Deva (ten, guardian deity)

Tamonten / Bishamonten

多聞天・毘沙門天たもんてん・びしゃもんてん

Tamonten is the one of the Four Heavenly Kings (Shitennō) who guards the north, and when worshipped on his own he is also called Bishamonten. His character as a warrior deity protecting the Buddhist teachings overlaps with faith in him as one of the Seven Lucky Gods (Shichifukujin), who bring good fortune.

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 practices shared by all schools, temples, and shrines.

English pages are the site’s own translations of its Japanese pages. The sources cited are in Japanese. 日本語で読む

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Guardian of the north: Tamonten and Bishamonten

Source: 飛不動尊正宝院・天台宗

Prayers for household safety, business, and good fortune

Shigisan Chōgosonshiji introduces a faith in which people pray to Bishamonten for the safety of their household, prosperity in business, improved fortune, and the fulfillment of their heartfelt wishes. He is enshrined as a triad with Kichijōten and Zennishi Dōji, and both his protective power and good fortune are valued.

Source: 信貴山朝護孫子寺

Prince Shōtoku and the tiger

The temple's founding legend relates that Prince Shōtoku perceived Bishamonten in the year of the tiger, on the day of the tiger, at the hour of the tiger. The many tiger symbols on Mount Shigi and the faith of forming a bond with him on tiger days are connected with this tradition.

Source: 信貴山朝護孫子寺

Four heavenly kings protecting the teachings from four directions

The Four Heavenly Kings are Jikokuten in the east, Zōchōten in the south, Kōmokuten in the west, and Tamonten in the north. It is taught that they serve Taishakuten and protect the world of Mount Shumisen and the Buddhist teachings. In temples, they are enshrined as if surrounding the principal image on four sides, as figures who protect the principal image and the teachings.

Source: 飛不動尊正宝院

Protection expressed in armed figures

In the Lecture Hall (Kōdō) of Tōji as well, the Four Heavenly Kings, together with Bonten and Taishakuten, guard the buddhas, bodhisattvas, and wisdom kings. Their armor and weapons, and the demons (jaki) beneath their feet, express their protective power visually. The individual objects they hold and their colors differ from statue to statue.

Source: 真言宗総本山東寺・飛不動尊正宝院

The legend of victory handed down at Mount Shigi

The history of Shigisan Chōgosonshiji relates that, through the protection of the principal image (Bishamon Tennō), Prince Shōtoku defeated Moriya, and then carved a statue of Bishamon Tennō himself and enshrined it as the guardian principal image of this mountain. Among the amulets offered at the main hall is a "Bishamon Tennō Hanshin Tigers Hisshō Ofuda" (a talisman for victory for the Hanshin Tigers), which is described as having been blessed with prayers.

Source: 信貴山朝護孫子寺・信貴山朝護孫子寺

Mantra (in Japanese, as written in the sources)

おんべいしらまなやそわか。

Source: 飛不動尊正宝院

オンシチロクリソワカ

Source: Wikipedia

Shown as written in the Japanese sources. This site does not set how or how many times to recite it.

Related shrines and temples

Related kami and buddhas

Sources (in Japanese)

飛不動尊正宝院「仏様の世界：多聞天・毘沙門天」（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：四天王」（2026-10-14 確認）
天台宗「法話集：七福神」（2026-10-15 確認）
信貴山朝護孫子寺「ご本尊毘沙門天王」（2026-10-15 確認）
信貴山朝護孫子寺「寅のお寺信貴山」（2026-10-15 確認）
真言宗総本山東寺「天、菩薩、明王、如来」（2026-10-15 確認）
鹿鳴文庫「仏像図彙：毘沙門天」（2026-10-16 確認）
信貴山朝護孫子寺「当山について（信貴山の歴史）」（2026-10-20 確認）
信貴山朝護孫子寺「ご本尊毘沙門天王（本堂の授与品）」（2026-10-20 確認）
飛不動尊正宝院「仏様の世界：二十八部衆」（2026-10-14 確認）
Wikipedia「毘沙門天（真言の節）」（2026-10-19 確認）