Name

Description

Bonten

Dai Bontenno
(Great Heavenly
King Brahma)

 

Heaven Deva; Skt Brahman or Sikhin; guards the upward direction; Hindi deity who created the universe, with four heads for overlooking each of the four directions (although often shown with only one). Also known as the universal soul, in contrast to the individual soul (atman). Bonten's "vahana" is the wild goose. Four infinite virtues are attached to Bonten: (1) give others happiness; (2) remove their suffering; (3) help them see, thus freeing them from desire; (4) help them abandon attachment to love and hate to become impartial to all. One can attain rebirth in the Brahma Heaven, it is said, by practising these virtues. Bonten lives in the first of four meditation heavens, in the world of form, above Mount Sumeru; said to rule the "saha" (Sanskrit word for endurance and for the world of suffering); people in the saha world endure many sufferings caused by desire and three poisons -- greed, anger and foolishness.

Taishakuten

 

East; (Skt : Indra, Indira, Sakradevanam)
Protected by Shitenno; Indra is the Hindu god of war; Taishakuten is also represented at the center of the world when grouped with the Shitenno; he governs the 32 other gods who live in Zenkenjo (Palace of Correct Views) in the Buddhist heaven (Trayastrimsha) on the peak of Mt. Sumeru; click here for more. Worshipped in Japan, China and Tibet.  

Bishamonten

Also
known as
Tamonten


Bishamonten

多聞天
Tamonten
 

North; Skt : Vaisravana, Vaishravana
Means "Listens to the Teachings of Buddha;" protects all locations where the Buddha preaches; lives halfway down northern side of Mount Sumeru; accompanied by the Yaksha and Raksha; also known as the god of war and warriors; usually clad in armor, with a spear in one hand and a pagoda in the other; the scourge of evil doers; one of the Four Guardians of Buddhism (Shitenno); one of Japan's Seven Lucky Gods; pagoda he carries symbolizes the divine treasure house; he is both a protector of and dispenser of treasure (shares the pagoda's vast treasures with only "the worthy")

Katen

 

Southeast; Fire Deva; Skt : Agni
God of fire, invoked in Shingon fire rituals (Agni homa ritual); carries messages to the gods in the flames and smoke of fire; often depicted as old man with stern facial expression.

Enmaten
Emmaten
Emma

 

South; Hell Deva; Skt : Yama or Yama-raja. King of the Underworld; chief judge in the afterlife; when a person dies, s/he must appear before Enma (and also before other judges), who decides whether the person is good or bad; the person is then sent to the most appropriate afterworld; among the judges of hell, Enma is the most important; for more details, click here (outside link to the Kyoto National Museum).

Rasetsuten
Rasatsu
Rasetsu
Raksa
Raksasa
Rakshasa
Rakushasa

 

Southwest (Editor Note: unsure of direction)
Skt = Raksasa (male); Raksais (female)
Among Hindu demons, the Raksa (J = Rasetsu) torture and feed upon the flesh of the dead (those who were evil while living); like the Ashura, Rasetsu become guardian deities once introduced to Buddhism; right hand often holds a sword; left hand held in "sword" mudra (symbolic hand gesture); Raksasis (female) are the demon daughters of Kishimonjin (Kariteimo), who apparently have black powerful bodies and eat humans. They are also known as the Ten Cannibal Demon Women, the Jyu Rasetsu Nyo (Sanskrit: Raksasa, Raksasis). These demon daughters utter dharanis (magical chants, spells, and incantations).

Also, Bishamonten, the god who protects all places where the Buddha preaches, is guardian of the north, and he is accompanied by two classes of demons called Yaksha and Rasetsu (this page). The Beasts of Hell "Gozu-Mezu" -- short for "Gozu Rasetsu" and "Mezu Rasetsu" -- refers to beasts that exist in Buddhist hell. With heads resembling those of cows (Gozu) and horses (Mezu), they are said to torture and feed upon the flesh of the deceased (those who have committed sins and are thus in hell). The Rasetsu might be particularly monstrous Yaksha, or alternatively, the Yaksha may be Rasetsu who have pledged to serve the Deva as guardians of forests, villages, and towns. There does not appear to be any clear iconography. .

