In Buddhism, the concept of "gods" is a bit different than in some other religions. Here's a breakdown:
* No Supreme Creator God: Buddhism, in its core teachings, doesn't posit a supreme creator god in the way that Abrahamic religions do.
* Devas and Other Beings: There are celestial beings, often called "devas" or "gods," but they are not all-powerful or eternal. They are beings who, through their past actions (karma), have been reborn into realms of greater pleasure and power. However, they are still subject to impermanence and the cycle of rebirth.
* Gender Varies: Devas can be male, female, or even beyond gender. Gender is seen as a characteristic of a particular rebirth, not an essential quality.
* Buddhas and Bodhisattvas: Buddhas are those who have attained enlightenment and are free from the cycle of rebirth. Bodhisattvas are beings who have vowed to delay their own enlightenment to help others. While often depicted with masculine features in some artistic traditions, they are beyond ordinary gender distinctions in their enlightened state. The concept of gender is less relevant to beings who have transcended the limitations of the physical world.
In short: The gender of Buddhist deities (devas) varies, and gender is not a defining characteristic in the same way it is for humans. The most important figures in Buddhism (Buddhas and Bodhisattvas) are beyond conventional gender.