Materials: Exclusive Tibetan Buddhist formula, incense powder, medicinal herbs, barley flour, Sichuan safflower

Size: 75gm, 8" stick

Description:

Eight Dragon Power Incense (Guardians of Nature) ~ Harmonizes humanity with the natural environment.

The Dragon King, a guardian of land and sea, is also a deity of wealth. Treating the living environment with carelessness and roughness will unbalance the relationship between humans and the Dragon King. In other words, neglecting pollution and nature will cause the Dragon King to bring disasters such as earthquakes, typhoons, tsunamis, droughts, and floods as a warning to humanity. Given the increasing damage to nature today, performing a daily dragon incense offering appeases and heals the dragons, allowing the Dragon King to joyfully repair nature's wounds and protect us, increasing our fortune and wealth. The Eight Dragon Power Incense has the fragrance of wild plants from the lakeside of the Himalayas and is truly precious. Expensive...

To create a perfect incense, we use many rare fragrant materials blessed by Tibetan masters, precious nectars, precious herbs and medicinal materials, and rare minerals. This contributes to the high quality of this incense, which we believe will bring profound and incredible benefits to everyone.

The following is a detailed account of the influence, status, usage, and origins of the Eight Dragon Kings in Tibetan Buddhism:

1. Origin of the Eight Dragon Kings

The Eight Dragon Kings (Tibetan: ཀླུའི་རྒྱལ་པོ་ཆེན་པོ་བརྒྱད་, romanized: klu'i rgyal po chen po brgyad, literally "Eight Lu Dragon Kings") are derived from the naga in ancient Indian mythology, the half-god, half-snake serpent deity. In Hinduism and Buddhism, these deities are considered spiritual beings in charge of water, rainfall, and natural forces. After Buddhism spread to Tibet, the Nagas were absorbed into Tibetan Buddhism and merged with the pre-existing Tibetan worship of the Klu dragon god, forming the worship tradition of the Eight Dragon Kings. They are considered the dragon gods (Naga) among the "Eight Great Divisions of Devas and Dragons" and appear in the Lotus Sutra, Chapter 1, as guardian deities, protecting the Dharma and practitioners.

The Eight Dragon Kings include:

1. Nanda (Joyful Dragon King)

2. Upananda (Wise Dragon King)

3. Sāgara (Sea Dragon King, in charge of rain)

4. Vāsuki (Treasure-bearing Dragon King or Nine-headed Dragon King)

5. Takṣaka (Multi-tongued Dragon King)

6. Anavatapta (Natural Dragon King)

7. Manasvin

8. Utpalaka

In Tibetan Buddhism, the Eight Dragon Kings are regarded as important guardian deities. They are integrated with the indigenous worship of the Lulong God, who is considered in Tibetan culture to be the deity in charge of water, land, and natural phenomena. This fusion gives the Eight Dragon Kings not only religious significance in Tibetan Buddhism, but also a close connection with the ecological environment and local beliefs.

II. The Influence and Status of the Eight Dragon Kings in Tibetan Buddhism

1. **Religious Influence and Status**:

- **Guardian Deities**: In Tibetan Buddhism, the Eight Dragon Kings are considered one of the eight guardian deities of the heavens and dragons, responsible for protecting the Dharma, temples, and practitioners. They are frequently mentioned in Tibetan Buddhist rituals and texts, particularly in rituals related to rainmaking, purification, or the removal of obstacles. For example, Sagara, as the rain deity, is closely associated with climate regulation and agricultural production in Tibet, a crucial role in agrarian and pastoral societies.

- **Integration with Bon Religion**: Tibetan Buddhism absorbed elements of the indigenous Bon religion during its formation, and the Klu Dragon God (Klu) is an important nature deity in Bon. The Eight Dragon Kings' status in Tibetan Buddhism is partly due to this integration, serving as a bridge between Indian Buddhism and indigenous Tibetan beliefs. When Padmasambhava entered Tibet in the 8th century, he used his supernatural powers to subdue the Bon deities and incorporated the Klu Dragon God into the Buddhist guardian system, further solidifying the Eight Dragon Kings' status.

**Cultural and Social Influence**: The Eight Dragon Kings have a significant influence on religious rituals, festivals, and daily life in Tibet. For example, during Tibetan rain-praying ceremonies, offerings or prayers are made to the Sagara Dragon King to ensure favorable weather and good harvests. Furthermore, the Lulong God is associated with Tibetan mountain and river worship. Many sacred lakes and mountains are considered the abodes of the Dragon Kings, and believers make offerings at these locations to pray for peace and blessings.

