The protectors

I do a puja and I confess to the protectors. One time I asked what protections are there in Buddhism, are on Reddit and I was sent to the Lotus Sutra, where there was a bit about mantras provide protection. 

I think the protectors come out of the primordial soup, they are ancient mythical figures. With my skeptical mind, I'm resistant to this, but when I think about opening that part of my mind up to these experiences, I'm excited, and I get benefit from them.

There are Four Heavenly Kings: Vaiśravaṇa, Virūḍhaka, Dhṛtarāṣṭra and Virupaksa.

There are also the Dharmapala, who are wrathful forms of deities that protect the Dharma.

The Eight Dharmapalas are Begtse, Tsangspa, Kuvera (Vaiśravaṇa), Lhamo, Yama (Lord of death), Yamantaka, Hayagriva, and Mahakala (HAR), of whom the last five are the best known. They come from the proto-Hindu past. 

Mahakala 1600 - 1699 Nyingma

People on r/Buddhism like to say there was no Hinduism when the Buddha happened, but when you look at the Hindu wikipedia entry, the Buddha was around the Vedic period into the second urbanization period, so um, not sure that's good history. They must mean something, thinking Hinduism doesn't begin until after the Classical Period which is 200 B.C.E.

Mahakala is claimed by Nyingma Buddhists as their special protector. I wonder who the protector of my unfocused and hazzy sectless Buddhism is? I often wonder where I should make a pilgrimage. I do go down to the lake to celebrate Tara, who is waterborne. Obviously I could go to the Buddha's sites in India and Nepal, or the many sacred places in Asia. I've read about Robert Thurman circumambulating around a sacred mountain in Tibet. I've read about the Macao Caves and great places along the silk road, and I discover new archaeological sites seemingly often, last one was Tapa Shotor. 

What's the sacred site that Buddhists claim in America? It is yet to emerge, Buddhism has only been here one tenth of the time it's been on earth. There is a great stupa in Colorado, and in Newmarket New Hampshire, and I'm sure there are many others. 

The coolest ceremony in America is Zozobra, the Friday before labor day where they burn their burdens and worries. It's a clearing of the deck for positivity. 

Links:

What Are Dharma Protectors by Dr. Alexander Berzin