Book: Buddhism in Five Minutes
Chapter: 48. Why are There so Many Different Celestial Beings in Tibetan Buddhism?
Blurb:
Why so many deities? There are Mahayana buddha and bodhisattva figures, as well as tantric deities. There are numerous different lineages for transmission of different tantric deity practices, with the possibility of further creative transformations of the practices in each generation. Furthermore, the many deities have qualities suitable for different practitioners and occasions.