Dharmapala Thangka CentreSchool of Thangka Painting

Protector deities protect the Buddhist dharma. They are typically wrathful deities, depicted with terrifying iconography in the Mahayana and tantric traditions of Buddhism. The wrathfulness is intended to depict their willingness to defend and guard Buddhist followers from dangers and enemies.

In Vajrayana iconography and thangka depictions, dharmapala are fearsome beings, often with many heads, many hands, or many feet. Dharmapala often have blue, black or red skin, and a fierce expression with protruding fangs. Although they have a terrifying appearance, they only act in a wrathful way for the benefit of sentient beings.