The Eight Divisions (天龙八部)

The above picture shows a statue of Garuda. A Garuda is listed as a member of the Buddhist eight divisions.

 

The eight divisions in the Buddhism mainly refer to:

Deva天眾, Naga龍眾, Yaksa夜叉, Gandharva乾闥婆, Ashura阿修羅, Garuda迦樓羅, Kinnara緊那羅 (One of Indra’s musician) and Mahiraga摩呼羅迦 (the spirit with human body and snake head) 。

By merely referring to the eight names we can find influence of Hinduism and Buddhism in the SEA region. Basically these eight divisions represent majority of the spirits we have reviewed in this blog.

The Tibetan Buddhist believes that many problems arise if these eight divisions are not pacified. The below ritual is roughly translated to ease the explanation of these eight classes. For your review only, guidance from a guru is needed as there are additional rituals need to be added and also required the practice of guru yoga.

The ritual proper:

吽

Hum

三身三传上师与，寂静忿怒本尊众，皈依之处三宝及，

空行财神护法等，一切应供之至尊，献予殊胜之供品，

受此清净金汁饮，所欲成办我祈请；天神之王帝释与，

The three kaya of gurus with peaceful and wartful yidam assemblies,

I am seeking refuge to the three gems, daki, dakini, kubera and protectors.

To all the supreme assemblies, I present excellent offerings.

Enjoy this pure golden juice,

Please accomplish all my requests;

The king of gods, Indra,

龙众之王庆喜者，修罗王毗摩质多，人非人王马头尊，

夜叉满贤尊以及，金羽翼鸟金眼聚，护法玛哈嘎拉与，

乾达婆王五髻等，于外八部眷属众，献予殊胜之供品，

The king of Naga, the celebrated,

The king of Ashura Vimacitta,

The king of human and non-human, Hayagriva,

The Yaksa, Garuda, dharmapala Mahakala,

The king of Gandharva with five hammerheads,

To the external eight divisions,

I present you with excellent offerings.

受此清净金汁饮，所欲成办我祈请；一父玄青魔王与，

赞王赤红洋须者，地神龙子恰桑与，索命之王剜心者，

护法赤红夜叉与，射威猛电天女者，居士贤善金刚及，

Enjoy this clean and pure golden juice,

Please accomplish all my requests,

The demons, ghost king, local gods, the one who kills,

The Red Yaksa, the lighting goddess, Buddhists,

日月颅鬘皎洁母，于内八部眷属众，献予殊胜之供品，

受此清净金汁饮，所欲成办我祈请；魔王卡吞惹恰与，

暗红阎魔敌尊者，龙魔惹噶惹咱与，夜叉持刀断命者，

The sacred sun and moon goddess with cranial rosary,

To the assembly of internal eight divisions,

I present the excellent offerings,

Please accomplish all my requests;

The demon king, Kartun Raja,

The Dark Red Yama, demonic dragon, Raka Raja,

The life taker, Yaksa who carries knife,

魔女残杀三有与，赞王夺命洋须者，魔王惹碟果雅与，

索命螺般发髻等，于密八部眷属众，献予殊胜之供品，

受此清净金汁饮，所欲成办我祈请；圣曜大王惹呼拉，

Cruel witches, ghost king Yangsu, demon king Radegoya,

The snail like hammerhead killer and assembly;

To all the secret eight division assemblies,

I present to you excellent offerings,

Enjoy this clean and pure golden juice,

Please accomplish all my requests;

The great Rahula;

圣白普遍残杀者，圣魔玛努惹恰与，圣赞威猛智赞者，

圣母豺狼持矛与，圣龙守螺龙王者，圣怙玄青白腹与，

圣王勒鈊哈 等，于胜八部眷属众，献予殊胜之供品，

The killers, demon Manu Raja, the fierce ghost king,

The wolf goddess who holds spear,

The dragon lord, the excellent protectors,

The excellent king Lek Singha and assembly,

To the excellent eight divisions,

I present to you excellent offerings,

受此清净金汁饮，所欲成办我祈请；右臂化现之战神，

左臂化现之魔女，唇齿化现之魔及，头部化现之罗剎，

尾巴化现水肿鬼，右手化现之阎罗，左手化现之龙赞，

Enjoy this clean and pure golden juice,

Accomplish all that I have requested;

The warrior that emitted from my right arm,

The witch that emitted from my left arm,

The demon that came out from my lips and teeth,

The Yaksa that came out from my head,

The Edema ghost that came out from my tail,

The Yama that came out from my right palm,

The Dragon and ghost king that came out from my left palm,

眼心以及獠牙三，化现出之曜魔等，于化八部眷属众，

献予殊胜之供品，受此清净金汁饮，所欲成办我祈请；

地主玄青厉犬与，龙魔黑龙旃陀罗，地之女神丹玛与，

From my eye, heart and fangs, give birth to planet demon,

All these eight division assemblies,

I present to you clean and pure golden drinks,

Please accomplish all that I have requested;

Local god, the dark green hound,

The demonic black dragon, Chandhara,

The goddess of earth, Tanma,

护方四大天王者，七十五位怙主与，此处一切地主众，

男神战神命神与，女神医神等等众，于诸现有八部众，

献予殊胜之供品，受此清净金汁饮，所欲成办我祈请。

The protectors of four corners, the four king of sky,

The seventy five protectors,

To all the earthbound spirits,

The mail god, warriors and the god that takes care of my fate,

The goddesses, the physician god and the rest of assemblies,

To all the existing eight divisions,

I present to you excellent offerings,

Enjoy this clean and pure golden juice,

Please accomplish all that I have requested.

  

三宝以及三根护法众，外之八部以及内八部，秘密八部殊胜八部与，

化身八部现有八部众，化身复化遵命仆眷等，临此受用金饮及食子，

顺缘成就遣除违缘障，广大事业无余令成办，勿违佛敕誓言萨玛雅。

The three gems and three root protectors,

Internal and external eight divisions,

The secret and the most excellent eight divisions,

The emanation of eight divisions,

The existing eight divisions,

The continue emanations of faithful servants and relatives,

Come here now to enjoy the offering of golden drink and foods,

Accomplish the good and remove all obstacles,

Accomplish great work as you are told,

Do not transgress Buddha’s order and oath.

So let it be accomplished. Samaya.

Sarva Manglam.

May all be auspicious.