A Dharmapāla is a type of wrathful deity in Buddhism.

Buddhist mythology

A Buddhist protector of the Dharma is known as a Dharmapala ("Protector of the Dharma"). Dharmapalas are typically wrathful deities depicted with fearsome iconography in the Mahayana and Vajrayana traditions of Buddhism. Their wrathful appearance symbolizes their determination to defend the Buddhist teachings and protect practitioners from obstacles, dangers, and harmful forces.

The Aṣṭagatyaḥ (the Eight Classes of Non-Human Beings) is a category associated with Dharmapalas and includes the Garuda, Deva, Naga, Yaksha, Gandharva, Asura, Kinnara, and Mahoraga.

In Vajrayana iconography and thangka paintings, Dharmapalas are portrayed as formidable beings, often with multiple heads, arms, or legs. They are commonly depicted with blue, black, or red skin and fierce expressions featuring bared fangs. Despite their terrifying appearance, Dharmapalas act out of compassion and use their wrathful energy solely for the benefit and protection of sentient beings.

The devotional worship of Dharmapalas in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition dates back to the early 8th century CE.