name Śakra ("powerful") as an epithet of [[Indra]] is found in several verses of the [[Rigveda]].

In [[East Asian cultural sphere|East Asian]] cultural traditions, Śakra is known as ''Dìshìtiān'' (帝釋天) or ''Shìtí Huányīn'' (釋提桓因) in Chinese, as ''Taishakuten'' (帝釈天) in Japanese, as ''Jeseokcheon'' (제석천) in Korean, and as ''Đế Thích Thiên'' (帝釋天) or ''Thích Đề Hoàn Nhân'' (釋提桓因) in Vietnamese. In [[Chinese Buddhism]], Śakra is sometimes identified with the [[Taoism|Taoist]] [[Jade Emperor]] (Yùhuáng Dàdì 玉皇大帝, often simplified to Yùhuáng 玉皇); both share a birthday on the ninth day of the first lunar month of the [[Chinese calendar]] (usually in February).

The Trāyastriṃśa heaven in which Śakra rules is located on the top of [[Mount Meru]], imagined to be the polar center of the physical world, around which the Sun and Moon revolve. Trāyastriṃśa is the highest of the heavens in direct contact with humankind. Like all deities, Śakra is long-lived but mortal. When one Śakra dies, his place is taken by another deity who becomes the new Śakra. Several stories about Śakra are found in the [[Jataka tales]], as well as several [[List of suttas|suttas]].

Śakra is married to Sujā,<ref>[http://www.palikanon.com/english/pali_names/s/sujaa.htm Sujá]</ref> daughter of the chief of the [[Asura (Buddhism)|asuras]], [[Vemacitrin]] (Pāli ''Vepacitti''). 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 often depicted in [[Buddhist texts|literature]] as a being who consults the [[Gautama Buddha|Buddha]] on matters of morality. Together with [[Brahmā (Buddhism)|Brahmā]], he is considered a [[dharmapala]], a protector of [[Buddhism]].　

==Etymology==
"Śakra" is a Sanskrit word meaning "mighty" or "powerful," and is used as an epithet of Indra in hymn 5.34 of the Rigveda. This seems to have been the standard name carried over into Buddhist tradition.

==Names==
Śakra is known by several names in Buddhist texts. Some of these include:

*Indra ([[Sanskrit]]; [[Chinese language|Chinese]]: 因陀羅; [[pinyin]]: ''Yīntuóluó''; [[Japanese language|Japanese]]: ''Indara'', Tib. དབང་པོ་ ''dbang po'')
*Mahendranīla (Sanskrit; lit. "Great [[Indra]] the Dark")
*Sahassākkha (Chinese: 娑婆婆; pinyin: ''Suōpópo''; Japanese: ''Sababa''; or 婆婆; pinyin: ''Pópo''; Japanese: ''Baba'').
*Sahasrekṣaṇa (Sanskrit; Chinese: 千眼; pinyin: ''Qiānyǎn''; lit. "Thousand Eyes")
*(Chinese: 天主; pinyin: ''Tiānzhǔ''; lit. "Lord of Heaven")

==Theravāda==
Sakka's mythology and character is expounded upon in the [[Pali Canon]], particularly in the [[Sakka Saṃyutta]] of the [[Saṃyutta Nikāya]].

Sakka plays a significant role in several of the Jātaka tales.

The commentator [[Buddhaghoṣa]] has identified Sakka as being identical to Vajrapāṇi.

In the [[Mahāparinibbāna Sutta]] (DN 16), Sakka speaks the following verse, which has become standard in Buddhist funeral rites:
{{Verse translation|italicsoff=n|
''Aniccā vata saṅkhārā, uppādavayadhammino.Uppajjitvā nirujjhanti, tesaṃ vūpasamo sukho''.|"Impermanent, alas, are compounded things. It is the nature of things to arise and pass away. Having come into existence they cease. Their appeasement is the highest bliss."}}

==Mahāyāna==
In the [[Book of Equanimity]], Śakra plays a central role in the fourth [[koan]].

In the [[Mahāyāna Mahāparinirvāṇa Sūtra|Mahāparinirvāṇa Sūtra]], Śakra utters a stanza in response to the Buddha's death as a recognition of the [[Four Noble Truths]]. It is identical to the Pali formula found in the corresponding sutta.:<ref>{{cite web |last1=Lamotte |first1=Étienne |title=Vajrapāṇi in India (I) |url=https://archive.org/stream/BackCopiesOfBuddhistStudiesReview/Bsr20.12003#mode/2up |publisher=Buddhist Studies Reviews 20 |access-date=2019-03-03 |date=2003}}</ref>
{{Verse translation|italicsoff=n|
''Anitya vata saṃskārā utpādvyayadharmiṇaḥ utpadya hi nirudhyante teṣāṃ vyupashamaḥ sukham''.
|"Impermanent indeed are all formations; their nature consists of arising and disappearing; having arisen, they cease; their calming is happiness."}}

He is also recognized as one of the [[Twenty-Four Protective Deities|Twenty-Four Guardian Devas]] in Chinese Buddhist tradition.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/275253538|title=A dictionary of Chinese Buddhist terms : with Sanskrit and English equivalents and a Sanskrit-Pali index|date=2004|publisher=RoutledgeCurzon|others=Lewis Hodous, William Edward Soothill|isbn=0-203-64186-8|location=London|oclc=275253538}}</ref>

==Iconography==
In Southeast Asia, primarily among Theravada communities, Śakra is depicted with blue or black skin.

