Deva (ten) or guardian deity
Bikara Taishō
毘羯羅大将
A general listed as one of the Twelve Divine Generals of Yakushi; its commonly used alternative name is said to be 毘伽羅. The Twelve Divine Generals are twelve generals who protect Yakushi Nyorai and the people who believe in its teachings.
This introduction is based on materials from Shōhōin (Tobi Fudō). It is summarized within the scope of the beliefs and traditions those materials convey, and does not present explanations or customs common to all schools, shrines, and temples.
English pages are the site’s own translations of its Japanese pages. The sources cited are in Japanese. 日本語で読む
The name and role of Bikara Taishō
A general listed as one of the Twelve Divine Generals of Yakushi; its commonly used alternative name is said to be 毘伽羅. It is assigned to the Rat among the twelve zodiac signs, and its honjibutsu is recorded as Shaka Nyorai.
Source: 飛不動尊 正宝院・飛不動尊 正宝院・飛不動尊 正宝院
Tracing its form and traditions
Its attribute is recorded as a sanko, a three-pronged ritual implement, and its body color as crimson. The page briefly summarizes the alternative name, the zodiac assignment, the honjibutsu, the attribute and the body color in item form.
Source: 飛不動尊 正宝院・飛不動尊 正宝院・飛不動尊 正宝院
Protecting Yakushi Nyorai and those who believe in its teachings
The Twelve Divine Generals are twelve generals who protect the world of Yakushi Nyorai and its believers. Shin-Yakushi-ji explains that each of them leads seven thousand followers. Their fearsome faces and weapons are handed down not as a way to frighten people but as forms showing the strong work of protecting the Buddha's teaching.
Source: 新薬師寺
Peace sought within Yakushi faith
In Yakushi faith, in which people pray for salvation from illness and disaster, the Twelve Divine Generals carry out its protection. There is also faith that links them with the twelve zodiac signs, but the deity names and zodiac assignments differ by source and temple. The individual assignments and attributes on this page are one example from the Butsuzō Zui lineage introduced by Shōhōin, not a correspondence table common to all temples.
Source: 新薬師寺・飛不動尊 正宝院・奈良薬師寺
Mantra (in Japanese, as written in the sources)
おん びから そわか。
Source: 飛不動尊 正宝院
Shown as written in the Japanese sources. This site does not set how or how many times to recite it.
Related kami and buddhas
Sources (in Japanese)
- 飛不動尊 正宝院「仏様の世界：毘羯羅大将」（2026-10-14 確認）
- 飛不動尊 正宝院「仏様の世界：目次」（2026-10-14 確認）
- 飛不動尊 正宝院「仏様の世界：薬師十二神将」（2026-10-14 確認）
- 新薬師寺「十二神将」（2026-10-15 確認）
- 奈良薬師寺「金堂」（2026-10-14 確認）
- 国立台湾大学図書館／CBETA「薬師琉璃光如来本願功徳経（玄奘訳・大正蔵 T0450）」（2026-10-16 確認）