Editing Asura (section)

==Buddhism==
[[File:ASURA detail Kohfukuji.JPG|thumb|Asura at Kofukuji, a Buddhist temple in Nara, Japan|258x258px]]
{{Main|Asura (Buddhism)}}
Asuras ({{langx|xct|ལྷ་མིན|translit=lha min}}; {{lang-zh|t=阿修羅|s=阿修罗|p=āxiūluó}}; {{langx|ja|阿修羅|translit=ashura, asura}}) are a type of supernatural beings (antigods, demigods, or titans) in traditional [[Buddhist cosmology]] and a [[Saṃsāra (Buddhism)|realm of rebirth]] based on one's [[karma]] in current or past lives.<ref>{{cite book|author=Norman C. McClelland|title=Encyclopedia of Reincarnation and Karma|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=S_Leq4U5ihkC |year=2010|publisher=McFarland|isbn=978-0-7864-5675-8|pages=32–34, 136 }}</ref> They are described in Buddhist texts as creatures who live in lower levels of mount Sumeru, obsessed with sensuous aspects of existence, living with jealousy, and endlessly engaged in wars against the creatures who are ''Devas'' (gods).<ref name=buswell76/> As Buddhism spread into East Asia and Southeast Asia, the Asura concept of Indian Buddhism expanded and integrated local pre-existing deities as a part of regional Buddhist pantheon.<ref name=buswell76>{{cite book|author1=Robert E. Buswell Jr.|author2=Donald S. Lopez Jr.|title=The Princeton Dictionary of Buddhism|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DXN2AAAAQBAJ&pg=PA76 |year=2013| publisher=Princeton University Press|isbn=978-1-4008-4805-8|page=76}}</ref>

=== Asura realm ===
The asura realm is one of the realms in which one can be reborn as a result of experiencing the [[Phala|fruits]] of wholesome karma, while engaging in unwholesome karma. Generally, the [[desire realm]] is recognized as consisting of five realms and the realm of the asuras tends to be included among the deva realms, but the addition of the asuras in the six-world [[bhavacakra]] was created in Tibet at the authority of [[Je Tsongkhapa]].

=== Deva-Asura War ===
The asuras were dispossessed of their state in [[Trāyastriṃśa]] because they became drunk and were thrown down [[Mount Sumeru]] by the bodhisatta, as mentioned in [[Jataka tales|Jatakas]]. This led to ever lasting war between the [[Deva (Buddhism)|Devas]] of Tavatimsa and Asuras, which still continues.

=== Asurendra ===
In Buddhism, the leaders of the asuras are called ''asurendra'' (Pāli: Asurinda, 阿修羅王; lit. "Asura-lord"). There are several of these, as the Asuras are broken into different tribes or factions.  In Pali texts, names that are found include ''[[Vemacitrin|Vepacitti]]'', ''[[Rahu|Rāhu]]'' (''Verocana''), ''Pahārāda'', ''[[Shambara|Sambara]]'', ''[[Mahabali|Bali]]'', ''Sucitti'', and ''[[Mara (demon)|Namucī]]''. According to the [[Lotus Sutra]], the four leaders of the asuras took refuge in the Buddha after hearing his sermon.