Image/statue of the deva Sakka

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thomaslaw
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Image/statue of the deva Sakka

Post by thomaslaw »

Hi
I am looking for a image or statue of the deva Sakka/Sakra in the Theravada tradition/s. Cf. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C5%9Aakra_(Buddhism). If you find one, please post it here. Thanks.
Ontheway
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Re: Image/statue of the deva Sakka

Post by Ontheway »

God-sakka.jpg
Sri Lankan styled Sakka Devaraja statue

52935473_2314563538607845_8254861163624398848_n.jpg
Thai styled Sakka Devaraja statue

unnamed.jpg
Sakka Devaraja visiting the Lord Buddha
Hiriottappasampannā,
sukkadhammasamāhitā;
Santo sappurisā loke,
devadhammāti vuccare.

https://suttacentral.net/ja6/en/chalmer ... ight=false
thomaslaw
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Location: Australia

Re: Image/statue of the deva Sakka

Post by thomaslaw »

Thanks.

It seems his vehicle (vāhanam 'animal vehicle') is elephant (airavata 'a white elephant'), carrying the deity (Indra/Sakka).
Ontheway
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Re: Image/statue of the deva Sakka

Post by Ontheway »

From what I heard, there is no animal in heaven (for animals will be born only in animal realm). But it seems there is a subtle difference between those divine creatures and animals that we see everyday. Such as:

Naga (higher realm) Vs snake (lower realm)
Garuda (higher realm) Vs Eagle (lower realm)

I don't know whether Airavata is real or not, whether it is real Sakka's vehicle (which a bit redundant). But "Eravana" is Maha Naga was mentioned in Mahasamaya Sutta.
Hiriottappasampannā,
sukkadhammasamāhitā;
Santo sappurisā loke,
devadhammāti vuccare.

https://suttacentral.net/ja6/en/chalmer ... ight=false
thomaslaw
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Joined: Fri Apr 19, 2013 12:55 am
Location: Australia

Re: Image/statue of the deva Sakka

Post by thomaslaw »

Mythical elephant seems not found or developed in any Buddhist texts yet.
thomaslaw
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Re: Image/statue of the deva Sakka

Post by thomaslaw »

If I am not wrong, unlike Brahma, Sakka is not religiously worshiped in Thailand (and even in India, Sri Lanka). But Sakka is shown only in some stone/wood carving, painting.
Ontheway
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Re: Image/statue of the deva Sakka

Post by Ontheway »

That's true.

But Thai Buddhists often mention Sakka Devaraja's name during dedication of merits as in "Imina punnakammena, upajjhaya gunuttara..." Gatha.

Though they might not aware of it.
Hiriottappasampannā,
sukkadhammasamāhitā;
Santo sappurisā loke,
devadhammāti vuccare.

https://suttacentral.net/ja6/en/chalmer ... ight=false
thomaslaw
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Joined: Fri Apr 19, 2013 12:55 am
Location: Australia

Re: Image/statue of the deva Sakka

Post by thomaslaw »

"Imina punnakammena, upajjhaya gunuttara..." Gatha.

https://www.dhammatalks.org/books/Chant ... n0018.html

I really like the content of the chanting. It is inclusive for the welfare of all beings, including Mara.
Ontheway
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Re: Image/statue of the deva Sakka

Post by Ontheway »

Indra or Sakka
Attachments
Guardians_of_the_eight_directions_02.JPG
Hiriottappasampannā,
sukkadhammasamāhitā;
Santo sappurisā loke,
devadhammāti vuccare.

https://suttacentral.net/ja6/en/chalmer ... ight=false
Ontheway
Posts: 3062
Joined: Wed Aug 11, 2021 3:35 pm

Re: Image/statue of the deva Sakka

Post by Ontheway »

Sakka Devaraja in Burmese style
Ananda-Thumb-00032.jpg
Hiriottappasampannā,
sukkadhammasamāhitā;
Santo sappurisā loke,
devadhammāti vuccare.

https://suttacentral.net/ja6/en/chalmer ... ight=false
thomaslaw
Posts: 812
Joined: Fri Apr 19, 2013 12:55 am
Location: Australia

Re: Image/statue of the deva Sakka

Post by thomaslaw »

