Shingon Buddhism - The Shingon Pantheon

The Shingon Pantheon

A large number of deities of Vedic, Hindu and Indo-Aryan origins have been incorporated into Mahayana Buddhism and this synthesis is especially prominent in Esoteric Buddhism. Many of these deities have vital roles as they are regularly invoked by the practitioner for various rituals and homas/pujas. In fact, it is ironic that the worship of Vedic-era deities, especially Indra (Taishakuten 帝釈天), the "King of the Heavens," has declined so much in India but is yet so highly revered in Japan that there are probably more temples devoted to him there than there are in India. Chinese Taoist and Japanese Shinto deities were assimilated into Mahayana Buddhism as "Deva" class beings; for example to Chinese Mahayana Buddhists, Indra (synonymous with Śakra) is the Jade Emperor of Taoism. Agni (Katen 火天), another Vedic deity, is invoked at the start of every Shingon Goma Ritual. The average Japanese person may not know the names Saraswati or Indra but Benzaiten 弁財天 (Saraswati) and Taishakuten 帝釈天 (Indra) are household names that every Japanese person knows.

In Orthodox Esoteric Buddhism, divine beings are grouped into six classes.

• Buddhas (Butsu 仏)
• Bodhisattvas (Bosatsu 菩薩)
• Wisdom Kings or Vidyarajas (Myōō 明王)
• Deities or Devas (Ten 天)
• Avatars (Keshin 化身)
• Patriarchs (Soshi 祖師)

The Five Great Wisdom Kings

The Five Great Wisdom Kings are wrathful manifestations of the Five Dhyani Buddhas.

• Acala or Acalanatha (Fudō Myōō 不動明王) "The Immovable One" - Manifestation of Buddha Mahavairocana
• Amrtakundalin (Gundari Myōō 軍荼利明王) "The Dispenser of Heavenly Nectar" - Manifestation of Buddha Ratnasambhava
• Trailokyavijaya (Gōzanze Myōō 降三世明王) "The Conqueror of The Three Planes" - Manifestation of Buddha Akshobhya
• Yamāntaka (Daiitoku Myōō 大威徳明王) "The Defeater of Death" - Manifestation of Buddha Amitabha
• Vajrayaksa (Kongō Yasha Myōō 金剛夜叉明王) "The Devourer of Demons" - Manifestation of Buddha Amoghasiddi

Other well-known Wisdom Kings

• Ragaraja (Aizen Myōō 愛染明王)
• Mahamayuri (Kujaku Myōō 孔雀明王)
• Hayagriva (Batō Kannon 馬頭観音)
• Ucchusma (Ususama Myōō 烏枢沙摩明王)
• Atavaka (Daigensui Myōō 大元帥明王)

The Twelve Guardian Deities (Deva)

• Brahmā (Bonten 梵天) - Lord of the Heavens ; Guardian of the Heavens (upward direction)
• Indra (Taishakuten 帝釈天) - Lord of the Trāyastriṃśa Heaven and The Thirty Three Devas ; Guardian of the East
• Varuṇa (Suiten 水天) - Lord of Water ; Guardian of the West
• Vaishravana (Bishamonten 毘沙門天 or Tamonten 多聞天) - Lord of Wealth ; Guardian of the North
• Yama (Emmaten 焔魔天) - Lord of the Underworld ; Guardian of the South
• Agni (Katen 火天) - Lord of Fire ; Guardian of the South East
• Rakshasa (Rasetsuten 羅刹天) - Lord of Demons ; Guardian of the South West
• Shiva or Maheshvara (Daijizaiten 大自在天 or Ishanaten 伊舎那天) - Lord of The Desire Realms ; Guardian of the North East
• Vāyu (Fūten 風天)- Lord of Wind ; Guardian of the North West
• Sūrya (Nitten 日天) - Lord of the Sun
• Chandra (Gatten 月天) - Lord of the Moon
• Prthivi (Jiten 地天) - Lord of the Earth ; Guardian of the Earth (downward direction)

Other Important Deities (Deva)

• Marici (Marishi-Ten 摩里支天) - Patron deity of Warriors
• Mahakala (Daikokuten 大黒天) - Patron deity of Wealth
• Saraswati (Benzaiten 弁財天) - Patron deity of Knowledge, Art and Music
• Ganesha (Kangiten 歓喜天) Patron deity of Bliss and Remover of Obstacles
• Skanda (Idaten 韋駄天 or Kumaraten 鳩摩羅天) Protector of Buddhist Monasteries and Monks