The practice of ‘Dharmapalas‘, literally meaning ‘Dharma Protectors’ in Sanskrit, was introduced to Tibet during the period of the north Indian Pala Dynasty. It was an era of territorial conquests and Dharma Protectors were used by both secular and religious authorities to protect the State and religion. Dharmapalas are not exclusive to Tibetan culture and their practice is widespread throughout the Buddhist world. Mirroring the secular setup of a country’s ruler and their generals who protect their borders, Dharmapalas protect sincere practitioners of the Buddha’s teachings from all forms of negativity and hindrances in order that they can transform themselves into kinder, compassionate, wiser and therefore more spiritual people. Many Buddhist practitioners propitiate Dharmapalas for protection from obstacles and dangers as well as to mitigate the effects of ripened or ripening negative karma. This is, however, a narrow description of the role of Dharma Protectors. In fact, the functions of Dharma Protectors are much more than what has been mentioned and the specific functions of these Dharmapalas in relation to Buddhism will be discussed in greater detail in the sections below.     Conclusion Throughout the history of Tibetan Buddhism, Dharma Protectors have demonstrated their ability to come to the […]