Materials: Herbs and medicinal materials, rare minerals, nectar, and rare incense materials.

Size: Quantity: 24 trays. Duration: 2 hours/tray.

Description:

Eight Dragon Kings Power Incense (Guardians of Nature) brings harmony between humanity and the natural environment.

The Dragon Kings are protectors of land and sea, and are also gods of wealth. If humans treat their living environment with carelessness and roughness, the relationship between them will become unbalanced. In other words, if we neglect pollution and nature, the Dragon Kings will bring disasters such as earthquakes, typhoons, tsunamis, droughts, and floods as a warning to humanity. Given the increasing damage to nature today, daily dragon incense offerings are performed to appease and heal the dragons, allowing the Dragon Kings to joyfully repair nature's wounds and protect us, increasing our fortune and wealth. The Eight Dragons Removal Incense has the fragrance of wild plants from the lakeside of the Himalayas, making it extremely precious...

To create a perfect incense, we incorporate numerous rare incense materials, precious nectars, and rare minerals blessed by Tibetan masters. This incense is of exceptional quality and is believed to bring profound and miraculous benefits.

Overview of the Eight Dragon Kings

The Eight Dragon Kings are important guardian deities in Buddhism, leading the dragon clan within the "Eight Great Dragons." They originate from the naga (a half-god, half-snake) of ancient Indian mythology and were later incorporated into Buddhist texts and transformed into dragon kings who protect the Dharma. They symbolize water, rain, protection, and power, and are widely depicted in Chinese, Tibetan, and Japanese Buddhism, often depicted as enormous dragon deities wearing crowns. Beyond mythological figures, the Eight Dragon Kings play a crucial role in Buddhist ritual, representing the balance of nature and the protection of the Dharma. The following details their roles in Buddhist rituals, their origins, and related stories.

List and Introduction of the Eight Great Dragon Kings

Based on the Lotus Sutra and other texts, the main list of the Eight Great Dragon Kings is as follows (primarily based on Chinese Buddhist traditions, with Sanskrit and transliteration provided after the literal translation):

| Number | Name (literal translation) | Sanskrit/Transliteration | Introduction |

|------|--------------|-----------|------|

| 1 | Nanda (Nántuó) | The Joyful Dragon King, often mentioned alongside Upananda, protects the Dharma from disasters. |

| 2 | Upananda (Yōubōnántuó) | The Joyful Dragon King, who bathed Prince Sikkima with Nanda, symbolizing purification. |

| 3 | Sāgara (Shéjiāluó) | The Sea Dragon King, the rain deity, oversees the Sea Dragon Palace and is associated with rain prayers. |

| 4 | Vāsuki (Héxiūjí) | A multi- or nine-headed dragon king, he once guarded Mount Sumeru and preyed on smaller dragons. |

| 5 | Takṣaka (Déchājiā) | A multi-tongued dragon king, whose glare can suffocate humans and animals, symbolizing a fierce guardian. |

| 6 | Anavatapta (Ānàpótàduō) | A heatless dragon king, dwelling in the Anuttara Pond and associated with the source of the four great rivers. |

| 7 | Manasvin (Mónàsī) | A large-bodied dragon king, protecting the sacred city in the legend of the Churning of the Milky Ocean. |

| 8 | Utpalaka (Yōubóluó) | A blue lotus dragon king, associated with the lotus and symbolizing purity. |

Note: Different Buddhist traditions (such as Tibetan Buddhism) may have variations, including the Earth-King or the Lotus-King, but the Lotus Sutra is the standard for Chinese tradition.

Role in Buddhist Ritual

The Eight Dragon Kings primarily serve as Dharma protectors in Buddhist rituals. As leaders of the Dragon Clan, they are responsible for safeguarding the Dharma, practitioners, and Dharma assemblies, and are particularly closely associated with rituals related to the water element. Specifically:

- **Protecting the Dharma and Participating in Dharma Feasts**: In sutras such as the Lotus Sutra, the Chapter on Eternal Impermanence, the Eight Dragon Kings are often summoned during large Dharma assemblies (such as during the Lotus Sutra). They coil their dragon bodies around the altar and spit water to purify the space, symbolizing the elimination of karmic obstacles and disasters. During rituals, monks chant sutras to request the Dragon Kings' protection, ensuring the smooth conduct of the ceremonies and preventing interference from external demons.

**Rain Prayers and Water-Related Rituals**: As the rain deity, Sagara is often revered in drought-related rain-praying ceremonies. For example, the Dragon King Temple, a fusion of Chinese folk Buddhism, originates from this tradition. They control rain and rivers and are associated with the twenty-eight divisions of Avalokitesvara. Rituals include offering Dragon King statues and chanting the Dragon King Sutra to pray for favorable weather and good harvests.

**Initiation and Purification Rituals**: In initiation ceremonies in Tantric Buddhism (such as Tibetan Buddhism), Dragon Kings are considered protectors of water virtues, symbolizing the purification of wisdom. Nanda and Upananda Dragon Kings are particularly important. They bathed the prince in the legend of Shakyamuni Buddha's birth. Therefore, they are invoked during monastic ordination and blessing ceremonies, sprinkling clean water to symbolize rebirth.

**Suppression and Obstacle Removal**: Dragon Kings like Dekshaga appear in powerful forms and are used in rituals to subdue evil or unlawful dragons, protecting temples from floods and external enemies. Generally speaking, they are the "Dharma-practicing Dragon Kings" (dragons that uphold the Dharma) in opposition to the "Dharma-violating Dragon Kings" (evil dragons that cause rebellion), embodying the Buddhist dualistic balance of good and evil.

