Mahākāla-Daikokuten
deity single tradition · 1
Medieval exegetes interpreted Mahākāla-Daikokuten in both a positive and a negative way. He was seen as a symbol of fundamental ignorance, but also represented the nonduality of ignorance and enlightenment. He was identified with Ichiji Kinrin and thus a symbol of ultimate reality, but also with the directional deity Īśāna, who is also considered to be a god of obstacles.
When
- First attested
- 500 CE
- Attested period
- 500 – 1500
- Historical notes
- Medieval esoteric Buddhism.
Relationships
- co occurs with
- Vaiśravana-Bishamonten, Kenrō Jijin, Ugajin, Ōkuninushi, Benzaiten, Ebisu, Kotoshironushi, Acala, Sukunabikona
- syncretized with
- Isana, Ichiji Kinrin
- child of
- Ōji Kara Daikoku
- consort of
- Makakara Daikokunyo
Mentioned by
Sources
wikipedia (1)
Source passages
“Medieval exegetes interpreted Mahākāla-Daikokuten in both a positive and a negative way: on the one hand he was seen as a symbol of fundamental ignorance (expressed by the name 'Daikoku', which can be interpreted as "great darkness"), but on the other hand he also represented the nonduality of ignorance”
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