About the Book
The Gods of Northern Buddhism: Their History, Iconography, and Progressive Evolution through the Northern Buddhist Countries written by Alice Getty, translated by J. Deniker, is a detailed study of the Buddhist deities in regions such as Tibet, Nepal, and Mongolia. The book explores the history, symbolism, and evolution of these gods, examining their iconography and spiritual significance in Northern Buddhist traditions. It traces their transformation across cultures and time, offering a comprehensive understanding of their role in Buddhist art, worship, and religious practice.
About the Author
Alice Getty, was a British scholar known for her expertise in Buddhist art and iconography. She authored The Gods of Northern Buddhism, exploring the history and evolution of Buddhist deities.
Introduction
Namo Buddhaya, namo Dharmaya, namo Sanghaga: I worship Buddha, I worship the Doctrine, I worship the Community such is the formula which represents the quintessence of the Buddhist religion. It is uttered and repeated several times a day by numberless Buddhist monks and priests as well as by those of the laity who are at all instructed in their faith. The others content themselves. with murmuring ceaselessly the magie formula Om, mani padme, ham (Oh, the jewel in the lotus),
Now, to give a general idea of the great religion whose followers form a third part of the human species, it is sufficient to develop this formula of the three jewels (Triratna). First we shall examine the life of the sole and unique historical Buddha (enlightened one), Šäkya-muni, founder of the faith; then we shall summarize briefly the doctrine preached by him, following its evolution across space and time, in order that we may see and understand the forms under which it has existed in the various countries to which it has penetrated; lastly we shall give a description of the constitution of the Buddhist clergy (especially the Lamaite), and sketch what may be called the material side of the religion.
I. BUDDHA
It is towards the end of the sixth century n.c. that the majority of historians place the birth of Siddhartha, future founder of Buddhism, the son of Prince Suddhodana and of his wife Mäyä. Prince Suddhodana was one of the chiefs of the tribe of the Sakya in the kingdom of Magadha and belonged to the clan (Gotra) of Gautama. For this reason the name of Gautama Buddha is often, especially among the Southern Buddhists, applied to Siddhartha, in the same way as among the Northern he is generally called Sakya-muni ('muni' having the significance simply of wise' or 'saint' in Sanskrit).
The Buddhist books give as the birth-place of Sakyamuni the garden of Lumbini near Kapilavastu, the capital of the little principality of which Suddhodana was chief. It is situated in the north of India at the foot of the Himalaya, near the present frontier of Nepal.
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