In modern Buddhist practice, the Eight Dragon Kings are often found in temples' Dragon King Halls or Dharma Protector Halls. Devotees offer incense and sprinkle water on Dragon Boat Festival or other blessing days, praying for peace and a good harvest.

Origin

The origins of the Eight Dragon Kings can be traced back to the "Naga" in ancient Indian mythology. Nagas were half-god, half-snake spirits who lived underground, in water, or in the mountains, responsible for rain, treasure, and protection. They appear in Vedic texts and were later absorbed by both Hinduism and Buddhism. After Buddhism spread eastward, the Nagas were transformed into dragons (influenced by Chinese dragon worship) and became Dharma protectors.

- **Classical Reference**: The earliest texts are found in the Avatamsaka Sutra, the Lotus Sutra, the Vajra Sutra, and other texts, describing the Dragon Kings' conversion to the Three Jewels (Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha), transforming them from wild deities into Dharma protectors. In Hinduism, the Eight Dragon Kings are the king of the Nagas, used as ropes to churn the ocean in the myth of the Churning of Milk. Buddhism emphasizes their conversion process, as exemplified by Shakyamuni Buddha's subjugation of a vicious dragon and his acceptance as his followers.

Cultural Fusion: In Chinese Buddhism, the Eight Dragon Kings merge with indigenous Chinese dragon deities (such as the Four Sea Dragon Kings), forming the Dragon King Temple of folk worship. Tibetan Buddhism incorporates the indigenous Lu Dragon God, emphasizing their place in mandalas. Japanese Buddhism (such as Shingon Buddhism) considers them the Water and Sky Dragon Kings, participating in esoteric rituals.

This origin reflects Buddhism's inclusiveness, incorporating indigenous deities into its teachings and transforming them into guardians of the Dharma.

Related Stories

The stories of the Eight Dragon Kings are rich and often found in Buddhist scriptures and legends, emphasizing the transformation from wildness to conversion, symbolizing the awakening of the potential of all beings. The following are the main stories:

- **Nanda and Upananda Bathing the Prince**: When Shakyamuni Buddha was born in the Lumbini Garden, the gods and dragon kings came to celebrate. Nanda, the dragon king, blew warm water from his left side, and Upananda, the dragon king, blew cool water from his right side, together bathing the infant prince as a symbol of purification and blessing. Previously, the two dragon kings had been at odds with the dragon king Sagara. After the birth of the Buddha, their feud was resolved, and all three kings converted to Buddhism and forever protected the Dharma (see the "Buddha's Original Life"). This story is often recounted during Buddha's Birthday ceremonies to emphasize the dragon kings' loyalty.

- **Sagara's Prayer for Rain and His Daughter's Enlightenment**: Sagara resided in the sea dragon palace, managing the rain. One day, his third daughter, the Good Dragon King, heard the Lotus Sutra and was so delighted that she attained enlightenment on the spot, receiving the name "Shengmiaoyin Bodhisattva" (Devadatta Chapter of the Lotus Sutra). This story highlights the Buddha nature of the Dragon King family, leading Sagara to become the deity for rain prayers, a common practice among Chinese people for a good harvest.

- **Hosauki Dragon King's Guardianship of Mount Sumeru**: Hosauki possesses nine heads and coils around Mount Sumeru, feeding on smaller dragons (snakes) and guarding the axis of the universe. According to Buddhist legend, he once obstructed Shakyamuni's enlightenment, but was moved by the Buddha's light and converted to become a Dharma protector (derived from the Indian Mahabharata). In rituals, he symbolizes cosmic balance and is often depicted at the edges of mandalas.

- **The Legend of the Angry Gaze of Dekshaka Dragon King**: Dekshaka is known for his tongue and wrathful eyes, and legend has it that a single glance from him can suffocate all living things. According to Buddhist scriptures, he was originally an evil dragon, but Shakyamuni Buddha compassionately subdued him and made him a Dharma protector. This story is used in pacification rituals to warn against the dangers of evil thoughts.

**Anavatatta and the Four River Sources**: Anavatatta resided in the Anatta Pond (Pond of No Heat and Suffering) in the northern Himalayas. The waters of this pond converge into the Ganges and other four rivers, nourishing humanity. Legend has it that Shakyamuni Buddha preached at this pond, and the dragon kings offered him a jewel to protect him (Avatamsaka Sutra). This story connects Buddhism with geography, symbolizing the flow of the waters of wisdom through all living beings.

**Manas the Dragon King Churns the Ocean of Milk**: In mythology, Manas danced his massive body to reverse the currents, protecting the city of Ksitigarbha from submersion. In Buddhist accounts, he aided the gods in churning the Ocean of Milk to obtain the elixir of immortality and later converted to Buddhism (Jataka Tales).

These stories are not only entertaining but also convey the core of Buddhism: all beings possess Buddha-nature, which can be transformed into Dharma protectors through refuge. The stories of the eight dragon kings are often incorporated into paintings, operas, and temple murals, and continue to this day.

In short, the transformation of the eight dragon kings from Indian mythology into Buddhist Dharma protectors embodies the universality of Buddhist teachings. Today, they remain active in rituals and folk beliefs, reminding people to respect nature and cultivate compassion.

Storage: Keep in a cool, dry place.

Shelf Life: Indefinitely if properly stored.