Wrathful deities “dokshita” in the early shastra songs of the Mongol-speaking peoples

Abstract

This article focuses on the early shastra songs of the Mongol-speaking peoples, offering insights into the wrathful deities referred to as “dokshita” in the Buddhist pantheon. Shastras are songs with spiritual content dedicated to the praise of the Teachings of Buddha, deities, clergy, Buddhist monasteries, pilgrimages, and similar themes. This study does not address the question of the origin of the wrathful deities. The author adheres to the assumption that Mongolian peoples borrowed them from Tibetan Buddhism. Archival and published materials serve as the source base for the study. A comprehensive characterization of the “dokshita” found in the early records of the shastra songs of the Mongol-speaking peoples is conducted using a descriptive method. Consideration is given to the etymology of the phrase “shastir duu.” A review of the sources with early texts of shastra songs of Mongolian-speaking peoples is presented. The history of the spread of Buddhism among Mongols, Buryats, and Oirats (Kalmyks) is examined. Six wrathful deities of the “dokshita,” namely Mahakala, Yamantaka, Hayagriva, Damdin Dorlik, Vajrapani, and Okon Tengri, are identified and described. For that purpose, folklore, lexicographical, and ethnographic materials, as well as Buddhist sutras and ritual texts, are examined. The analysis of song texts complements and expands the knowledge about “dokshita,” including their functions, appearance, location, attributes, mounts, and others. The present article makes a valuable contribution to the existing research on the characters of the Buddhist pantheon, both in Russia and abroad.