The Buddhist Vajrayāna tradition distinguishes two main types of ḍākinī: (1) the worldly ḍākinī (loka-ḍākinī) and (2) wisdom ḍākinī (jñāna-ḍākinī). While the former relates to the demoness of pre-tantric tradition, the second is a fully enlightened ḍākinī. This is only one example of a minor female demon rising to a prominent position. However, this example reflects a tendency in the history of Buddhism: a gradual elevation of some female demonic figures in the hierarchy of the Buddhist pantheon. Can this tendency also be traced in the protective literature? This question will be discussed together with some aspects of the concept of the demonic in early Buddhism.
