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The designation of 'Protector Deity' is common within the Buddhist and Bon religions of the Tibetan and Himalayan regions. The term is one designation in a rather fluid yet elaborate set of religious hierarchies in the various pantheons. (See the Protector Deities: Traditions & Schools Outline Page. Many additional pages have been both added and updated).

There are two basic types of Protector Deity, 1. worldly and 2. beyond worldly. The latter is typically called wisdom or enlightened protector, meaning that they are beyond samsara or worldly existence. How this actually works is for example the Buddhist protector deity Mahakala - Mahakala is a wrathful form of the primordial Buddha Vajradhara - therfore he is enlightened. In various other forms Mahakala can be an emanation of Akshobhya Buddha or any number of other Buddhas. The three main Anuttarayoga Tantra deities of Hevajra, Chakrasamvara and Guhyasamaja each have a specific Mahakala associated with the particular tantra such as: Panjara Mahakala - Panjarnata Tantra (Hevajra), Chaturmukha Mahakala - Guhyasamaja Tantra and the Chaturbhuja Mahakala associated with the various Chakrasamvara Tantras. The same system of logic and textual sources applies to Shri Devi.

Worldly protectors are not enlightened and not considered completely trustworthy. There is a bias in Tibetan Buddhism to treat all or almost all protectors coming from India to be wisdom protectors. The exception here are the Four Guardian Kings and what might be considered the traditional Hindu Gods, often referred to in the Tantras as worldly gods, or protectors.

Numerous mountain gods and indigenous Tibetan and Himalayan deities (often claimed by the Bon Religion) have been incorporated into the Tantric Buddhist pantheon as worldly deities with the function of a protector. Their job is to safe-guard Buddhism in general, geographic regions, specific monasteries, religious traditions or even a specific text as in the Nyingma 'Treasure' Tradition.