Second Storey

These 16 Prajna Guardians (Devas) are often pictured at the front pages of Chinese sutras, accompanying the Dharma lecture being given by Sakyamuni Buddha, who is flanked by Manjusri and Samantabhadra Bodhisattvas.

Our statues were crafted based on this description, albeit with some deviation especially with respect to colour.

16 Prajna Guardians (16 Shaka 釈迦 Protectors; 16 Good Dieties or Gods or Spirits; Japanese: Shaka juuroku zenshin 釈迦十六善神 or Shaka sanzon juuroku zenshin 釈迦三尊十六善神). A specific group of warlike figures yasha 夜叉, believed to be the protectors of the DAIHANNYAKYOU 大般若経 (Sk: Mahaprajnaparamitasutra, The Great Wisdom Sutra).

In art works, Shaka, with the mudra of either *tenbourin-in 転法輪印 or *seppou-in 説法印, is attended by the two bodhisattvas *Fugen 普賢 and *Monju 文殊. The Sixteen Protectors appear in two groups of eight to either side and in front of the principal figures. They are believed to guard the sutra and those who uphold it.

Paintings of the Sixteen Protectors were hung as central images for ceremonies called Daihannya-e 大般若会 at which there was a tendoku 転読 (flipping through pages, or opening scrolls, and reading the chapter headings at breakneck speed) of the text a certain number of times. The earliest record of commissioning a painting for a ceremony dates from 1114, while the earliest extant paintings date from the thrid quarter of the 12c.

The Sixteen Protectors are: Daitorada 提頭羅宅 *Jikokuten 持国天; Birurokusha 毘盧勒叉 *Zouchouten 増長天; Saifukudokugai 摧伏毒害; Zouyaku 増益; Kanki 歓喜; Joissaishounan 除一切障難; Batsujozaiku 抜除罪垢; Nounin 能忍; Ueshiramanu 吠室羅摩拏 *Tamonten 多聞天; Birubakusha 毘盧博叉 *Koumokuten 広目天; Riissaifui 離一切怖畏; Kugoissai 救護一切; Shoufukushoma 摂伏諸魔; Noukushou 能救諸有; Shishiimou 師子威猛 and Yuumoushinchi 勇猛心地. Other protective figures such as Changti 常啼 (Jp: Joutei ), a nun Fayou 法優 (Jp: Houyuu) *Basusen 婆薮仙 and Kudokuten 功徳天 (a form of *Kichijouten 吉祥天) may also be included in paintings of the juuoku zenshin. Anan 阿難 and Kashou 迦葉, disciples of the Buddha (see *Juudai deshi 十大弟子), may also be added. *Bonten 梵天 and *Taishakuten 帝釈天 are sometimes added to the group, making eighteen.

These 16 Prajna Guardians are as follows:

1. Deva Dhrtarastra;
2. Deva Virudhaka;
3. Poison and Harm-subduing Deva;
4. Deva of Increment;
5. Deva of Happiness;
6. Deva of the Removal of All Obstacles and Difficulties;
7. Guilt and Filth-clearing Deva;
8. Deva of Forbearance;
9. Deva Vaisravana;
10. Deva Virupaksa;
11. Deva of Departure from All Fears;
12. Deva of Universal Salvation and Protection;
13. Mara-subduing Deva;
14. Deva Who Can Save All Existence;
15. Lion-valiance Deva; and
16. Deva of Courageous Mind-ground.

In Hindu, Jain, and Buddhist mythology, the yakṣa has a dual personality. On the one hand, a yakṣa may be an inoffensive nature-fairy, associated with woods and mountains; but there is also a darker version of the yakṣa, which is a kind of ghost (bhuta) that haunts the wilderness and waylays and devours travelers, similar to the rakṣasas. Also Yakusha 薬叉 (Sk: Yaksa), a class of semi divine beings, usually considered to be of a benevolent and inoffensive disposition, but sometimes also classed with malignant spirits such as the *rasetsu 羅刹. The female counterparts are called Yashanyo 夜叉女 (Sk: Yaksi, Yaksini) and were regarded in particular as tree nymphs or symbols of fertility.Yasha were adopted into Buddhism at an early stage, and many finely executed stone reliefs and statues are to be found at Sanchi, Mathura and elsewhere in India. Eventually, they came to be included among the eight classes of being that protect Buddhism *hachibushuu 八部衆. They also act as attendants of *Bishamonten 毘沙門天, who is said to have under his command "eight Yasha generals" Yasha hachidaishou 夜叉八大将.

The Twelve Divine Generals *juuni shinshou 十二神将 who protect devotees of *Yakushi 薬師 and the Sixteen Good Gods juuroku zenjin 十六善神 who protect the DAIHANNYAKYOU 大般若経 (Great Wisdom Sutra) also belong to the category of Yasha, while Kongoushu 金剛手 is often described as a Yasha general, and the goddess *Kariteimo 訶梨帝母 is said to have been a Yashanyo who was converted to Buddhism.

In Buddhist mythology, the yakṣa are the attendants of Vaiśravaṇa, the Guardian of the Northern Quarter, a beneficent god who protects the righteous.

In China and Japan it has been their role as tutelary spirits that has received the greatest emphasis, and therefore they are generally represented clad in armour. They have come to be popularly regarded as demons of fearsome appearance who harm and even devour humans.