==Folk belief==
Śakra is equated with [[Haneullim]] in Korean folk religion. According to the [[Samguk yusa|Memorabilia of the Three Kingdoms]], it is believed that Śakra is Hwanung's father.

In [[Chinese Buddhism]], some equate him with the [[Jade Emperor]].

The ceremonial name of [[Bangkok]] alludes to Śakra:<ref>{{cite web |title=กรุงเทพมหานคร |url=http://www.royin.go.th/th/knowledge/detail.php?ID=639 |website=Royal Institute Newsletter |access-date=2019-03-04 |date=December 1993|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141206140602/http://www.royin.go.th/th/knowledge/detail.php?ID=639|archive-date = 2014-12-06}}</ref>
{{Verse translation|italicsoff=y|
Krungthepmahanakhon Amonrattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilokphop Noppharatratchathaniburirom Udomratchaniwetmahasathan Amonphimanawatansathit Sakkathattiyawitsanukamprasit
|กรุงเทพมหานคร อมรรัตนโกสินทร์ มหินทรายุธยา มหาดิลกภพ นพรัตนราชธานีบูรีรมย์ อุดมราชนิเวศน์มหาสถาน อมรพิมานอวตารสถิต สักกะทัตติยวิษณุกรรมประสิทธิ์}}

This name is composed of both [[Pāli]] and [[Sanskrit]], prefaced with the only one Thai word, ''Krung'', which means 'capital'. It can thus be written as:
"Krung-dēvamahānagara amararatanakosindra mahindrāyudhyā mahātilakabhava navaratanarājadhānī purīramya uttamarājanivēsana mahāsthāna amaravimāna avatārasthitya shakrasdattiya vishnukarmaprasiddhi."
[[File:Taishakuten Śakra, Tō-ji.jpg|thumb|Taishakuten (Śakra), 839, [[Tō-ji]] temple, [[National Treasure (Japan)|National Treasure of Japan.]]]]

==Popular culture==
Śakra makes several appearances in popular culture, including:

*He is a character in the mobile game ''[[Monster Strike]]''.
*He appears as a villain in the Chinese comic ''[[Fung Wan]]''.
*He also appears as a villain in the manga series ''[[RG Veda]]''.
*Indra Ōtsutsuki from the ''[[Naruto]]'' series is loosely based on Śakra. His younger brother's name is Asura, which plays on the myth of the battle between the deva and the asura.
*It is possible that [[Kami (Dragon Ball)|Kami]] and [[Mr. Popo]] from the ''[[Dragon Ball]]'' series share a connection with Śakra. Mr. Popo's name is phonetically similar to the Chinese pronunciation of Sahassākkha (婆婆 ''Pópo''), an epithet of Śakra. Kami's role as guardian deity is also similar to Śakra's relationship with the human world. This is further supported by the function of the Lookout, Kami's temple, which is reminiscent of [[Trāyastriṃśa]] heaven. Traditionally, this heaven is depicted as a flat surface on the top of [[Mount Meru|Mt. Sumeru]]. There are thirty-two trees on the Lookout, which equate to the same number of palaces in Trāyastriṃśa (not counting the thirty-third, Śakra's palace, exemplified by the hyperbolic time chamber).

==See also==
* [[King of the Gods]]
'''Counterparts of Śakra in other cultures'''
* [[Jade Emperor]], the Chinese counterpart
*[[Amenominakanushi]], the [[Japanese mythology|Japanese]] counterpart
* [[Haneullim]], the [[Korean mythology|Korean]] counterpart
* [[Indra]], the [[Hinduism|Hindu]] counterpart
* [[Tengri]], the [[Turkic mythology|Turko]]-[[Mongolian mythology|Mongolian]] counterpart
* [[Thagyamin]], the [[Culture of Myanmar|Burmese Buddhist]] representation of Śakra, a counterpart of the Jade Emperor
* [[Yahweh]] or [[Jehovah]] (referred as [[Allah]] ("the god") in [[Arabic]]), the [[Abrahamic]] counterpart
* [[Yuanshi Tianzun]], [[Taoism|Taoist]] counterpart

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Bibliography==
* [[Bhikkhu Analayo]] (2011). [https://web.archive.org/web/20141210113352/http://www.buddhismuskunde.uni-hamburg.de/fileadmin/pdf/analayo/SakraDestructionCraving.pdf Śakra and the Destruction of Craving – A Case Study in the Role of Śakra in Early Buddhism], The Indian International Journal of Buddhist Studies 12, 157-176
* {{cite book|editor1-last=Buswell|editor1-first=Robert Jr|editor2-last=Lopez|editor2-first=Donald S. Jr.|editor1-link=Robert Buswell Jr.|editor2-link=Donald S. Lopez Jr.|title=Princeton Dictionary of Buddhism.|date=2013|publisher=Princeton University Press|location=Princeton, NJ|isbn=9780691157863|pages=739–740}}

{{Buddhism topics}}
{{Chinese mythology}}
{{Chinese Buddhist Pantheon}}
{{Buddhist Pantheon}}
{{Lotus Sutra}}
{{Burmese nats}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sakra}}
[[Category:Buddhist gods]]
[[Category:Mythological kings]]
[[Category:Thunder gods]]
[[Category:Trickster gods]]
[[Category:Buddhist deities]]
[[Category:Buddhist cosmology]]
[[Category:Twenty-Four Protective Deities]]

Śakra (Buddhism) - Revision history

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