God · Buddhist
Mahakala
Mahakala, a god of the Buddhist world, and the gods ancient sources said were the same.
Tradition: buddhism
Documented identifications
| Link | Who said so | Note |
|---|---|---|
| adopted as Shiva | Vajrayana and Chinese esoteric Buddhism | Shiva's form as Great Time was taken into Buddhism as Mahakala, a fierce protector of the dharma. |
| adopted as Daikokuten | Japanese Buddhism, Heian period onward | Mahakala became Daikokuten in Japan and, later, a smiling god of plenty. |