twelve Devas

The Twelve Devas as are follows:

The Twelve Devas functioned as guardians of Esoteric Buddhist monasteries. They are generally represented as a group in paintings. The earliest known Japanese paintings of the Twelve Devas are found in Saidaiji Temple, Nara (early Heian period). Another set is found in Toji Temple in Kyoto, where they were used for esoteric rituals like the Latter Seven Days Ritual (Goshichinichi no Mishiho) for the New Year. During the late Heian period (794–1185), a procession of beings, wearing the masks of the Twelve Devas (juuniten men, 十二天面) was part of esoteric initiation rites. Later from the 12th century, the same was replaced by paintings of the deities, standing in pairs on six-panelled folding screens called juuniten byoubu (十二天屏風) during the initiation rituals (abhiṣeka).

The Twelve Devas also appear in the mandalas - Taizoukai mandara, juuniten mandara and Anchin mandara.

Early images of the Twelve Devas depict them seated on animals (choujuuza) (e.g Saidaji) or seated on felt pedestals and with two attendants (e.g Toji, now in Kyoto National Museum). Later paintings on folding screens, usually depict them standing, sometimes on lotus pedestals.

Taishakuten (the king of gods - Indra) and Bonten (the creator god Brahma) are two major Hindu deities who are often depicted as the protector of the Buddha, after assimilation in Buddhism. In Buddhism, Taishakuten is the king of the gods and ruler of the Trāyastriṃśa Heaven. Both deities are depicted dressed as boddhisattvas. Both are depicted in life-events of the Buddha, on his either side, almost indistinguisghable to each other.{{Cite web |title=JAANUS / Taishakuten　帝釈天 |url=https://www.aisf.or.jp/~jaanus/deta/t/taishakuten.htm |access-date=2025-05-17 |website=www.aisf.or.jp}}{{Cite web |title=JAANUS / Bonten 梵天 |url=https://www.aisf.or.jp/~jaanus/deta/b/bonten.htm |access-date=2025-05-17 |website=www.aisf.or.jp}}

In other depictions, Taishakuten is depicted as martial figure with a thunderbolt (vajra) in his right hand and left hand on his hip. He may be seated on an elephant.

Bonten may be depicted with one or four heads. He has a third eye and four arms, holding a fly whisk, a lotus, a staff and hand with palm out. He may be seated on a pedestal of four geese.

Katen (lit. "fire deva") is generally depicted as serious-faced, aged hermit. His hair and beard are white. His complexion may be red. He is surrounded by a flaming aureole. He may have two or four arms. In his four arms, he generally holds a bamboo stick with some leaves or a staff, a fiery triangle, a rosary and a water vessel. He may ride a blue sleep.{{Cite web |title=e-Museum - Katen (Skt., Agni) |url=https://emuseum.nich.go.jp/detail?content_base_id=100966&content_part_id=007&content_pict_id=0&langId=en&webView=0 |access-date=2025-05-17 |website=emuseum.nich.go.jp}}{{Cite web |last=www.wisdomlib.org |date=2024-08-29 |title=Images of Ka-ten (Agni) in Japan |url=https://www.wisdomlib.org/buddhism/essay/buddhist-iconography-comparative-study/d/doc1457189.html |access-date=2025-05-17 |website=www.wisdomlib.org |language=en}}

The compassionate-faced Enmaten holds a staff with a head at the top; his other arm is bent with the palm outwards. He may ride a buffalo.{{Cite web |title=e-Museum - Enmaten (Skt., Yama) |url=https://emuseum.nich.go.jp/detail?content_base_id=100966&content_part_id=006&content_pict_id=0&langId=en&webView=0 |access-date=2025-05-17 |website=emuseum.nich.go.jp}}{{Cite web |title=JAANUS / Enmaten　焔魔天 |url=https://www.aisf.or.jp/~jaanus/deta/e/enmaten.htm |access-date=2025-05-17 |website=www.aisf.or.jp}}

Rasetsuten or Nirichi is the king of the demonic rasetsu (Rakshasa). He may be seated on a lion. He wears an armour. He may be depicted with a fiery halo. In his right hand, he holds a sword and makes a "sword" mudra (hand gesture) with his left hand.{{Cite web |title=e-Museum - Rasetsuten (Skt., Raksasa, Nairrti) |url=https://emuseum.nich.go.jp/detail?content_base_id=100966&content_part_id=005&content_pict_id=0&langId=en&webView=0 |access-date=2025-05-17 |website=emuseum.nich.go.jp}}{{Cite web |title=JAANUS / rasetsu　羅刹 |url=https://www.aisf.or.jp/~jaanus/deta/r/rasetsu.htm |access-date=2025-05-17 |website=www.aisf.or.jp}}

