Bishamonten, the Guardian of the North, 11th century, Unknown Japanese, 116 cm (including base), Wood with polychrome, Japan, 11th century, Vaishravana is one of the Twelve Devas, a group of Hindu gods adopted as Buddhist guardian deities charged with protecting the four cardinal directions and the four intermediate directions, as well as the sun, moon, heaven, and earth. As the most powerful of the 12, Vaishravana presides over the north, which was understood to be the most dangerous of all directions as it was also inhabited by evil demons and ogres.

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Size: 3113px × 5940px
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Photo credit: © Penta Springs / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

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