Suiten

West; Water Deva; Skt : Varuna
Among the oldest Vedic gods; the personification of the heavens, and preserver of the universe; later becomes the lord of the Sun Gods, and still later the god of oceans and rivers.

Futen
Fujin

 

Northwest; Wind Deva
Skt : Vayu, Anila, Gandhavaha
Typically appears as a elderly person, with white hair, red body armor, and holding a scepter of the wind in the right hand. The term "Futen-goshin-gassho" refers to a hand sign in esoteric Buddhist practices, acheived by creating a "ring" with the index finger and the thumb.

Ishanaten
Ishana
Daijizaiten

 

Northeast; Skt : Isana; said to live in the sixth, or highest, heaven of the world of desire; in right hand, often holds a three-pronged spear (trident), and in his left a bowl of blood (see painting at Kyoto National Museum); Ishana is an obscure dikpala (a god who guards one of the eight directions), whose name simply means "the Lord." Also one of the eight manifestations of Shiva.

Also known, in Japan, as Daijizaiten 大自在天, which is the translation of Sanskrit Mahesvara (also transliterated as Makeishura 摩醯首羅), one of the many names of Shiva (Siva), who, along with Brahma (Bonten 梵天) and Visnu is one of the three chief gods of Hinduism. Daijizaiten was adopted into Buddhism as a protector of the Buddhist teachings and became one of the "Twelve Deva" (this page). In this context he appears under the name Ishana 伊舎那. According to the traditions of Esoteric Buddhism, before becoming a Buddhist tutelary deity Daijizaiten was first vanquished by Gouzanze Myou-ou 降三世明王, the conqueror of earthly desires. As a result he and his consort Uma 烏摩 (Skt: Uma) often appear in representations of Gouzanze, who is shown trampling them underfoot. Gigeiten 技芸天, a minor deity in Japan and patroness of the arts, is believed to have been born from Daijizaiten's hairline. <above Daijizaiten text adapted from JAANUS>..

Jiten
 Chiten
Kenrochijin
 

Earth Deva; Skt : Prthivi

Guards the downward direction; god of the earth.

Jiten's counterpart is Bonten (Brahman), who guards the upward direction.

Nitten
Dai Nittenno
Nikko

 

Sun Deva; Skt : Surya, Aditya
Great Heavenly Sun King, a Hindu god adopted into Buddhism as a protector; said to be a subject of Taishakuten.

See also Yakushi Nyorai, who is almost always flanked by Nikko and Gakko.

Nikko = Suryaprabha
Gakko=Candraprabha

Gatten
Gakko

 

Moon Deva; Skt : Candra
Appears as a Bodhisattva; often depicted riding a white goose; Gatten sometimes holds a half moon with a rabbit in it

See also Yakushi Nyorai, who is almost always flanked by Nikko and Gakko.

Nikko = Suryaprabha
Gakko=Candraprabha

About the mask images appearing above
Courtesy Kyoto National Museum
www.kyohaku.go.jp/eng/syuzou/meihin/choukoku/item03.html
Processional Masks of the Twelve Devas
Colored paulownia and cypress wood
Height: 32.1 cm, Width: 18.4 cm
Late Heian Period (End of 10th Century)
Important Cultural Property

This set of processional masks, formerly owned by Toji temple, is one of the oldest in Japan. The present seven, three made of paulownia wood and four of cypress, are considered to be remainders of nineteen masks rescued from the fire of 1000 A.D. that burnt down the treasure hall in Kyo'ogokokuji (the former name for Toji temple).

According to the inscriptions on the reverse side, the masks were repaired both in 1086 and in 1334 for use in a dedication ceremony for the new pagoda. The present coloring probably dates from 1334. The oval face of Bonten, with its gently swelling eyelids and cheeks, small, downcast eyes and diminutive mouth, has a dreamlike expression. Its style is quite typical of the end of the 10th Century, when the sculptor Kojo, father of Jocho (the master sculptor of the following century), was active.

PAINTING OF SUITEN ABOVE
www.kyohaku.go.jp/meihin/kaiga/butuga/mh41e.htm
From set of twelve hanging scrolls, Color and gold on silk
Late-Heian Period (Dated 1127), National Treasure