Deva (ten) or guardian deity
Gatten
月天
A deity of the tenbu (heavenly beings) listed as one of the Twelve Ten. The Twelve Ten are a grouping of protective deities connected with the eight directions, above and below, and the sun and moon.
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 Gatten
A deity of the tenbu (heavenly beings) listed as one of the Twelve Ten. It is explained that he is regarded as the lord of all the deities of the stars and lunar mansions, such as the Twenty-Eight Lunar Mansions and the Twelve Houses, and that together with Nitten he governs the movements of nature.
Source: 飛不動尊 正宝院・飛不動尊 正宝院・飛不動尊 正宝院
Tracing the figure and traditions
He is said to hold in his hand a moon jewel showing the purity of moonlight, and there are also forms holding a staff topped with a crescent moon or a lotus. There are references to the story of the Buddha Shaka hearing the words "See the moon disc in your heart," and to the esoteric gosō jōjin kan meditation.
Source: 飛不動尊 正宝院・飛不動尊 正宝院・飛不動尊 正宝院
Deities who guard the directions, heaven and earth, and the sun and moon
The Twelve Ten are protective deities connected with the eight directions — north, south, east, west and the four corners — above and below, the sun and the moon. They combine Taishakuten, Katen, Enmaten, Rasetsuten, Suiten, Fūten, Tamonten and Ishana-ten with Bonten, Jiten, Nitten and Gatten. It is a grouping that welcomes the deities who protect nature and space into Buddhist ritual.
Source: 飛不動尊 正宝院
Prayers that guard the place of ritual and remove disaster
Shōhōin links the Twelve Ten with prayers for harmony with nature and for warding off disaster, and describes them as beings who guard the place of the denpō kanjō (transmission consecration). The direction and held objects of each deity belong to this system of protection. It is a grouping separate from classifications of Shinto kami and from the twelve signs of the Western zodiac.
Source: 飛不動尊 正宝院
Mantra (in Japanese, as written in the sources)
おん せんだらや そはか。
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.