Mahāpratisarā statue, Bihar, 10th century ''Pañcarakṣā'' means "Five Protectors". It is the title of a Buddhist text in Sanskrit, a name for a set of five '' dhāraṇīs'' as well as the name of a set of Buddhist protector goddesses identified with these incantations. It is an early work in the ''

dhāraṇī Dharanis (IAST: ), also known as (Skt.) ''vidyās'' and ''paritas'' or (Pal.) ''parittas'', are lengthier Buddhism, Buddhist mantras functioning as mnemonic codes, incantations, or recitations, and almost exclusively written originally in Sanskri ...

'' genre of Buddhist literature, with Tibetan records mentioning it by about 800 CE. The ''Pañcarakṣā'' manuscripts survive in Tibet, Nepal and India in many divergent versions. The text includes spells, a list of benefits by its recitation, and the ritual instructions on how and when to use it. In the Buddhist tradition, each of the "Five" protections that are mentioned in the ''Pañcarakṣā'' are Buddhist deities (goddesses). The five protective ''

-goddesses'' are: *

Mahāpratisarā Mahāpratisarā (Ch: 大随求菩薩; pinyin: ''Dàsuíqiú''; Jp: ''Daizuigu'') is a female Buddhist deity in East Asian Buddhism and Vajrayana Buddhism. She is sometimes presented as the consort of Vairocana or as an emanation of Ratnasambhav ...

(for protection against sin, disease and evils), * Mahāsahasrapramardinī (for protection against evil spirits), * Mahāmāyūrī or vidyārājñī (for protection against snake-poison), * Mahāśītavatī (for protection against 'cruel' planets, cruel animals and poisonous insects), and * Mahārakṣā mantrānusāriṇī (for protection against diseases).

References

{{Buddhism-stub Buddhist texts Sanskrit texts