Vaisravana- Buddhist GodDeity"Guardian of the North"

The Northern Quarter

At the gates of Buddhist temples across East Asia, four armored kings stand guard over the cardinal directions. Vaisravana holds the north. He is golden-skinned, armored in plate, his expression fierce. In one hand he carries a pagoda, a miniature reliquary tower. In the other sits a mongoose that spits jewels from its mouth. The pagoda holds the treasures of the Dharma. The mongoose scatters wealth.

He commands the yakshas, nature spirits who guard treasures hidden in forests and mountains. In the Atanatiya Sutta of the Pali Canon, Vaisravana approaches the Buddha and offers a protective chant. He pledges his yaksha armies to defend the sangha from hostile spirits. His warriors patrol the northern slopes of Mount Meru. Of the four Heavenly Kings, he alone drew a cult of his own. Merchants burned incense at his altars asking for prosperity. Families prayed for relief from poverty. The other three kings guarded gates. Vaisravana gave things away.

Bishamonten

In Japan, Vaisravana became Bishamonten and entered the Shichifukujin, the Seven Lucky Gods. The Sengoku warlord Uesugi Kenshin declared himself Bishamonten's avatar and flew the character 毘 on his battle standard, the first syllable of the deity's name. Before each of his campaigns against Takeda Shingen in the Kawanakajima battles, Kenshin prayed at Bishamonten's altar. His soldiers believed they fought under the northern guardian's eye. Kenshin's rivals learned to fear the 毘 banner. When it appeared across the field, they knew the Dragon of Echigo had come.

Bishamonten temples dot the Japanese landscape. Merchants prayed there for gold, warriors for victory. His image still appears on amulets sold at temple stalls, small enough to fit in a palm. The practice of carrying his likeness for protection traces back through centuries.