Deva (ten) or guardian deity
Myōonten
妙音天
At Shōhōin, Myōonten is introduced as a related name and image of Benzaiten. In this entry, its distinctive feature is the form playing the biwa. Benzaiten has a character related to water, music and wisdom, and a character as a heavenly deity who protects the Buddhist teaching.
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 many forms of Benzaiten: Myōonten
At Shōhōin, Myōonten is introduced as a related name and image of Benzaiten. In this entry, its distinctive feature is the form playing the biwa. Benzaiten has a character related to water, music and wisdom, and a character as a heavenly deity who protects the Buddhist teaching.
Source: 飛不動尊 正宝院・竹生島 宝厳寺
Performing arts, good fortune and the protection of the Buddhist teaching as background
Devotion to Benzaiten spread to wishes for music and the performing arts, wisdom, and abundance in daily life. At Hōgon-ji on Chikubushima, too, people pray for improvement in the performing arts and for prosperous business. The forms with different attributes and numbers of arms also express Benzaiten's various workings.
Source: 竹生島 宝厳寺・飛不動尊 正宝院
Mantra (in Japanese, as written in the sources)
おん そらそばていえい 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：妙音天」（2026-10-14 確認）
- 飛不動尊 正宝院「仏様の世界：目次」（2026-10-14 確認）
- 竹生島 宝厳寺「宝厳寺探訪：本堂・弁才天」（2026-10-15 確認）
- 竹生島 宝厳寺「年間行事」（2026-10-15 確認）