2. **Symbosome Meaning**:

- The Eight Dragon Kings symbolize not only natural forces but also spiritual forces in spiritual practice. For example, the Nanda and Upananda Dragon Kings poured pure water upon Shakyamuni's birth, symbolizing purification and blessing. Mucilinda Dragon King provided Shakyamuni with seven heads to shield him from rain upon his enlightenment, symbolizing protection and compassion. These stories are widely recounted in Tibetan Buddhism, reinforcing the religious symbolism of the Eight Dragon Kings.

III. The Uses of the Eight Dragon Kings

In Tibetan Buddhism, the worship and use of the Eight Dragon Kings are primarily manifested in the following aspects:

1. **Rituals and Offerings**:

- **Rain-Prayer Ritual**: As the rain god, Sagara is the primary deity in rain-prayer rituals. Tibetan temples hold special ceremonies, reciting relevant texts (such as the Lotus Sutra) or performing offerings to pray for the Dragon Kings to provide rain to nourish the fields. These rituals typically involve offerings (such as flowers, food, or treasures) and the recitation of mantras.

- **Dharma Protector Ritual**: As Dharma protectors, the Eight Dragon Kings are invoked in Tibetan Tantric Buddhist rituals to eliminate obstacles to practice and protect temples or individuals. For example, during Tantric practice, mantras related to the Dragon Kings are chanted or offerings are made to obtain their blessings.

**Lulong Offerings (Klugtor): In Tibetan areas, Klugtor is a common ritual in which believers place offerings (such as grain, ghee, or gemstones) in rivers, lakes, or sacred sites to appease the Lulong deity and pray for health, wealth, or protection from disasters. These rituals are often associated with the Eight Dragon Kings, particularly in contexts related to water.

2. **Art and Symbolism**:

- The Eight Dragon Kings are often depicted in Tibetan Buddhist thangkas, sculptures, and temple murals as dragons or half-human, half-snake figures, with multiple heads (such as the nine-headed form of Hosugi Nyagata) or holding treasures, symbolizing power and majesty. These images are used for temple worship and visualization during personal practice.

- In Dharma dances (Tibetan: cham), dancers may wear masks representing the Eight Dragon Kings and use their dance to embody their power and Buddhist teachings. Such performances are common during Tibetan Buddhist festivals.

3. **Scriptures and Literature**:

- The Eight Dragon Kings are mentioned in Tibetan Buddhist texts (such as the Kangyur and Tengyur), particularly in tantric texts. Their teachings and rituals are recorded in termas or newly translated texts for practitioners' reference.

- For example, the Kulika Dragon King is considered an incarnation of Acala, and his mantras and rituals are used in tantric practice to enhance power and dispel obstacles.

IV. Historical Background and Development

- **Early Introduction**: The formation of Tibetan Buddhism began during the reign of Songtsen Gampo in the 7th century, when Princess Vikuditi of Nepal and Princess Wencheng of the Tang Dynasty introduced Buddhism to Tibet, laying the foundation. In the 8th century, Trisong Detsen invited Guru Padmasambhava to Tibet. Padmasambhava subdued the Lulong God and Bon deities, incorporating the Eight Dragon Kings into the Buddhist guardian system, marking the official establishment of the Eight Dragon Kings in Tibetan Buddhism.

**Resurgence in the Late Spreading Period**: After Langdarma's suppression of Buddhism in the 9th century, Tibetan Buddhism entered a period of dormancy. After the 10th century, with the reintroduction of Buddhist texts from India by translators such as Rinchen Zangpo, the teachings related to the Eight Dragon Kings were consolidated and developed during the Late Spreading Period. Sects such as the Nyingma school combined dragon king worship with terma traditions, further enriching its religious connotations.

**Modern Influence**: As Tibetan Buddhism spread to the West and around the world, the veneration of the Eight Dragon Kings also spread. For example, in places like Japan and Taiwan, temples dedicated to the Eight Dragon Kings and offerings to them flourished, particularly at religious sites associated with water bodies.V. Summary

The Eight Dragon Kings, as important guardian deities in Tibetan Buddhism, embody the fusion of Indian Naga mythology and Tibetan Lulong deity worship, exerting a profound influence. They not only perform roles in religious rituals for rain-praying, protection, and purification, but are also integrated into Tibetan daily life through art, scripture, and cultural activities. Their status was established thanks to Guru Padmasambhava's integration and subsequent revival during the later propagation period. Their use is reflected in rain-praying ceremonies, Lulong offerings, tantric rituals, and artistic expressions. The worship of the Eight Dragon Kings reflects Tibetan Buddhism's unique understanding of nature and spirituality and remains a vital component of Tibetan religion and culture.

Storage: Keep in a cool, dry place.

Shelf Life: Indefinite if properly stored.