Kendatsuba　乾闥婆

KEY WORD :　art history / iconography

Transliteration of the Sanskrit gandharva, translated as jikikou 食香 (scent-eater), jinkou 尋香 (scent-seeker), etc., and also known as koujin 香神 (scent god). A class of semidivine beings to feed on the fragrance of herbs. In later Indian mythology they are regarded as celestial musicians, in which role they were incorporated into Buddhism as attendants of *Taishakuten 帝釈天, who is a protector of Buddhist law. They are also counted among the attendants of *Jikokuten 持国天, the guardian king of the eastern direction, among the eight classes of beings that protect Buddhism *hachibushuu 八部衆, and among the twenty-eight classes of beings that serve as attendants *nijuuhachi bushuu 二十八部衆 to *Senju Kannon 千手観音, and the thirty-three manifestations of *Kannon 観音 (see *sanjuusanshin 三十三身) mentioned in the Lotus Sutra HOKEKYOU 法華経. They are also regarded as guardians of children, and it is in this role that one of their kings, called Sendan Kendatsubaou 栴檀乾闥婆王, figures at the centre of the *Doujikyou mandara 童子経曼荼羅, which is used in Esoteric Buddhist rituals to ward off danger and illness from children. They are generally depicted clad in armour and holding a trident.

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