Dharmapala

Dharmapāla
Khuyến Thiện Hộ Pháp (劝善护法, Dharmapāla of Encouraging of Good Deeds), 17th century, Bút Tháp Temple, Vietnam. Khuyến Thiện often stands with the Trừng Ác Dharmapāla to form a pair in Vietnamese Buddhism temples.
Trừng Ác Hộ Pháp（整恶护法, Dharmapāla of Punishing of Bad Deeds), 17th century, Bút Tháp Temple. Trừng Ác often stands with the Khuyến Thiện Dharmapāla to form a pair in Vietnamese Buddhism temples.

A dharmapāla is a type of wrathful god in Buddhism. The name means "dharma protector" in Sanskrit, and the dharmapālas are also known as the Defenders of the Justice (Dharma), or the Guardians of the Law. There are two kinds of dharmapala, Worldly Guardians (lokapala) and Wisdom Protectors (jnanapala). Only Wisdom Protectors are enlightened beings.

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