Ontheway wrote: Sun Jan 09, 2022 4:17 pm Sakka Devaraja in Burmese style
Ananda-Thumb-00032.jpg
It seems the Burmese style of Sakka Devaraja does not have his vehicle (vāhanam 'animal vehicle'): elephant (airavata 'a white elephant'), carrying the deity.
thomaslaw
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Joined: Fri Apr 19, 2013 12:55 am
Location: Australia

Re: Image/statue of the deva Sakka

Post by thomaslaw »

Ontheway wrote: Tue Sep 28, 2021 12:19 pm God-sakka.jpg
Sri Lankan styled Sakka Devaraja statue


52935473_2314563538607845_8254861163624398848_n.jpg
Thai styled Sakka Devaraja statue


unnamed.jpg
Sakka Devaraja visiting the Lord Buddha
I have noticed that the Thai styled Sakka Devaraja shows "green" color.
Ontheway
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Joined: Wed Aug 11, 2021 3:35 pm

Re: Image/statue of the deva Sakka

Post by Ontheway »

Yes, I think the Thai people attribute green colour to Him to represent the power of nature, since green often represent plants or natural world...
-2.jpg
The statue of Sakka Devaraja playing music instrument. This symbolises the story where Bodhisatta Gotama was striving hard yet unable to attain anything, Sakka Devaraja came down from Heaven and play a music instrument (Sitar?) at the side of Bodhisatta. Soon, the Bodhisatta realised the simile of musical instrument.

43223460_2083763128349210_5765850804397277184_n.jpg
Sakka Devaraja with his Vajirayudha, one of the four legendary divine weapons.

65443547_939608216371127_6284189877407842304_o.jpg
The King of Gods and Brahma Sahampati receiving the Bodhisatta Gotama.
Hiriottappasampannā,
sukkadhammasamāhitā;
Santo sappurisā loke,
devadhammāti vuccare.

https://suttacentral.net/ja6/en/chalmer ... ight=false
Ontheway
Posts: 3062
Joined: Wed Aug 11, 2021 3:35 pm

Re: Image/statue of the deva Sakka

Post by Ontheway »

thomaslaw wrote: Mon Jan 10, 2022 6:21 am
Ontheway wrote: Sun Jan 09, 2022 4:17 pm Sakka Devaraja in Burmese style
Ananda-Thumb-00032.jpg
It seems the Burmese style of Sakka Devaraja does not have his vehicle (vāhanam 'animal vehicle'): elephant (airavata 'a white elephant'), carrying the deity.
This may interest you.

Kathavathu
4. Of Animals in Heaven

Controverted Point: That animals may be reborn among the devas.

From the Commentary: Among devas many—for instance, Eravana—assume animal shapes, such as those of elephants or horses, but no animals are reborn as such among them. Some, however, like the Andhakas, assume that because such celestial shapes have been seen, therefore these were celestially reborn animals.

Theravadin: Do you then imply that conversely devas are re-born as animals? Or that the deva-world is an animal kingdom? That there may there be found moths, beetles, gnats, flies, snakes, scorpions, centipedes, earthworms?

You deny all this. Then you cannot maintain your proposition...

Andhaka: But is not the wondrous elephant Eravana there, the thousand-wise yoked celestial mount?

Theravadin: But are there also elephant and horse stables there, and fodder and trainers and grooms?
92580183c7c759965943c443b7f0d31d.jpg
Hiriottappasampannā,
sukkadhammasamāhitā;
Santo sappurisā loke,
devadhammāti vuccare.

https://suttacentral.net/ja6/en/chalmer ... ight=false
thomaslaw
Posts: 812
Joined: Fri Apr 19, 2013 12:55 am
Location: Australia

Re: Image/statue of the deva Sakka

Post by thomaslaw »

Ontheway wrote: Sat Apr 16, 2022 4:11 pm
thomaslaw wrote: Mon Jan 10, 2022 6:21 am
Ontheway wrote: Sun Jan 09, 2022 4:17 pm Sakka Devaraja in Burmese style
Ananda-Thumb-00032.jpg
It seems the Burmese style of Sakka Devaraja does not have his vehicle (vāhanam 'animal vehicle'): elephant (airavata 'a white elephant'), carrying the deity.
This may interest you.

Kathavathu
...
Kathavathu is one of the seven books in the Theravada Abhidhamma Pitaka.
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