Shiva plays a role in Buddhist Tantra in the form of Maheshvara (Japanese: 大自在天 Daijizai-ten).

Shiva plays a role in Buddhist Tantra in the form of Maheshvara (Japanese: 大自在天 Daijizai-ten). A story in several Buddhist scriptures, most notably in the Sarvatathagatatattvasamgraha and the Vajrapany-abhiseka-mahatantra depicts Maheswara, one of the names of Shiva in Hinduism) as an evil being who is killed by Vajrapani. In this story the Bodhisattva Samantabhadra receives a vajra and is transformed into Vajrapani by Vairocana, the cosmic Buddha. Vairocana then requests Vajrapani to generate his adamantine family, to establish a mandala. Vajrapani refuses, because Mahesvara (Shiva) "is deluding beings with his deceitful religious doctrines and engaging in all kinds of violent criminal conduct". Mahesvara and his entourage are dragged to Mount Sumeru, and all but Mahesvara submit. Vajrapani and Mahesvara engage in a magical combat, which is won by Vajrapani. Mahesvara's retinue become part of Vairocana's mandala, except for Mahesvara, who is killed, and his life transferred to another realm where he becomes a buddha named Bhasmesvara-nirghosa, the "Soundless Lord of Ashes". According to Kalupahana, the story "echoes" the story of the conversion of Ambattha. It is to be understood in the context of the competition between Buddhist institutions and Shaivism.