News

Power Deities are the third category of the four traditional Tantric Buddhist categories of deities according to activity type, or function. The function and nature of power in Tantric practice is to accomplish tasks and wishes quickly. Power deities are most often red in colour and generally either peaceful in appearance or slightly peaceful and slightly wrathful. A certain element of danger for the practitioner is associated with power deity practices in Tantric Buddhism. (See Power Deities Outline Page).

There are Four principal Tantric Buddhist Activities, or functions as described in the Anuttarayoga Tantric literature: 1. Peaceful Activities, 2. Increasing Activities, 3. Powerful Activities, and 4. Wrathful Activities. The four activities are primarily associated with the two highest classifications of Tantra, Anuttarayoga and Yoga.

There are a further ten well known Tantric categories of deities according to function. The ten span all four levels of Tantra but primarily focus on the two lowest classes - Kriya and Charya.

The Kriya and Charya Tantra levels have their own unique system of classifying deities according to hierarchy and function - all though it is not well known outside of scholarly circles. The four activities and the general ten functions are broader and inclusive of all four Tantra levels albeit less precise.