Devas in Buddhism

[Red Faced Buddha]

I've always found religion,deities,and cosmologies fascinating.Devas in Buddhism particularly fascinate me,because they are mortal and can sink down to the lower worlds(human,asura,hungry ghost,etc.)some Buddhist believe they are almost utterly powerless but I disagree.Although they may be indifferent to human being,I believe devas must be very powerful beings(I read a myth about how Shakyamuni had to transform into a wrathful deity to subdue some of the more powerful ones.)and at least the lower ones have some participation with humans.This would explain the rise and fall of several deities,occuring with their rise and fall within religions corresponding with their life and finally death.How do you feel?

[Indrajala]

I've always found religion,deities,and cosmologies fascinating.Devas in Buddhism particularly fascinate me,because they are mortal and can sink down to the lower worlds(human,asura,hungry ghost,etc.)some Buddhist believe they are almost utterly powerless but I disagree.Although they may be indifferent to human being,I believe devas must be very powerful beings(I read a myth about how Shakyamuni had to transform into a wrathful deity to subdue some of the more powerful ones.)and at least the lower ones have some participation with humans.This would explain the rise and fall of several deities,occuring with their rise and fall within religions corresponding with their life and finally death.How do you feel?

Devas are literally "beings of light". Although ultimately mortal, they had the great merit to be reborn as such. They are the sixth of the six recollections (Buddha, Dharma, Sangha, generosity, morality and the gods/devas).

Like any being, they deserve our respect.