Suiten (lit "water deva") can be depicted as a fair water spirit, in vibrant garments.{{Cite web |title=e-Museum - Suiten (Skt., Varuna) |url=https://emuseum.nich.go.jp/detail?content_base_id=100966&content_part_id=004&content_pict_id=0&langId=en&webView=0 |access-date=2025-05-17 |website=emuseum.nich.go.jp}} He may depicted dressed in armour. He may have a snake-noose in his right hand, while the other hand is held against his waist as a fist. He wears a crown of serpents. His complexion may be depicted as light blue. He may be seated on a tortoise.{{Cite web |last=www.wisdomlib.org |date=2024-08-29 |title=Images of Sui-ten (Varuna) in Japan |url=https://www.wisdomlib.org/buddhism/essay/buddhist-iconography-comparative-study/d/doc1457205.html |access-date=2025-05-17 |website=www.wisdomlib.org |language=en}}

Futen (lit. "wind deva") is depicted as an aged man. He holds the scepter of the wind.{{Cite web |title=e-Museum - Fûten (Skt., Vayu) |url=https://emuseum.nich.go.jp/detail?content_base_id=100966&content_part_id=003&content_pict_id=0&langId=en&webView=0 |access-date=2025-05-17 |website=emuseum.nich.go.jp}}

Bishamonten (Tamonten) is clad in armour and holds a jewlled staff (sansageki) in his right hand and a jewelled pagoda (houtou, stupa) in the other hand.{{Cite web |title=e-Museum - Bishamonten (Skt., Vaisravana) |url=https://emuseum.nich.go.jp/detail?content_base_id=100966&content_part_id=010&content_pict_id=0&langId=en&webView=0 |access-date=2025-05-17 |website=emuseum.nich.go.jp}}{{Cite web |title=JAANUS / Bishamonten 毘沙門天 |url=https://www.aisf.or.jp/~jaanus/deta/b/bishamonten.htm |access-date=2025-05-17 |website=www.aisf.or.jp}}

Ishanaten holds a trident and a bowl, filled with blood.{{Cite web |title=e-Museum - Ishanaten (Skt., Isana) |url=https://emuseum.nich.go.jp/detail?content_base_id=100966&content_part_id=009&content_pict_id=0&langId=en&webView=0 |access-date=2025-05-17 |website=emuseum.nich.go.jp}}

Jiten (lit. "earth deva") or Kenrojin (“solid earth deity”) may hold a vase or flowers in a basket in his hand.{{Cite web |title=e-Museum - Jiten (Skt., Prthivi) |url=https://emuseum.nich.go.jp/detail?content_base_id=100966&content_part_id=012&content_pict_id=0&langId=en&webView=0 |access-date=2025-05-17 |website=emuseum.nich.go.jp}}

Nitten (lit. "sun deva") may be depicted similar to a bodhisattva. He may be seated on a cart pulled by three to seven white horses. He may hold a lotus or a sun disc with a three-legged rooster in it.{{Cite web |title=e-Museum - Nitten (Skt., Surya) |url=https://emuseum.nich.go.jp/detail?content_base_id=100966&content_part_id=002&content_pict_id=0&langId=en&webView=0 |access-date=2025-05-17 |website=emuseum.nich.go.jp}}{{Cite web |title=Nitten, the Sun Deity [one of a set of Twelve Devas], 14th-15th century |url=https://collections.artsmia.org/art/10347/nitten-japan |access-date=2025-05-17 |website=collections.artsmia.org}}

Gatten (lit. "moon deva") may be depicted similar to a bodhisattva. He may be seated on a white goose. He sometimes holds a crescent moon with a rabbit on it.{{Cite web |title=e-Museum - Gatten (Skt., Candra) |url=https://emuseum.nich.go.jp/detail?content_base_id=100966&content_part_id=001&content_pict_id=0&langId=en&webView=0 |access-date=2025-05-17 |website=emuseum.nich.go.jp}}

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{{Commonscat|Twelve Devas (Japanese Buddhism)}}{{Japanese Buddhist Pantheon}}

Category:Japanese gods

Category:Buddhist gods

Category:Buddhism and Hinduism