sakkaa

Sakkaa is a transliteration variant of Śakra, a major figure in Buddhist cosmology and in Hindu tradition. In Pali and Sanskrit sources, Śakra (often rendered Sakka in Pali) means “the mighty” or “the powerful one” and refers to the king of the Devas. In Buddhist texts, Sakka is the ruler of the Deva realm of the Tavatimsa heaven, a guardian figure who resides above the human world and who interacts with humans and with the Buddha.

In many scriptures, Sakka appears as a benevolent ruler who engages with humans, sometimes inviting the Buddha to teach the Dhamma to the gods or requesting counsel for the devas. He is a prominent figure in certain Jataka tales, where he may appear as a divine interlocutor or as part of moral lessons.

Although Sakka shares characteristics with the Hindu god Indra, the Buddhist Śakra occupies a distinct mythological role within Buddhist cosmology. The two figures are linked in origin but differ in narrative function across traditions.

Spelling and transliteration vary, producing forms such as Sakka, Sakkā, Sakkaa, and Śakra. In academic and religious literature, the term can refer to the deity in Buddhist contexts or to Indra in Hindu contexts, depending on the source.

Scholarly sources include the Pali Canon and various Mahayana sutras that mention Śakra or Sakka as part of the celestial hierarchy and as a participant in the Buddha’s teachings.