Deva (ten) or guardian deity
Karura Ō
迦楼羅王
A legendary bird listed as one of the Twenty-Eight Attendants. The Twenty-Eight Attendants are a group that protects Senju Kannon and the people who believe in that teaching.
This introduction is based on materials published by shrines, temples, and schools, starting with Shōhōin. 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 Karura Ō
A legendary bird listed as one of the Twenty-Eight Attendants. It is explained that it is also called konjichō, myōshichō, karurachō and other names, and that from the story of saving its mother, who had become a slave of dragons, it is known as a bird that eats poisonous creatures.
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
The karura flames (karuraen) behind Fudō-sama are said to be designed after this karura. It is recorded that it is also said to be a manifestation of Monju Bosatsu, Bonten, Daijizaiten and others.
Source: 飛不動尊 正宝院・飛不動尊 正宝院・飛不動尊 正宝院
A protective group supporting the salvation of Senju Kannon
The Twenty-Eight Attendants are deities who protect Senju Kannon and the people who believe in that teaching. The Four Heavenly Kings, gods with origins in India and others form a group as protectors of Buddhism. At Sanjūsangendō they are described as attendants and companions of Senju Kannon.
Source: 飛不動尊 正宝院・蓮華王院 三十三間堂
Names and forms differ by sutra
The makeup of the Twenty-Eight Attendants and the forms of their images differ according to the sutra teachings. Because deities of the same name also appear in other groups of protective deities, this site introduces "the role as one of the Twenty-Eight Attendants" separately from the character handed down for each one. The statues of Sanjūsangendō and Shōhōin's iconographic materials are not treated as the same arrangement or forms.
Source: 蓮華王院 三十三間堂・飛不動尊 正宝院
Protecting those who revere Kannon from disaster
Kiyomizu-dera explains the role of the Twenty-Eight Attendants as protecting from disaster those who keep Senju Kannon in mind and call his name. Deities connected with many realms, such as the sea and the land, together as one group support the salvation of Kannon. This is a faith shared by all the Twenty-Eight Attendants; it does not assign the fulfillment of a separate wish to each deity.
Source: 音羽山 清水寺
Mantra (in Japanese, as written in the sources)
おん ぎゃろだや 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：迦楼羅王」（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：二十八部衆」（2026-10-14 確認）
- 蓮華王院 三十三間堂「二十八部衆像」（2026-10-15 確認）
- 音羽山 清水寺「眷属 二十八部衆」（2026-10-17 確認）