Śakra

Buddhist king of the devas, ruler of Trāyastriṃśa on Mount Sumeru. Long-lived but mortal; married to Sujā, daughter of the asura lord Vemacitrin.

Domains

• heaven trayastrimsha
• kingship of the devas
• thunderbolt and storm

Powers

• Rule the Heaven of the Thirty-Three gods
• Hurl the thunderbolt against the asuras
• Guard the Buddha and protect the Dharma

Epithets

• शक्रो देवानामिन्द्रः
• कौशिक
• 帝釋天

Relations

• spouse: Sujā
• enemy: Vemacitrin
• equated with: Indra
• equated with: King of the Nats
• equated with: Jade Emperor
• equated with: Hwanin

Sources

• Pali Canon, Sakka-saṃyutta (SN 11), Saṃyutta Nikāya
• Buddhaghosa, identification of Sakka with Vajrapāṇi