Bishamonten
From MegatenWiki
Contents |
[edit] Games
| Game | Cate. |
|---|---|
| Shin Megami Tensei | Kishin clan |
| Shin Megami Tensei Nocturne | Kishin clan |
| Devil Summoner | Kishin clan |
| Soul Hackers | Kishin clan |
| Persona | Justice arcanum (as Bushido) |
| Persona 2 | Justice arcanum |
| Persona 3 | Tower arcanum |
[edit] Buddhist name in Hanji
- 毗沙门天
[edit] About
Bishamonten, also known as Tamonten, is one of the Four Heavenly Kings featured in Buddhist teachings. His name means "He who hears everything" and he is the guardian of the North. He is also associated with the colour yellow, the mongoose and the umbrella. His attendants are the natural spirits, the Yaksha.
Bishamonten is often considered to be a god of justice and war. He originated from the Hindu god of the north, Kubera, and the two are sometimes considered one-in-the-same.
[edit] In game
In Shin Megami Tensei, when you're told about the Shitenno by either the Law or Chaos Hero, you are asked to defeat them. Depending on your allignment, he'll either fight you and/or join you. If he becomes your ally, a statue is placed where he once stood.
In Nocturne, after getting all of the Magatama, you are given a special sword by the priest of the Cathedral of Shadows. There, you head towards the Bandou Shrine and must defeat the four heavenly kings.
Some players may be confuse Bishamonten in Persona 3 with Indra in Shin Megami Tensei II as they have the same appearance except for the color. The link between these two deities is indirect, in which the Buddhist counterpart of Indra is Sakra, who gives orders to the Four Heavenly Kings. Bishamonten is always considered to be the most powerful and best recognised among the four. His placement in the Tower arcanum could possibly be hinting at the fading of Indra's importance in Hinduism. Still the arcana assignation of Persona 3 is criticized to be the most chaotic in the Persona series.
[edit] Four Heavenly Kings
- Four major directional guardians.
- Bishamonten (North)
- Jikokuten (East)
- Zouchouten (South)
- Koumokuten (West)
